Job summary
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Band 6, Fixed Term, open to both full time (up to 37.5 hours) and part time applicants.
This is an exciting fixed term / Secondment opportunity to join the Speech and Language Therapy team within Cleft.NET.East - the East of England multi-disciplinary regional Cleft Lip and Palate service based at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
We are looking for a flexible and organised team player with an interest in working cleft related speech difficulties / non-cleft velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) to join our friendly, energetic and motivated team. You must be flexible, creative, innovative and committed to providing needs led and effective speech therapy intervention for this client group. This is an opportunity for you to further develop and contribute your specialist skills, and to the continued development of our service.
You will be well supported by the team of Speech and Language Therapists as well as by the wider team, with access to regular 1:1 supervision and opportunities for continued professional development.
Main duties of the job
As a member of the SLT and multi-disciplinary team, you will contribute to the provision of a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy Service. This will involve assessment, differential diagnosis and management of speech problems associated with Cleft Lip and Palate/ Velopharyngeal Dysfunction for patients across the East of England region.
You will provide specialist speech therapy intervention to manage speech difficulties in children, adolescents and adults across the Cleft.NET.East region (covering Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire). You will need to be willing and able to travel on a regular basis and have access to a laptop / mobile device for remote working.
You will need to be flexible, creative and innovative and be committed to providing equitable, needs-led and effective intervention for this client group. You will work in partnership with others, e.g. parents, carers and teachers, and will act as an advisor to Community Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals in related areas. You will have access to regular support from the specialist SLT team as required.
You will also contribute to research, service development and audit activities within the department and will provide support and supervision to students and volunteers.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 11000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can only apply for this post as a secondment and must have the approval of your current line manager before applying.
The advert will close at midnight on 15 February 2024.
Interviews are due to be held on 5 March 2024.
Benefits to you
We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse, day nurseries and access to a great transport system with easy access to airports and rail travel.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can only apply for this post as a secondment and must have the approval of your current line manager before applying.
The advert will close at midnight on 15 February 2024.
Interviews are due to be held on 5 March 2024.
Benefits to you
We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse, day nurseries and access to a great transport system with easy access to airports and rail travel.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and language Therapy Degree
- Evidence of continuing professional development since qualifying
- Current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
- Current Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) registration
Desirable
- Completion of relevant post graduate course and/or specialist courses / training for relevant speciality
- Short courses in relevant clinical areas, e.g. cleft palate, speech disorders
- International Phonetics Association Qualification (if not UK trained)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of assessing, diagnosing and treating a range of communication impairment
- Demonstrable experience of assessing and treating children with speech sound disorders using a range of approaches to management
- Demonstrable experience of inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary working / collaboration in the process of patient care
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of managing children on their own caseload with speech difficulties related to cleft palate / velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Experience of working with adults with communication impairments
- Evidence of teaching SLTs and other professions
- Competent in the use of audio / video recording systems and other objective assessment tools
- Experience in involvement with audit and research projects
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to specialist client group including non-invasive and invasive investigations of velopharyngeal function, and other speech and language assessment tools
- Knowledge of investigation / assessment methods for speech, language and velopharyngeal function
- Theoretical knowledge of a broad range of therapy methods / approaches for speech sound disorder and understanding of applications to specialist area
- Detailed knowledge of typical speech development and theoretical knowledge about the management of child speech sound disorders
- Awareness of current issues in speech and language therapy service provision
- Sound knowledge of IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office software
- Knowledge of the impact of cultural and bilingual issues for SLTs
Desirable
- Knowledge of UK cleft care service set-up and delivery and current issues in cleft care
- Knowledge of the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process
- Knowledge of research design and methodology, with particular reference to own specialist field and current research in cleft palate / velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Knowledge of national procedures relevant to the specialist client group, including clinical governance
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including listening, sustained concentration and empathy with patients and relatives who themselves may have a range of complex communication impairments
- Demonstrable professional curiosity, active engagement in reflective practice and ability to generate ideas to problem solve clinical and professional challenges
- Negotiation, analytic and problem-solving skills
- Excellent auditory skills, including phonetic transcription
- Demonstrable ability for effective team-working including adaptability, flexibility and a collaborative, supportive and problem solving approach to team relationships
- High level verbal and written presentation skills
- Demonstrable self-organisational skills including prioritization of a caseload
- Skills in motivating clients / carers to engage in the therapeutic process
- Ability to manage the emotional consequences of working with patients with a range of communication disorders
- Skills in building effective working relationships with and enabling local Speech and Language Therapists, families and other professionals to develop and implement individual therapy
Desirable
- Ability to lead group therapy
- Ability to devise innovative therapy approaches
- Creative approach to service delivery
- Advanced IT skills
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
- Evidence of enthusiasm and commitment to contributing to the particular needs of this client group
- Adaptability: able to work with a wide range of patients in a full range of clinical contexts while simultaneously integrating the needs of the patient / family
- Capable of sustained concentration for long interviews with often distressed / anxious clients and families
- Must have developed strategies for containing personal, team and organisational stress, and abilities to support others with this
- Ability to tolerate flexible and mobile working conditions (e.g. Ward / school / Clinic / home)
- Ability and willingness to travel independently to locations around the region on at least a weekly basis
- Awareness of issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and language Therapy Degree
- Evidence of continuing professional development since qualifying
- Current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
- Current Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) registration
Desirable
- Completion of relevant post graduate course and/or specialist courses / training for relevant speciality
- Short courses in relevant clinical areas, e.g. cleft palate, speech disorders
- International Phonetics Association Qualification (if not UK trained)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of assessing, diagnosing and treating a range of communication impairment
- Demonstrable experience of assessing and treating children with speech sound disorders using a range of approaches to management
- Demonstrable experience of inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary working / collaboration in the process of patient care
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of managing children on their own caseload with speech difficulties related to cleft palate / velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Experience of working with adults with communication impairments
- Evidence of teaching SLTs and other professions
- Competent in the use of audio / video recording systems and other objective assessment tools
- Experience in involvement with audit and research projects
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to specialist client group including non-invasive and invasive investigations of velopharyngeal function, and other speech and language assessment tools
- Knowledge of investigation / assessment methods for speech, language and velopharyngeal function
- Theoretical knowledge of a broad range of therapy methods / approaches for speech sound disorder and understanding of applications to specialist area
- Detailed knowledge of typical speech development and theoretical knowledge about the management of child speech sound disorders
- Awareness of current issues in speech and language therapy service provision
- Sound knowledge of IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office software
- Knowledge of the impact of cultural and bilingual issues for SLTs
Desirable
- Knowledge of UK cleft care service set-up and delivery and current issues in cleft care
- Knowledge of the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process
- Knowledge of research design and methodology, with particular reference to own specialist field and current research in cleft palate / velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Knowledge of national procedures relevant to the specialist client group, including clinical governance
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including listening, sustained concentration and empathy with patients and relatives who themselves may have a range of complex communication impairments
- Demonstrable professional curiosity, active engagement in reflective practice and ability to generate ideas to problem solve clinical and professional challenges
- Negotiation, analytic and problem-solving skills
- Excellent auditory skills, including phonetic transcription
- Demonstrable ability for effective team-working including adaptability, flexibility and a collaborative, supportive and problem solving approach to team relationships
- High level verbal and written presentation skills
- Demonstrable self-organisational skills including prioritization of a caseload
- Skills in motivating clients / carers to engage in the therapeutic process
- Ability to manage the emotional consequences of working with patients with a range of communication disorders
- Skills in building effective working relationships with and enabling local Speech and Language Therapists, families and other professionals to develop and implement individual therapy
Desirable
- Ability to lead group therapy
- Ability to devise innovative therapy approaches
- Creative approach to service delivery
- Advanced IT skills
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
- Evidence of enthusiasm and commitment to contributing to the particular needs of this client group
- Adaptability: able to work with a wide range of patients in a full range of clinical contexts while simultaneously integrating the needs of the patient / family
- Capable of sustained concentration for long interviews with often distressed / anxious clients and families
- Must have developed strategies for containing personal, team and organisational stress, and abilities to support others with this
- Ability to tolerate flexible and mobile working conditions (e.g. Ward / school / Clinic / home)
- Ability and willingness to travel independently to locations around the region on at least a weekly basis
- Awareness of issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).