Job responsibilities
KEY TASKS & Responsibilities:
Professional and Clinical
- Carry out designated communication assessments in liaison with qualified speech and language therapy staff.
- Independently perform specific tasks, for individual or groups of patients as part of their treatment and rehabilitation programmes, including computer based therapy and group therapy.
- Use initiative to adapt therapy tasks to facilitate better participation and/or more suitable level of challenge for the patient
- Work with the speech and language therapist to set patient goals for rehabilitation. Set straightforward goals independently e.g. for patients with dysarthria.
- Prepare therapy materials, patient personal history books and low tech communication aids.
- Work under guidance from qualified staff with patients with swallowing disorders, providing opportunities for oral trials of targeted food and fluid consistencies as part of a rehabilitation programme or checking their progress with current food/fluid recommendations.
- Carry out ward checks such as whether required documentation has been completed.
- Maintain patient clinical records in a concise, timely and accurate manner in accordance with departmental standards.
- Provide clear feedback to qualified SLT staff about the treatment sessions provided and raise any areas of concern.
- Liaise with a wide range of professional colleagues and carers at ward level to provide comprehensive management of the patient including raising any concerns immediately.
- Notify team about planned discharges, prepare the necessary paperwork and ensure the patient is discharged with a plan in place. This will include handing over to community adult and paediatric teams.
- Demonstrate a regard for cultural and linguistic differences as well as the barriers of communication disability.
13. Use empathy, tact, sensitivity and discretion when working with individuals with sometimes profound disability at a highly emotional time of their lives.
14. Support the SLT team in the education of students on placement, other healthcare workers and visitors to the department.
- Attend and contribute to departmental meetings.
- Provide any other non-clinical tasks as delegated by qualified staff.
- Provide routine administrative support to the team such as ordering stationery, maintaining stocks of leaflets, photocopying and answering phone calls
Clinical Governance
- Act within defined Trust protocols/policies.
2. Understand and maintain the required standards of clinical record keeping in line with Trust guidelines.
- Respect the confidentiality of individuals relating to the sensitivity of any information that may be shared in line with Data Protection, Caldicott principles, Vulnerable adults and other legal frameworks..
4. Maintain up to date activity data using an electronic patient record.
5. Be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained and adhering to relevant Trust policies.
6. Deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible this may involve diffusing hostility and aggression.
7. Demonstrate an ability to reflect on own practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs.
- Be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies.
- Engage fully with supervision and appraisal processes.
- Be responsible for the safe use of departmental equipment such as iPads.
Research and Practice Development
1. Collect and provide data as required.
General
- Respond to workload variations within the team, displaying flexibility when plans change.
- Undertake any other duties that may be required by the Speech and Language Therapy Principal e.g. assist in managing health roster system; monitor incidents reported.
This job description is an indication of the type and range of tasks that are expected of the post holder, and other duties may be required, in line with the role and the banding. It will be reviewed and amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder to take account of changing organisational need.
This job description should be read in conjunction with the non-supervisory JD Addendum, available at: https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/media/2754/jd-addendum-non-supervisory.pdf
PERSON SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE: Speech and Language Therapy Assistant
PAY BAND: Band 4
DEPARTMENT: Speech and Language Therapy
CRITERIA
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
Good level of GCSE English
NVQ level 4 Higher Education Certificate/BTECor Equivalent.
Experience
Knowledge of the work of the speech and language therapist and a broad understanding of the communication impairments that can arise from neurological conditions.
Awareness of the principles of clinical governance.
Awareness of the standards of record keeping
Experience of working with people with communication disability
Knowledge of intervention strategies. Usually acquired through a combination of formal and informal training.
RCSLT level A Dysphagia competencies
Skills & Knowledge
Good, accurate written and spoken English.
Experience of communicating with a range of people/the public
Good interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills.
Collaborative team approach to working.
Standard keyboard and IT skills
Able to work in busy environment, maintaining calm and a sense of humour.
Able to professionally manage patients who present with unpleasant symptoms such as excessive saliva, when delivering mouthcare/oral trials.
Able to reflect on own practice and identify own strengths / needs.
Proficiency with Excel
Special Requirements
Physically fit to meet requirements of the post
Values & Behaviours
We will expect your values and behaviours to mirror those of the Trust, available at: https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/about-us/our-values/
