Job summary
The department of Speech and Language Therapy at STH is a large, busy and forward-looking department that is renowned for its excellent clinical care, teaching and research. We are looking for a new Head of Speech and Language Therapy to replace Professor Sue Pownall who is retiring from the post.
This is a rare opportunity for an outstanding clinical leader to head a well-developed and ambitious department and to contribute to the advancement of speech and language therapy across hospital and community services.
The role involves the strategic and operational management of the department, provides professional leadership of speech and language therapy and is accountable for all aspects of the clinical governance and delivery of the service. In addition, the post holder is the Clinical Lead in Dysphagia responsible for a specialist clinical case load and provides expert advice to the region/national dysphagia agenda.
Main duties of the job
- Lead by example through presence, visibility and behaviours of compassion, inclusivity and the PROUD values of the Trust.
- Promote an effective team climate within the Speech and Language Therapy Service that nurtures and engages staff, provides an empowering and collegial environment and facilitates mutual accountability and learning.
- Drive professional development and service improvement and foster leadership at all levels to support excellence in patient care.
- Ensure that there are effective structures and processes of governance in place to provide assurance that speech and language therapy staff meet relevant standards of practice and behaviour and are held to account for their decisions and actions.
- Hold responsibility for the implementation of all relevant Clinical Governance standards and practices in the department including Infection Prevention and Control.
- Provide expert advice, guidance and opinion on dysphagia diagnosis and management to the Trust, regulatory and statutory bodies including the Coroner, and national expert groups such as the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
- Promote a culture of quality improvement and evidence-based practice in the profession, and actively support the translation of research knowledge into practice.
- Support a culture of professional learning, reflexivity, and the continuous development of practice.
About us
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree
- Masters Level qualification (clinical / management) or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience
- Registered member of Health and Care Professions Council
- Evidence of experience /post graduate training / education to Masters level or equivalent and CPD relevant to complex dysphagia including videofluoroscopy and FEES
Desirable
- Masters or PhD degree in relevant subject
- Membership of relevant professional group(s) (RCSLT) and relevant Specialist interest group(s).
Further Training
Essential
- Evidence of continuous and current professional and academic development relevant to clinical field
- Evidence of post graduate training in research skills e.g literature reviews, critical appraisal, research methods
- Leadership/ Management training
Desirable
- Completion of a recognised Leadership Training Programme.
- Training in Service or Quality Improvement Methods
- Training in research methods
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience post qualification with evidenced experience at a senior level within relevant speciality
- Substantial clinical experience in SLT including experience as a team lead/clinical lead/manager
- Regional/national reputation in field of Clinical Specialism.
- Evidence of presentations at conferences - Local, Regional, National and/or International.
- Experience of supervising qualified therapy staff and students, delivering SLT student placements and liaising with HEIs
- Experience in policy, planning and interpreting and implementing national and local service policies
- Knowledge and understanding of the impact of local demographic factors on the health of the local population and influencing service design and delivery
- Detailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and audit and experience in developing clinical governance strategies for whole team/service
- Experience in operational management/professional leadership/ service redesign and change management
- Knowledge and experience in dealing with a wide range of HR issues including recruitment and retention, appraisal, performance management, management of absence
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of professional ethics / standards and code of conduct and their application in practice
- Knowledge, understanding and experience of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership and mutli-disciplinary working
- Involvement in audit and/or service evaluation.
- Significant experience of teaching and training of health professionals including at Advanced levels.
- Managing a devolved budget and understanding of financial processes.
- Managing staff and volunteers.
Desirable
- Experience in change management.
- Evidence of research experience or published work.
- Experience in workforce development and skill mix.
- Experience in quality and performance management
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree
- Masters Level qualification (clinical / management) or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience
- Registered member of Health and Care Professions Council
- Evidence of experience /post graduate training / education to Masters level or equivalent and CPD relevant to complex dysphagia including videofluoroscopy and FEES
Desirable
- Masters or PhD degree in relevant subject
- Membership of relevant professional group(s) (RCSLT) and relevant Specialist interest group(s).
Further Training
Essential
- Evidence of continuous and current professional and academic development relevant to clinical field
- Evidence of post graduate training in research skills e.g literature reviews, critical appraisal, research methods
- Leadership/ Management training
Desirable
- Completion of a recognised Leadership Training Programme.
- Training in Service or Quality Improvement Methods
- Training in research methods
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience post qualification with evidenced experience at a senior level within relevant speciality
- Substantial clinical experience in SLT including experience as a team lead/clinical lead/manager
- Regional/national reputation in field of Clinical Specialism.
- Evidence of presentations at conferences - Local, Regional, National and/or International.
- Experience of supervising qualified therapy staff and students, delivering SLT student placements and liaising with HEIs
- Experience in policy, planning and interpreting and implementing national and local service policies
- Knowledge and understanding of the impact of local demographic factors on the health of the local population and influencing service design and delivery
- Detailed knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and audit and experience in developing clinical governance strategies for whole team/service
- Experience in operational management/professional leadership/ service redesign and change management
- Knowledge and experience in dealing with a wide range of HR issues including recruitment and retention, appraisal, performance management, management of absence
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of professional ethics / standards and code of conduct and their application in practice
- Knowledge, understanding and experience of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership and mutli-disciplinary working
- Involvement in audit and/or service evaluation.
- Significant experience of teaching and training of health professionals including at Advanced levels.
- Managing a devolved budget and understanding of financial processes.
- Managing staff and volunteers.
Desirable
- Experience in change management.
- Evidence of research experience or published work.
- Experience in workforce development and skill mix.
- Experience in quality and performance management
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).
