Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient/Client Care

To be a source of senior, highly specialist clinical expertise within SLT in the field of stroke and neurorehabilitation, and to manage own caseload of patients with acquired communication and/or swallowing problems including complex patients

To demonstrate an advanced level of clinical expertise including extended scope of practice and maintain expert clinical knowledge in the field of stroke and neurorehabilitation which impact on communication and swallowing

As an autonomous practitioner to prioritise, organise and manage a highly specialist clinical caseload in demonstrating skills in dealing with complex issues and generating appropriate strategies for caseload management.

To effectively examine and assess patients, identify their problems and needs and ensure that patients' medical, cognitive, psychological, social, environmental and cultural factors are taken into account including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathologies.

To select appropriate assessments to support the identification of each patients communication profile, in order to differentially diagnose patients with acquired speech and language impairment, collecting evidence from both formal and informal assessment, using highly specialist knowledge and extensive experience

To assess and diagnose patients with swallowing problems, using a range of assessments including cervical auscultation and bedside assessment; making a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence using highly specialist knowledge and extensive experience

To make clinical decisions following assessment and to develop highly specialist individual care plans based on best practice. To identify within the care plans appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative or swallowing effectiveness, making judgements that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options

To reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication or swallowing problem and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance the effectiveness of communication and / or swallowing

To take the lead in devising and implementing highly specialist individualised therapy programmes as appropriate, ensuring efficient and effective quality care

To produce, disseminate and update reports/guidelines, based on highly specialist knowledge, regarding individual care plans to patients/carers and other professionals, including those for legal purposes.

To set appropriate treatment goals and aims by working collaboratively and negotiating with carers, clients and others around individual case management, resolving any areas of conflict, generating possible solutions

To provide highly specialist advice and training regarding the management and care of patients/clients with complex communication and / or swallowing difficulties, and to counsel and give advice regarding the impact of the communication /swallowing disorder

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures

To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences

To ensure that patients and/or carers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible

To use highly developed skills in motivating clients and/ carers to engage in the therapeutic process

To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and Bolton FT policies

Analytical and Judgement Skills

To use highly specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate complex information, taking into account cognitive, emotional, environmental and social issues, in order to make a clinical judgement regarding differential diagnosis and intervention.

To judge the need for instrumental assessment and select the appropriate methods to assess the patient in adequate detail. To interpret investigation results and communicate the information to all relevant parties.

To formulate clear care plans based on assessment, highly specialist knowledge and information, some of which may be conflicting, gathered from a range of professionals and carers in order to select appropriate treatment options.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and supervisors.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on a patient's learning style and optimum mode of communication, such as the use of pictures and Alternative or Augmentative Communication aids.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Accredited honors degree or equivalent Certificate to practice (SLT)
• Registered with HCPC

Desirable

• Member RCSLT
• Leadership relevant qualification

Experience

Essential

• Recent and relevant experience
• Post graduate clinical experience across a broad range of adult acquired disorder settings including stroke
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
• Member of relevant SIG

Desirable

• Attendance at conferences /courses in area of specific interest

Skills

Essential

• Highly specialist analytical, problem solving and clinical reasoning skills
• Excellent caseload management skills
• Ability to travel independently across the locality in accordance with the Equality Act

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

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Breightmet Health Centre

Bolton

BL2 6NT

Employer's website

http://www.boltonft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)