Speech & Language Therapist

Job responsibilities

See Full Job Description & Person Spec under attachments

5.4 Responsibility for people who use our services

To independently manage personal caseload with reference to theory, published research and evidence and agreed best practice.

To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret case related information and data from patients, carers and other relevant sources.

To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments as indicated by the presenting SLCD and/or dysphagia.

To reach differential diagnoses on the basis of evidence gathered from assessments and other sources and with reference to theory.

To assess, manage and advise patients with dysphagia and their families with support from more experienced Speech and Language Therapists when required.

To attend meetings, including MDT and patient meetings, to update the MDT on individual SLT patient goals and specialised care plans.

To develop patient-centred treatment/management plans ensuring patient/carers are fully involved in the decision making process.

To be responsible for the writing and dissemination of clinical reports based on assessment and treatment findings to appropriate professionals and relevant others.

To be responsible for triage, management and discharge of patients in relation to personal caseload without direct supervision.

To communicate complex information to patients whose ability to understand and co-operate is the primary difficulty and where a range of means and levels of communication are required.

To appropriately explain complex and sensitive case related information to patients and their carers.

To demonstrate empathy and reassurance when providing patients and carers with unwelcome information that has long-term implications e.g. where the communication difficulties are not likely to resolve.

To monitor, recognise and evaluate changes in the patients condition and adapt the assessment and treatment programme accordingly.

To identify and communicate risk factors for impaired swallow and communication difficulties.

To recognise the need for onward referral for more specialist SLT intervention, further assessment or multidisciplinary advice.

To negotiate with carers/patients and professionals around individual case diagnosis and management where others have less specialist knowledge and/or experience in relation to speech, language, communication, and dysphagia and where differences of professional judgement can occur.

To pass on skills to inform and enable other professionals and carers to agree and carry out individualised treatment programmes and advice e.g. clarifying individual patients levels of understanding thereby helping them give informed consent for complex procedures/life choices.

To be responsible for training and advising patients, carers, professionals, and non-professionals how to support speech, language, communication and dysphagia.

To contribute to clinical teams, both multi and uni-disciplinary, by discussing and negotiating own and others input around patients needs, ensuring a well-coordinated care plan based on best practice, evidence and care pathways.

5.5 Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

To maintain registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

To be professionally accountable for independent clinical judgements for prioritisation, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, onward referral and discharge criteria in line with HCPC and RCSLT standards.

To progress and develop professional and clinical skills across a range of acquired speech, language, communication and dysphagia difficulties by working with more experienced staff, undertaking self-directed and more formal CPD activities and maintaining personal portfolio.

To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training when necessary with in an individual performance review framework.

To comply with all Organisational policies, Clinical Governance, Health and Safety and Risk Management procedures and undertake all required mandatory training. Also to adhere to national recognised standards and rules of professional conduct.

To comply with the Data Protection Act and Caldicott recommendations.

To follow and implement local and national policies with elements of independent professional judgement and make recommendations for change for own specialism through the clinical governance process.

To participate in Livewells Annual Appraisal Process

With the Team Leader SLT and more experienced therapists, to take part in research and clinical audit, and contribute to others research by providing data.

With the Team Leader and more experienced therapists, to support continuous and quality improvements of the service.

5.6 Other Responsibilities

Monitor satisfaction of people using the service and support change in response to this, in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team.

With support from more senior staff, ability to cope with emotionally complex and demanding scenarios involving patients and families who are dealing with challenging diagnoses.

The post will include flexible working patterns over 37.5 hours working week, including bank holidays.

6. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Communicate sensitive and complex information with a range of staff internally and externally across the organisation.

Communicate highly sensitive information with patients or carers which requires tact and where there are barriers to understanding.

To adapt own communication styles to support patients with significant communication impairments.

7. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Working in awkward spaces or positions, including during home visits. Supporting

physically unwell patients, which may also include exposure to unpleasant smells and bodily fluids.

Working with distressed and anxious/aggressive people with communication and neurological impairment, their families & carers.

Ability to discuss difficult topics relating to the communication and swallowing, with people with complex conditions (eg MS, PD), and with their families and carers.

Able to use good physical manipulation skills for example, to thicken fluids, or to position therapy tools with a high level of accuracy.

Able to work with people with severe physical disability, cognitive impairment and communication problems. This will require good levels of auditory and listening skills and an ability to minimize any barriers to communication.

Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration for long periods of time but deal with repeated interruptions and the unpredictability of clinical work.

To Operate a VDU every day.

Experience

Essential

• Autonomous practitioner with experience of managing a caseload.
• Experience in cognitive neuropsychological assessment and treatment planning
• Experience in dysphagia management
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team in a rehabilitation setting
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• Experience of working with staff from other agencies
• Experience of teaching/ training
• Experience of working with Long term conditions
• Placement experience in a relevant setting

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in speech and language therapy
• HPC Registration
• RCSLT Registration
• RCSLT Level C dysphagia competencies (completed)
• Evidence of on-going education and professional development
• Computer literate
• Recognised qualification in written and spoken English

Desirable

• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Network
• RCSLT accredited post-graduate dysphagia training or a willingness to undertake

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrate excellent knowledge of SLCD differential diagnosis in adult neuro client group.
• Demonstrate an understanding of multi-disciplinary team working and individual roles
• Knowledge of outcome measures within adult neuro client group.
• Knowledge and understanding of Clinical Governance

Desirable

• Evidence of special knowledge/interest in aphasia and/or motor speech disorders

Specific skills

Essential

• Good skills in clinical assessment, intervention and evaluation
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Ability to work in teams
• Excellent IT skills/
• Knowledge and experience of computer assisted therapy and AAC devices
• Ability to access/travel to patient homes across the locality

Desirable

• Innovative and flexible - able to cope with change

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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