Job summary
We are looking an enthusiastic and proactive Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly team at the Oxfordshire Stroke Rehabilitation Unit (OSRU), working as part of a dedicated clinical team comprising of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetic and nursing team. As a Band 7 Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist you will provide a specialised Speech and Language therapy assessment and implement patient-centred treatment programmes for people after stroke. This post is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist with a specialist interest in Stroke.
This will be on a fixed term contract for up to 12 months, to cover maternity leave from January 2023
Main duties of the job
You will be working alongside a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to provide assessment, intensive therapy and signposting to people with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties after a stroke, in both 1:1 and group environments. You will be responsible for overseeing the clinical caseload, designing therapy programmes for our Speech and Language Therapy Assistant and families to supplement the care that you provide.
Knowledge of a range of assessment and therapy techniques for this patient group is an essential part of this role. You will be encouraged to work collaboratively with the MDT to complete capacity assessments with people with complex communication and/or swallowing difficulties after stroke. You will be able to facilitate discussions relating to eating and drinking with acknowledged risks versus clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (e.g. NGT, PEG) and comment on the appropriacy for discharge from the hospital environment. You will be able to access videofluoroscopy clinics.
You will be expected to attend weekly MDT meetings and chair family meetings where required. You will be encouraged to keep in close contact with members of the Speech and Language Therapy team across the whole stroke pathway in order to maintain existing relationships and achieve continuity of care.
About us
OSRU is a 20-bed inpatient unit based at Abingdon Community Hospital. We are a dedicated Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) comprising Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Dietetics, Social Work, Nursing and Medical staff.We provide a short period of inpatient rehabilitation for people who have had a stroke with the aim to work towards meaningful goals. We hold a weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting and regular family meetings to ensure the best possible outcomes.We have formed close working relationships with local acute stroke units, community care providers and voluntary organisations to ensure a smooth transition across the whole stroke pathway and beyond.We have unit-level objectives which we review on an annual basis and contribute to from each individual discipline.
Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Staff accommodation
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
Job description
Job responsibilities
This would be an ideal opportunity if you are looking to develop skills in clinical leadership within a supportive environment. You will be expected to provide regular supervision to our Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. Alongside other clinical specialists, you will also be required to provide leadership support to the wider MDT and participate in decision-making for ward processes. You may have opportunity to facilitate staff training.
We sit within the community Speech and Language Therapy team in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. You will be invited to attend regular community team catch ups and complete peer supervision with Speech and Language Therapists from different clinical backgrounds. You will also receive regular supervision from the AHP Lead for Community Hospitals and everyday support from clinical specialists from other disciplines.
Required skills
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for essential and desirable requirements for this role.
Please note:
- New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
- Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
- Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
- Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
- We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation and we encourage applications from users of mental health services. This is part of our commitment to equality and reflecting the diversity of our population.
- Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This would be an ideal opportunity if you are looking to develop skills in clinical leadership within a supportive environment. You will be expected to provide regular supervision to our Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. Alongside other clinical specialists, you will also be required to provide leadership support to the wider MDT and participate in decision-making for ward processes. You may have opportunity to facilitate staff training.
We sit within the community Speech and Language Therapy team in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. You will be invited to attend regular community team catch ups and complete peer supervision with Speech and Language Therapists from different clinical backgrounds. You will also receive regular supervision from the AHP Lead for Community Hospitals and everyday support from clinical specialists from other disciplines.
Required skills
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for essential and desirable requirements for this role.
Please note:
- New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
- Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
- Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
- Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
- We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation and we encourage applications from users of mental health services. This is part of our commitment to equality and reflecting the diversity of our population.
- Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
- Health Professions Council License to Practice
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- Achievement of Level C RCSLT dysphagia competencies
Desirable
- Registered member of RCLST
- Evidence of successful completion of significant specialist post graduate training, equivalent to Master's level
- Evidence of training as clinical supervisor
- Leadership qualifications
Experience
Essential
- Experience in neurological rehabilitation
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Evidence of stroke specialist experience
- Use of alternative and augmentative communication aids
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of high level of specialist knowledge/assessment, management and intervention skills as a result of experience/ CPD
- Able to listen empathically to and support clients, carers, families and colleagues
- Demonstrates person-centred approach to patient management
- Able to communicate effectively particularly where barriers to understanding exist
- Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
- Able to manage emotional consequences of working with patients with a range of communication disorders
- Able to prioritise workload - clinical and non-clinical.
- Demonstrates well established knowledge of specialist SLT assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
- Demonstrates well established knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to specialist client group.
- Demonstrates in depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.
Desirable
- Experience of developing and delivering group therapy
- Experience of developing and delivering training to carers
- Experience of developing delivering in-service training
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
- Health Professions Council License to Practice
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- Achievement of Level C RCSLT dysphagia competencies
Desirable
- Registered member of RCLST
- Evidence of successful completion of significant specialist post graduate training, equivalent to Master's level
- Evidence of training as clinical supervisor
- Leadership qualifications
Experience
Essential
- Experience in neurological rehabilitation
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Evidence of stroke specialist experience
- Use of alternative and augmentative communication aids
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of high level of specialist knowledge/assessment, management and intervention skills as a result of experience/ CPD
- Able to listen empathically to and support clients, carers, families and colleagues
- Demonstrates person-centred approach to patient management
- Able to communicate effectively particularly where barriers to understanding exist
- Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
- Able to manage emotional consequences of working with patients with a range of communication disorders
- Able to prioritise workload - clinical and non-clinical.
- Demonstrates well established knowledge of specialist SLT assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
- Demonstrates well established knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to specialist client group.
- Demonstrates in depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.
Desirable
- Experience of developing and delivering group therapy
- Experience of developing and delivering training to carers
- Experience of developing delivering in-service training
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).
