Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To provide clinical leadership in the management of patients under the care of NUH within a specialist area. vice

To develop and extend the scope of practice through undertaking research projects and implementing evidence-based practice.

To provide clinical leadership within the specialist service, through consultation and joint working with all bands of staff, in the management of complex patients, this will involve review of their clinical reasoning, therapeutic handling and treatment skills.

To maintain and develop high standards of patients care and facilitate and implement evidence based practice by ensuring implementation of standards set in relevant national guidance, specialist clinical group guidance and specialist relevant areas. Also by ensuring staff are informed of recent developments through attendance at research based conferences, relevant network meetings and postgraduate education and training courses.

To develop local pathways of care for specialist area patients

To evaluate the effectiveness of the service through service evaluation & clinical audit in liaison with the Therapy Services Manager and relevant stakeholders.

Where appropriate, offer extended scopes of practice so as to facilitate the optimal management of patients within a clinic setting (e.g. X ray ordering, prescribing)

To ensure waiting list targets are maintained by initiating and developing new ways of working (e.g. telephone consultation, opt-in appointments, SOS appointments).

To ensure high standards of clinical care within the section on issues pertaining to specialist area to own team and a wide range of disciplines (e.g. medical staff and the MDT) in line with the education and training strategy by:

• In-service training and development programme
• One to one coaching / teaching
• Clinical supervision
• Presenting lectures at under and post-graduate level
• Practical sessions
• Acting as an information resource

To establish collaborative links with other local and national advanced practitioners and disseminate information and development.

To lead on and participate in clinical research projects that enhance patient care, evaluate service and clinical developments, at times in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

To develop links between local speech and language therapy services to enable the sharing of best practice (e.g. benchmarking, Essence of Care).

CLINICAL:

To manage and organise own patient caseload and support other therapists with treatment and management of highly complex patients across the Trust.

To take a major role in the advanced assessment of patients including those with a very complex presentation, using investigative and clinical reasoning skills to formulate a clinical diagnosis, individualised management and treatment plans.

To provide clinical leadership through:

• Innovative practice
• Development of own clinical knowledge and skills
• Provide clinical leadership and support to other members of the clinical team
• Taking responsibility for own CPD
• Facilitating others in their CPD
• Supporting ESPs/Advanced Practitioners in developing safe effective advanced practice
• Responsible for band 7 PDRs
• Developing jointly agreed local departmental objectives to facilitate teamwork and service progression
• Responsibility for governance
• Developing effective working relationships with Trust wide teams to support pathways

To facilitate Trust wide the setting and monitoring of clinical standards for specialist conditions with regards to local / national standards and clinical guidelines.

To develop and evaluate outcome measures and clinical indicators in order to monitor clinical effectiveness, in liaison with other healthcare staff.

To be involved in; or to facilitate the development and implementation of integrated specialist care pathways

To evaluate the service through service evaluation, clinical audit and benchmarking, facilitating the implementation of any required developments.

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work.

To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of their condition. Complex communication skills of persuasion and motivation are required to overcome psychosocial issues so as to allow effective treatment.

To use highly developed communication skills (verbal and non verbal) to gain valid consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, language differences, pain and fears.

To be competent in the use of medical devices required for the management / treatment of specialism. To also be effective in the teaching of medical device use to others.

To lead the specialist service to develop competencies and support staff to achieve this, including where necessary for on call and weekend workers

To effectively liaise with consultants so as to ensure extended skills are implemented safely and effectively.

To maintain an up to date specialist knowledge in the management and treatment of patients with conditions relevant to the specialism

Supporting operational therapy services managers in investigating clinical complaints and incidents.

HUMAN RESOURCES:

Ensure personal and professional development of staff including regular clinical supervision, staff appraisal and performance reviews. Ensure that all staff are regularly appraised which supports the Trusts Strategy

EDUCATION:

To provide consultancy, teaching, coaching, specialist advice and support to staff in relation to this clinical area.

To market services to key stakeholders including patients, consultant and commissioning groups

To implement and take an active role in postgraduate education to facilitate high clinical standards.

To occasionally supervise and support undergraduate students as required, according to staffing levels within the unit.

To develop and organise specialist courses for both internal and external participants. To work with Nottingham University to contribute to undergraduate programmes as required.

To support the Therapy Services Manager in the identification of training needs in line with Trust and Departmental objectives.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

To identify current issues and initiate developments in agreed service areas

To undertake, support and co-ordinate research projects to enhance the evidence base of treatment and management of specialist conditions with relevant stakeholders.

To promote evidence based practice through the critical appraisal of current literature, dissemination of information, participation in appropriate courses and conferences.

Person Specification

training and qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• oRegistered with HCPC and RCSLT
• oRecognised post-graduate training relevant to specialty preferably including research skills to a Master's level.
• Knowledge of National, Trust and Departmental policies, procedures and guidelines

Experience

Essential

• oRequire highly advanced / theoretical / practical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills in field of communication and swallowing
• Significant experience working with complex patients across a range of specialities within an acute setting
• Specialist experience working with people with dementia
• Experience of measuring outcomes, audit, service evaluation and improvement

Desirable

• Videofluoroscopy trained
• FEES trained

Other

Essential

• Able to travel between locations
• Knowledge of ICT applications clinical and non clinical

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

• Able to communicate highly complex information effectively, in writing and verbally, including sensitive information
• Able to motivate, train and teach own and other disciplines of staff, individually and in groups
• Able to influence senior medical consultants, GPs and commissioners
• Able to persuade, negotiate, take and give feedback tactfully and diplomatically

Analytical and judgement skills

Essential

• Ability to analyse, interpret and compare information.
• Demonstrated high level clinical reasoning skills, providing second opinions
• Able to critically appraise research literature and implement evidence based practice.
• Provide critical evaluation of service delivery and facilitate change.

Planning and organisation

Essential

• Able to plan and prioritise own workload by using planning, organisational and time management.
• Ability to delegate effectively
• Demonstrated ability to work within the MDT, interdisciplinary working

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

Queen's Medical Centre

Derby Road

Nottingham

NG7 2UH

Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)