Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

1. To develop and provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to patients referred with acquired communication disorders and adults with swallowing problems, and if appropriate voice disorders.
2. To make a differential diagnosis including complex cases based on evidence from assessment, leading to decisions about intervention/treatment
3. To make specialist clinical decisions following the assessment of complex cases.
4. To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to patients/patients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professionals.
5. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of patients and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the patients difficulties and implications of the same.
6. To initiate and provide a variety of treatment options according to patients needs, including the use of interpreters as appropriate.
7. To negotiate and work closely with patients, carers , other professionals and families agreeing decision- making and prioritisation relevant to the patients management, devising agreed care plans based on best practise, for more complex cases.
8. To use forms of alternative and augmentative communication e.g. signing, symbols, speech synthesisers as indicated from assessment, to maximise the patients communication.
9. To demonstrate empathy with patients, carers and families and colleagues, aiming to achieve effective communication, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
10. To adapt practice to meet individual patient circumstances including due regard for cultural, linguistic and gender differences.
11. To form productive relationships with patients who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
12. To monitor and review the progress of complex patients within packages of care against the targets set and agreed and to modify targets as appropriate.
13. To provide health education and health promotion as needed related to the patients voice disorder or swallowing problem.
14. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures, including the evaluation of specialist interventions.
15. To maintain up to date and accurate patients case notes in accordance with RCSLT professional standards and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
16. To write reports and care plans as needed reflecting specialist knowledge.
17. To provide written evidence of, and recommendations to meet, patients needs to specialised multi-agency panels e.g. nursing home placement etc.
18. To employ counselling skills with patients/patients and carers with highly complex needs.
19. To demonstrate skills in motivating patients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
20. To demonstrate appropriate physical management of patients with disabilities.
21. To manage patients appropriately who have challenging behaviour.
22. To ensure that patients are referred to other services with their consent as appropriate, ensuring appropriate specialised information is communicated.
23. To develop and maintain a specialist clinical expertise in narrow field or across a broad generalist field, consulting with senior specialist speech and language therapists for exceptional cases.
24. To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service.
25. To manage and prioritise a complex community caseload and work load independently.
26. To identify the need for specialist second opinion and access as appropriate.
27. To provide second opinion advice to therapists and other professionals regarding the management and care of patients within specialist area.
28. To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
29. To lead group clinical supervision sessions on managing complex patients within the community supporting junior colleagues within the neuro rehab and/or Adult SLT service.
30. To demonstrate the ability to recognise potential and real conflict and negotiate solutions across a range of issues and situations.
31. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible in line with Trust Policy and Procedure Guidelines.
32. To line manage junior colleagues within the service, ensuring the annual appraisal process is completed and objectives are set and monitored throughout this.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

1. To provide training, supervision and assessment of undergraduate and post-graduate student Speech Therapists as part of continuing programme for student training.
2. To respond promptly to any new published research, government initiatives and directives relating to specialist clinical area, identifying any required changes in practice locally and translating complex technical information to communicate at appropriate levels to other professionals and patients.
3. To contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of evidence based policies, guidelines and procedures on matters relating to speech and language therapy which affect own practice and impact on the practice of other health care professionals and patients.

PROFESSIONAL

1. To maintain professional status and competence as a clinical specialist and work within professional codes of conduct and standards in line with requirements of the Health and Care Professionals Council.
2. To accurately record all assessments and interventions, maintain appropriate documentation, data collection and entry in accordance with Bromley Healthcares and Community Neuro Rehab Service Policies and Procedures and Health and Care Professions Council guidance.
3. To ensure any equipment used is safe for patients and complies with health and safety procedures and Medical Devices Agency directives, and to be responsible for ensuring patients and carers are trained in its safe use.
4. To participate in Bromley Healthcares Clinical Supervision and Appraisal Scheme and to agree and review a Personal Development Programme for ongoing development, including mandatory training.
5. To be responsible for own CPD and professional and personal development. To maintain a high degree of expertise in nutrition and dietetics and undertake post graduate training as required. To participate fully in Continual Professional Development, through portfolio based assessment, in line with national legislation by the Health and Care Professions Council.
6. To initiate and participate in service development projects e.g. projects and audits with continuous consideration of Clinical Governance
7. To be aware of and work in accordance with the Community Neuro Rehab Service, Adult SLT Service and Bromley Healthcares policies and procedures.
8. To work closely with Adult SLT colleagues within the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service including participating in relevant team, service and clinical meetings.

OTHER FACTORS

1. The work requires high levels of concentration due to unpredictable work patterns and interruptions within the working environment.
2. To be aware that some patients/carers may demonstrate antisocial or abusive behaviour and to know how to act accordingly.
3. The work requires exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances, e.g. working with terminally ill patients, elderly patients in nursing homes.
4. Driving is an essential component of the post.
5. Comply with the duties placed on employees by Bromley Healthcares Health and Safety Policy related procedures. Act in accordance with all instruction, information and training required in relation to those duties
6. Any other duties as designated by senior staff and commensurate with the post

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• Health Professions Council Licence to practice.
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
• Completed RCSLT Newly qualified SLT competencies

Desirable

• Qualification in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment
• Member of relevant specialist interest groups or clinical excellence networks

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working clinically as an SLT.
• Evidence of independent caseload management
• Experience working as an SLT with adults who have neurological conditions
• Experience of working with other professionals relevant to patient groups.

Desirable

• Experience of supporting patients with AAC provision
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of participating in audit and service improvement projects
• Experience of training or supervising students, rehab assistants or junior therapists

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Car driver with access to own car
• Good team worker, showing initiative and interest in taking on responsibility.
• Knowledge of our business
• Flexible approach to meeting service & client needs

Training

Essential

• Completed RCSLT Level B dysphagia competencies or similar/equivalent
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Information Technology

Essential

• Proficient IT skills including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

Desirable

• Use of IT skills to support in audit/project work

Skills

Essential

• Able to demonstrate a high level of competence in the management of communication patients.
• To be able to independently assess and manage patients with dysphagia.
• To be competent in handling the emotional and psychosocial aspects of working with a complex SLT caseload in the community
• Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the specialist patient group
• Knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions for dysphagia and communication and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.

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).