Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Dysphagia)

Job responsibilities

. JOB TITLE: HIGHLY SPECIALIST SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST Dysphagia full time post; part time applications considered

2. ORGANISATION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reports to: SLT Manager

Head of Therapies

Liaises with: Students and their families / carers

SLT colleagues

Members of internal multidisciplinary team

Allied Health Professionals

External agencies and stakeholders

3. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

To lead on the Dysphagia provision at National Star, including assessment and management of complex swallow difficulties. To support the design, development, and delivery of specialist therapy programmes for learners across National Star, who have a range of physical and learning disabilities. To provide professional advice, training and information to colleagues and families and carers, including the development of policies and procedures. To work as part of the team of Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists to provide supervision and support for Specialist Speech and Language Therapists and other departmental colleagues. This post will be primarily based on main Ullenwood site, however, will also support wider National Star provisions as required.

4. PRIMARY TASKS:

To oversee the Dysphagia provision of students and clients accessing National Star, including the development and implementation of policies and procedures; and staff training, coaching, and mentoring in developing best working practices.

To provide clinical supervision and support in relation to Dysphagia for Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants.

To work as a highly specialist autonomous practitioner assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating therapy programmes for learners with complex communication needs.

To promote the development of students communication skills across College, supporting wider learning, taking an active role in the development of new provisions where required.

To be responsible and accountable for the management of learners within a personal caseload, including completing pre-College assessments for potential students.

To design, develop and monitor therapy programmes delivered by staff to promote communication development, contributing to training, coaching, and mentoring of staff in developing best working practices.

To provide direct dysphagia support for named students, including completing complex dysphagia assessment and intervention plans.

To liaise with external agencies and allied health care professionals, including NHS colleagues and specialist nutritional services, and onward referral to community SLT teams and other agencies as appropriate.

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of students, communicating effectively with students, their careers, members of the multi-disciplinary team and outside agencies.

To demonstrate excellent professional knowledge in the field of Dysphagia, underpinned by current evidence-based practice.

To ensure that students have an understanding of what they are doing in therapy and why it is relevant to them. With students who lack capacity to understand, to work in their best interest.

To contribute to assessments of capacity where necessary, including joint working with other relevant professionals and attendance at Best Interest Meetings as required.

To accurately record all therapeutic interventions and ensure electronic documentation is completed in accordance with College and professional standards, protocols and guidelines.

To maintain student confidentiality, unless the consequences of disclosure are detrimental to students, staff and College.

To contribute to student specific meetings and annual reviews and prepare reports and documentation to high standards, including complex cases.

To provide ongoing supervision for Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants.

To undertake relevant training to maintain and develop best practice and meet student needs and professional registration.

To contribute to training, coaching and mentoring of staff in developing best working practices across College and meet organisational goals.

To provide clinical and statistical information including audits and outcome measures on a regular basis or as required.

To comply with all National Star College policies and procedures and the professional Codes of Practice as defined by the Royal College of Speech and Language (RCSLT) and Health and Care Professionals Councils (HCPC).

To participate in the College self-assessment processes and the review of College policies and procedures as required.

To promote a professional image and raise the profile and the role of the Speech and Language Therapy service both within the College and wider community, including other relevant professionals/SLTs outside College.

To be responsive to the unpredictable demands of the post, undertaking other duties that may be within the scope of the role function.

Safeguarding

The college takes seriously its responsibility for safeguarding. It is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young adults and children, and requires that all staff share this responsibility and act accordingly by applying organisational policy and procedure and attending annual safeguarding training.

Equality & Diversity

Through personal example and clear action demonstrate commitment to equality and diversity ensuring equality of access and treatment in employment and service delivery to all.

Health & Safety

Promote the colleges Health and Safety at Work Policy and Procedure and ensure these are implemented effectively within the department.

Experience

Essential

• Five years experience in relevant clinical field
• Demonstration of highly specialist professional knowledge, underpinned by current evidence-based practice
• Experience of completing complex Dysphagia assessments and managing dysphagia care
• Knowledge and experience of instrumental assessments and their interpretation
• Experience of MDT working
• Experience of training others, e.g., key communication partners

Desirable

• Experience of working across multiple locations
• Experience of working in an educational setting
• Experience of working a residential setting
• Knowledge of a broad range of professional formal and informal communication assessment methods and their interpretation

Personal

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Negotiation skills
• Excellent presentation skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised RCSLT degree level qualification
• Membership of RCSLT
• HCPC Licence to Practice
• Postgraduate Dysphagia qualification

Desirable

• Other relevant level 5 qualifications
• Advanced Dysphagia qualification

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Skill in selection of appropriate strategies for prioritisation and management of a complex caseload
• Ability to identify own professional development needs and those of more junior staff, including providing clinical supervision.
• Ability to write concisely and summarise information.
• Excellent time management skills
• Flexibility in regard to the demands of the environment

Desirable

• Experience in policy development and implementation
• Knowledge of high and low tech AAC
• Knowledge of Total Communication techniques
• Technical skills, including the ability to programme a range of AAC software

Other

Essential

• IT skills, able to competently use Microsoft Office such as Word, Publisher, Excel and Powerpoint
• Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post.

Desirable

• Full driving licence
• Experience of presenting at Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs) or conferences
• Membership of relevant Dysphagia CENs

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).