Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Speech and Language Therapist

This job is now closed

Job summary

This is a new role for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) looking to develop leadership and clinical skills in neurorehabilitation. It combines leadership roles for a new purpose built neuro rehabilitation unit and for an established early supported discharge team (CSRT) where an integrated working model is in place.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and appropriately experienced speech and language therapist (SLT) to join an integrated multidisciplinary neuro-rehabilitation team in a newly built unit and providing some outreach onto the other hospital wards for patients in the acute stage of their brain injury.

If you want to work in a friendly and established team, with 100% commitment to training and staff support across the trust, shaping the way therapy services are provided at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, apply for this post now!

The SLT department at PHU provide a highly specialist service to the hospital and always puts patient safety and quality at the centre of our care. We provide a comprehensive dysphagia training programme across the hospital. We pride ourselves on our close working relationships with all of our Multi-Disciplinary teams and you will join a well led and cohesive service of committed therapists and other AHPs.

We are looking for applicants with a positive attitude to team working, creativity and flexible working.

Pre arranged visits to the department are welcomed and encouraged.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be responsible for working towards meeting national targets such as UKROC and SSNAP, working closely with multi-disciplinary leads to ensure the delivery of high quality multi-disciplinary care and positive patient experience, demonstrating positive patient outcomes.

You will be expected to provide highly specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with swallowing and complex communication disorders, supporting more junior members of the team including assistant SLTs. You will need a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and DOLS and be able to support members of the wider multidisciplinary team in implementing this for patients with communication needs. Where appropriate, you will be required to provide specialist clinical/technical skills for instrumental assessment and interpretation of swallow function using, e.g. videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy, meeting RCSLT competencies and guidelines, including evidence that competency is maintained. Training and support is available if required.

The successful applicant will receive regular supervision and have regular CPD opportunities, including mentorship and coaching, and you will be well supported by the PHU speech and language therapy team.

About us

The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for our patients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commission report published 2020 and became a University Hospital. We are ranked as the third in the country for research; embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuously strive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. The Trusts main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, starting life as a military hospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the south coast and you may have seen us on the TV series Nurses on the Ward. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist services to a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire. The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, colleagues and our community you will find a home at PHU. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Date posted

15 June 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C8192-CD-23-0643

Job locations

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide day to day management and leadership to the speech and language therapy team on working on Neuro-rehabilitation Ward and in Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team.
To provide excellent clinical and professional leadership.
To provide assessment and implementation of treatment/management plans of patients following acute brain injury including stroke.
To be responsible for the direct delivery of SLT services on the neuro-rehabilitation ward at QAH and the Acute Neuro Team (hospital based) and early supported discharge team community service based in hospital, working to an integrated model.
To be responsible for working towards meeting national targets such as UKROC and SSNAP.
To work closely with multi-disciplinary leads to ensure the delivery of high quality multi-disciplinary care and positive patient experience.
To be able to demonstrate positive patient outcomes
To report directly to the 8a SLT on team performance, operational implementation of work streams and service delivery issues including contingency planning.
To work with relevant professionals to deliver services that support skill sharing across professions and bandings and develops a competency driven, flexible and responsive workforce.
To work closely with Team, and senior therapy leads to develop and transform services and be responsible for implementing change at team level in line with the Trusts strategic aims.
To deputise for, and represent 8a SLT as required.

Speech and Language Therapy

To provide highly specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with swallowing and complex communication disorders.
Support more junior staff in the above.
Provide second opinions and support for complex cases.
Where appropriate, to provide specialist clinical/technical skills for instrumental assessment and interpretation of swallow function using, e.g. videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy, meeting RCSLT competencies and guidelines, including evidence that competency is maintained.
To advise and contribute to discussions within the multi-disciplinary team in regard to the extent to which cognition and communication will influence the ability for clients and carers to make specific decisions in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act.
This post may include occasional bank holiday working.

Key Responsibilities:

Professional Responsibilities

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work.
To work autonomously and without direct supervision.
To maintain own professional competence to practice.
To assess patient understanding of therapy interventions, gain valid consent whilst taking into consideration barriers to patient participation.
To hold a caseload at a highly specialist level and using advanced clinical reasoning, skills and involving patients, carers and the MDT as required.
To use advanced skills and expert knowledge to ensure that care is based on best available evidence to improve health outcomes and promote health and well-being of patients.
Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes of own caseload and team if required.
Where appropriate, to ensure the principles of the mental capacity act, best interests and deprivation of liberty are applied and documented in all situations with vulnerable patients and their carers.
To keep accurate, legible records of patient care in line with service guidelines.
Provide a source of expertise and support to colleagues across the therapy services and work with other statutory and independent agencies.
Represent your profession and the therapy service at multi-disciplinary meetings to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to patient care including discharge planning.
Represent the profession across PHU.
To demonstrate and implement National Codes of Professional Conduct and Professional Standards of Clinical Practice (e.g. HCPC, RCSLT).
To actively participate in the trust appraisal process as appraisee and appraisor.

Operational Management and Clinical Leadership

To provide operational management to the teams on a daily basis, seeking support and guidance from 8a Leads as required.
To manage operational processes (including; recruitment, ESR, Health Roster, responding to escalation,) with support of 8a SLT.
To line manage allocated staff to include, recruitment process, sickness and absence monitoring and disciplinary/ performance issues.
To manage performance of individuals through the appraisal and supervision process and work closely with senior therapy leads to manage capability/performance issues in line with Trust policy when required.
To report, investigate and manage incidents, sharing learning from incidents and risk with the team and wider organisation as appropriate.
To investigate and manage complaints in accordance with Trust policy, share and implement learning across the team.
To work closely with the Therapy 8a Leads and Head of Therapies to ensure services are delivered efficiently and within budgetary constraints including monitoring of demand and capacity within designated area, to ensure efficient resources are available to maintain service delivery.
To be responsible for ensuring effective induction for all staff within the area of responsibility and relevant students.
To ensure all staff attend statutory and mandatory training.
To work with senior therapy leads to monitor performance and analyse data to provide performance information to service managers to support the delivery of KPIs, management of demand and capacity and to inform future workforce, skill mix requirements and service development.
To work with clinical specialists to ensure the delivery of evidenced base practice and effective governance for staff working within your defined clinical area.
To work with the Therapy 8a Lead and Head of Therapies to ensure staff are clinically competent, services are clinically effective and safe and an excellent patient experience is delivered.
When working within the community as a lone practitioner to ensure that you and your team are following trust and therapy service policies for lone working.
To embed the principles of integrated working across therapies and the wider multi-disciplinary team as required.
To advise the Therapy 8a Lead and Head of Therapies on professional issues relating to the provision and development of your defined clinical area including an awareness of the impact of national/regional/local strategy within your defined clinical area.
Propose, produce, interpret and implement policies, procedures, standards of service, clinical guidelines within your defined clinical area.
Responsible for the safe and competent use of equipment within your defined clinical as appropriate ensuring that staff you lead attain competency prior to use and that equipment defects or accidents are reported.
Undertake risk assessments in a variety of complex situations for self, patients, colleagues and relatives.
Responsible for maintaining stock of equipment or materials used within specific clinical areas.
Plan and organise non-clinical activities pertaining to your specialist area, meetings, training activities and conferences.
To set up procedures to evaluate service delivery by encouraging patients feedback.
To take delegated responsibility from line manager as required.

Communication

Provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information to patients, carers, and other staff.
Use highly developed interpersonal verbal and non-verbal skills to overcome significant barriers to communication, acceptance or understanding.
Communicate sensitively and effectively with patients, carers, relatives or other professionals in situations that may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive.
Establish robust communication networks with other professionals to optimise continuum of care, therapy intervention and discharge planning to ensure a consistent MDT approach to care.
Responsible for recording personally generated information regarding patients e.g. written and electronic records, reports and activity data in accordance with professional and local standards including maintaining confidentiality.
Concentrate while undertaking work that is not always predictable. With competing demands for attention, prioritise workload and manage interruptions relating to patient care.
Work with a number of patients who may be challenging and emotionally demanding, who have communication, psychological, cognitive or mental health issues as well as their physical disabilities, with frequent exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances, e.g. being exposed to severely injured and distressed patients and involvement with the end of life decision making.
To provide regular support to staff members who may have been exposed to emotional and stressful situations.
To attend and actively participate in specialty, peer group and departmental staff meetings.
To ensure timely and effective communication to senior therapy staff on all professional matters.

Education and Training

Participation in CPD activity including teaching on specific subjects and delivering core training programmes to team members, other professionals and students.
Provide and conduct specialist training for a range of individuals and groups including; patients and their carers, other health professionals, general public, external agencies, and national specialist interest groups.
Provide clinical practice placements for pre-registration students and apprentices and support other staff within your team to supervise students.
To ensure that new members of staff, locums, students and visitors receive appropriate orientation and induction programmes.
To keep updated with new developments within your specialist area and attend relevant training as appropriate.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide day to day management and leadership to the speech and language therapy team on working on Neuro-rehabilitation Ward and in Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team.
To provide excellent clinical and professional leadership.
To provide assessment and implementation of treatment/management plans of patients following acute brain injury including stroke.
To be responsible for the direct delivery of SLT services on the neuro-rehabilitation ward at QAH and the Acute Neuro Team (hospital based) and early supported discharge team community service based in hospital, working to an integrated model.
To be responsible for working towards meeting national targets such as UKROC and SSNAP.
To work closely with multi-disciplinary leads to ensure the delivery of high quality multi-disciplinary care and positive patient experience.
To be able to demonstrate positive patient outcomes
To report directly to the 8a SLT on team performance, operational implementation of work streams and service delivery issues including contingency planning.
To work with relevant professionals to deliver services that support skill sharing across professions and bandings and develops a competency driven, flexible and responsive workforce.
To work closely with Team, and senior therapy leads to develop and transform services and be responsible for implementing change at team level in line with the Trusts strategic aims.
To deputise for, and represent 8a SLT as required.

Speech and Language Therapy

To provide highly specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with swallowing and complex communication disorders.
Support more junior staff in the above.
Provide second opinions and support for complex cases.
Where appropriate, to provide specialist clinical/technical skills for instrumental assessment and interpretation of swallow function using, e.g. videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy, meeting RCSLT competencies and guidelines, including evidence that competency is maintained.
To advise and contribute to discussions within the multi-disciplinary team in regard to the extent to which cognition and communication will influence the ability for clients and carers to make specific decisions in line with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act.
This post may include occasional bank holiday working.

Key Responsibilities:

Professional Responsibilities

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work.
To work autonomously and without direct supervision.
To maintain own professional competence to practice.
To assess patient understanding of therapy interventions, gain valid consent whilst taking into consideration barriers to patient participation.
To hold a caseload at a highly specialist level and using advanced clinical reasoning, skills and involving patients, carers and the MDT as required.
To use advanced skills and expert knowledge to ensure that care is based on best available evidence to improve health outcomes and promote health and well-being of patients.
Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes of own caseload and team if required.
Where appropriate, to ensure the principles of the mental capacity act, best interests and deprivation of liberty are applied and documented in all situations with vulnerable patients and their carers.
To keep accurate, legible records of patient care in line with service guidelines.
Provide a source of expertise and support to colleagues across the therapy services and work with other statutory and independent agencies.
Represent your profession and the therapy service at multi-disciplinary meetings to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to patient care including discharge planning.
Represent the profession across PHU.
To demonstrate and implement National Codes of Professional Conduct and Professional Standards of Clinical Practice (e.g. HCPC, RCSLT).
To actively participate in the trust appraisal process as appraisee and appraisor.

Operational Management and Clinical Leadership

To provide operational management to the teams on a daily basis, seeking support and guidance from 8a Leads as required.
To manage operational processes (including; recruitment, ESR, Health Roster, responding to escalation,) with support of 8a SLT.
To line manage allocated staff to include, recruitment process, sickness and absence monitoring and disciplinary/ performance issues.
To manage performance of individuals through the appraisal and supervision process and work closely with senior therapy leads to manage capability/performance issues in line with Trust policy when required.
To report, investigate and manage incidents, sharing learning from incidents and risk with the team and wider organisation as appropriate.
To investigate and manage complaints in accordance with Trust policy, share and implement learning across the team.
To work closely with the Therapy 8a Leads and Head of Therapies to ensure services are delivered efficiently and within budgetary constraints including monitoring of demand and capacity within designated area, to ensure efficient resources are available to maintain service delivery.
To be responsible for ensuring effective induction for all staff within the area of responsibility and relevant students.
To ensure all staff attend statutory and mandatory training.
To work with senior therapy leads to monitor performance and analyse data to provide performance information to service managers to support the delivery of KPIs, management of demand and capacity and to inform future workforce, skill mix requirements and service development.
To work with clinical specialists to ensure the delivery of evidenced base practice and effective governance for staff working within your defined clinical area.
To work with the Therapy 8a Lead and Head of Therapies to ensure staff are clinically competent, services are clinically effective and safe and an excellent patient experience is delivered.
When working within the community as a lone practitioner to ensure that you and your team are following trust and therapy service policies for lone working.
To embed the principles of integrated working across therapies and the wider multi-disciplinary team as required.
To advise the Therapy 8a Lead and Head of Therapies on professional issues relating to the provision and development of your defined clinical area including an awareness of the impact of national/regional/local strategy within your defined clinical area.
Propose, produce, interpret and implement policies, procedures, standards of service, clinical guidelines within your defined clinical area.
Responsible for the safe and competent use of equipment within your defined clinical as appropriate ensuring that staff you lead attain competency prior to use and that equipment defects or accidents are reported.
Undertake risk assessments in a variety of complex situations for self, patients, colleagues and relatives.
Responsible for maintaining stock of equipment or materials used within specific clinical areas.
Plan and organise non-clinical activities pertaining to your specialist area, meetings, training activities and conferences.
To set up procedures to evaluate service delivery by encouraging patients feedback.
To take delegated responsibility from line manager as required.

Communication

Provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information to patients, carers, and other staff.
Use highly developed interpersonal verbal and non-verbal skills to overcome significant barriers to communication, acceptance or understanding.
Communicate sensitively and effectively with patients, carers, relatives or other professionals in situations that may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive.
Establish robust communication networks with other professionals to optimise continuum of care, therapy intervention and discharge planning to ensure a consistent MDT approach to care.
Responsible for recording personally generated information regarding patients e.g. written and electronic records, reports and activity data in accordance with professional and local standards including maintaining confidentiality.
Concentrate while undertaking work that is not always predictable. With competing demands for attention, prioritise workload and manage interruptions relating to patient care.
Work with a number of patients who may be challenging and emotionally demanding, who have communication, psychological, cognitive or mental health issues as well as their physical disabilities, with frequent exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances, e.g. being exposed to severely injured and distressed patients and involvement with the end of life decision making.
To provide regular support to staff members who may have been exposed to emotional and stressful situations.
To attend and actively participate in specialty, peer group and departmental staff meetings.
To ensure timely and effective communication to senior therapy staff on all professional matters.

Education and Training

Participation in CPD activity including teaching on specific subjects and delivering core training programmes to team members, other professionals and students.
Provide and conduct specialist training for a range of individuals and groups including; patients and their carers, other health professionals, general public, external agencies, and national specialist interest groups.
Provide clinical practice placements for pre-registration students and apprentices and support other staff within your team to supervise students.
To ensure that new members of staff, locums, students and visitors receive appropriate orientation and induction programmes.
To keep updated with new developments within your specialist area and attend relevant training as appropriate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Health and Care Professions Council Registration.
Recognised professional Speech and Language Therapy qualification to degree or masters level.
Evidence of relevant post graduate training including leadership training.
Current and Valid Driving Licence.

Desirable

Practice Educators Qualification.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Highly developed knowledge in specialist professional field, underpinned by theory.
Supportive, excellent interpersonal skills including ability to communicate clearly both written and oral.
Outstanding leadership skills.
Understand legal responsibilities of your profession, with knowledge of professional and ethical issues in practice.
Ability to build effective working relationships within the Multidisciplinary Team.
Knowledge of health and safety issues.
Detailed knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
Specialist knowledge and application of assessments, interventions, outcome measures.
Self-motivated, assertive, diplomatic and tactful.
An ability to work alone, autonomously and set own priorities.
Ability to work flexibly and manage pressure of work.
Ability to delegate and negotiate.
Able to analyse professional and ethical issues, including ability to critically appraise own performance.
Supervisory and appraisal skills.
Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
Ability to cope with a stressful working environment and with emotional or aggressive patients or carers.
Ability to build effective working relationships.
Competent IT skills.
Presentation skills.
Ability to engage with service users, including a commitment to client centred, non-discriminatory practice.
Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes including numeracy and literacy skills.

Experience

Essential

Evidence of experience to meet the scope and authority of the post.
Evidence of advanced level of practice including in depth experience at band 6 level.
Supervision of staff/students.
Transforming services and implementing change.
Leadership, recruitment and selection of staff.
Individual/group and team work in a variety of relevant settings.
Research/audit.
Documented evidence of Continuous Practice Development (CPD).
Practice innovation.
Working with users/carers and external agencies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Health and Care Professions Council Registration.
Recognised professional Speech and Language Therapy qualification to degree or masters level.
Evidence of relevant post graduate training including leadership training.
Current and Valid Driving Licence.

Desirable

Practice Educators Qualification.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Highly developed knowledge in specialist professional field, underpinned by theory.
Supportive, excellent interpersonal skills including ability to communicate clearly both written and oral.
Outstanding leadership skills.
Understand legal responsibilities of your profession, with knowledge of professional and ethical issues in practice.
Ability to build effective working relationships within the Multidisciplinary Team.
Knowledge of health and safety issues.
Detailed knowledge of the principles and application of clinical governance.
Specialist knowledge and application of assessments, interventions, outcome measures.
Self-motivated, assertive, diplomatic and tactful.
An ability to work alone, autonomously and set own priorities.
Ability to work flexibly and manage pressure of work.
Ability to delegate and negotiate.
Able to analyse professional and ethical issues, including ability to critically appraise own performance.
Supervisory and appraisal skills.
Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
Ability to cope with a stressful working environment and with emotional or aggressive patients or carers.
Ability to build effective working relationships.
Competent IT skills.
Presentation skills.
Ability to engage with service users, including a commitment to client centred, non-discriminatory practice.
Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes including numeracy and literacy skills.

Experience

Essential

Evidence of experience to meet the scope and authority of the post.
Evidence of advanced level of practice including in depth experience at band 6 level.
Supervision of staff/students.
Transforming services and implementing change.
Leadership, recruitment and selection of staff.
Individual/group and team work in a variety of relevant settings.
Research/audit.
Documented evidence of Continuous Practice Development (CPD).
Practice innovation.
Working with users/carers and external agencies.

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).