Job summary
Would you like to develop your specialist skills with acute adult in-patients, in a service with a wide range of development opportunities as part of a supportive SLT team based at Salisbury District Hospital? This fixed term post is to cover a maternity leave until May 2024, although opportunities to extend the contract may arise. This post can be tailored to either a current Band 6 Specialist SLTs looking to extend skills and experience, or can be adapted to a Band 5 SLT including those who are newly or recently qualified.
Qualifications required include a degree in Speech & Language Therapy, and ideally postgraduate training (or qualification) in adult dysphagia although this is not essential. Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council. Membership of the Royal College of SLT is desirable.
Postgraduate experience is desirable but not essential, and would include autonomous assessment, diagnosis and treatment of adults with swallowing and communication impairments from stroke or from a wide range of acquired neurological conditions, ideally in an in-patient setting. It would be desirable but not essential for the candidate to have had experience of instrumental dysphagia assessments and treatments, particularly FEES, planning and delivering training courses to other professionals, and undertaking clinical audit. The applicants must flexible, be able to use initiative well, have effective caseload management and good clinical decision-making skills.
Main duties of the job
Your work could be either on the 30 bed acute & rehab stroke unit, and/or the general medical, surgical, & elderly wards, with responsibility to manage patient assessment & treatment decisions, and ensure excellent liaison with SLT and MDT colleagues.
If experienced, you would contribute to the development of the SLT team, including student supervision, NQP supervision, and in house CPD.You would be involved in wider hospital initiatives such as improving MDT working in specific areas (e.g. in-patient PD or Stroke, mouthcare, and SLT Link Nurse recruitment and training) as well as being involved in training a wide range of hospital staff in communication and swallowing.
The SLT team embraces new ways of working and has worked hard to be at the forefront of helpful and emerging technology. Therefore our patients have good access to a range of instrumental dysphagia investigations for swallow assessments and instrumental devices for treatment. For patients with communication disorders, we have a broad range of computer based therapy available, and quick access to unlimited AAC.
We feel strongly that it is important to provide our SLT team members with as much training and development as we can and as needed, and as a small team we meet often. We thrive on an ethos of sharing our learning, being supportive to each other, and being helpful and flexible at work when needed.
About us
We are lucky to all be based in a modern and purpose-build SLT department, close to most wards, and shared with our regional Cleft Lip and Palate SLT colleagues. We also have a dedicated team of SLT Admin staff which enables us to concentrate on our clinical work. You will have the opportunity to observe or be one of the supporting SLTs in videofluoroscopy as required, and to undertake or observe FEES clinics - depending on your prior skills and competency level in FEES.
Salisbury District Hospital is a friendly environment where it is easy to make good connections and working relationships that enable us to make positive changes for patients. At the same time, the hospital is home to some regional specialist services that could provide you with unique clinical experiences.
The hospital Trust is continually looking at ways to improve services for both patients and staff, and has lots of initiatives to enhance your job, your wellbeing, and your career. In addition, we benefit from support teams in many areas such as IT and Education, as well as Art Care, Voluntary Services, the staff Health & Fitness Club and swimming pool.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this post you will manage the care of patients with swallowing and communication disorders due to either stroke or a broad range of acute acquired neurological conditions.
There will be frequent opportunities to work alongside SaLT and MDT colleagues to enhance your development, and there may be opportunities in the future to take on board your areas of interest and strength.
The post holder would be part of a progressive, supportive and flexible adult SLT team that covers acute, out-patients and community patients, where all SLT teams and Admin staff are based in the Speech & Language Therapy Department at Salisbury District Hospital
We are ideally looking for a competent and resourceful SLT who can assess and treat a range of adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders independently, and manage problems and situations as they arise, seeking support appropriately. If you are a newly or recently qualified applicant, we can adapt this post to provide support and guidance to help you develop your skills and RCSLT competencies.
The post-holder will be based in the SLT department at Salisbury District Hospital with all the other SLT teams and will benefit from being part of a larger service for supervision and support, clinical governance, in-service training and ongoing professional development.
The hours available are 37.5 hours per week. Applicants wanting less part time hours per week are welcome to apply, but priority will be given to ensure service provision. Newly or recently qualified applicants seeking a Band 5 role are also welcome to apply.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this post you will manage the care of patients with swallowing and communication disorders due to either stroke or a broad range of acute acquired neurological conditions.
There will be frequent opportunities to work alongside SaLT and MDT colleagues to enhance your development, and there may be opportunities in the future to take on board your areas of interest and strength.
The post holder would be part of a progressive, supportive and flexible adult SLT team that covers acute, out-patients and community patients, where all SLT teams and Admin staff are based in the Speech & Language Therapy Department at Salisbury District Hospital
We are ideally looking for a competent and resourceful SLT who can assess and treat a range of adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders independently, and manage problems and situations as they arise, seeking support appropriately. If you are a newly or recently qualified applicant, we can adapt this post to provide support and guidance to help you develop your skills and RCSLT competencies.
The post-holder will be based in the SLT department at Salisbury District Hospital with all the other SLT teams and will benefit from being part of a larger service for supervision and support, clinical governance, in-service training and ongoing professional development.
The hours available are 37.5 hours per week. Applicants wanting less part time hours per week are welcome to apply, but priority will be given to ensure service provision. Newly or recently qualified applicants seeking a Band 5 role are also welcome to apply.
Person Specification
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Several years working as qualified SLT working independently with adult patients
- Competency in and experience of independently assessing and treating adult dysphagia
- Experience of assessing and treating adults with acquired communication disorders
- Experience of a wide range of adult acquired neurological disorders
- Experience of working well with other professionals on acute wards
- Experience of instrumental assessment in dysphagia
Desirable
- Understanding demands of working in an acute setting
- Demonstrating EBP and effective treatment
- Experience of providing training to other SLTs and Health Care colleagues
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
- Postgraduate qualification in adult dysphagia
- Registration with HCPC
- High standard of spoken and written English language
- Postgraduate training in instrumental dysphagia assessments
Desirable
- Postgraduate training in adult disorders
- Postgraduate training in instrumental and computer-based treatments
- Member of RCSLT
Clinical Decision Making
Essential
- Able to manage own caseload effectively
- Able to make decisions in complex cases
Person Specification
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Several years working as qualified SLT working independently with adult patients
- Competency in and experience of independently assessing and treating adult dysphagia
- Experience of assessing and treating adults with acquired communication disorders
- Experience of a wide range of adult acquired neurological disorders
- Experience of working well with other professionals on acute wards
- Experience of instrumental assessment in dysphagia
Desirable
- Understanding demands of working in an acute setting
- Demonstrating EBP and effective treatment
- Experience of providing training to other SLTs and Health Care colleagues
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
- Postgraduate qualification in adult dysphagia
- Registration with HCPC
- High standard of spoken and written English language
- Postgraduate training in instrumental dysphagia assessments
Desirable
- Postgraduate training in adult disorders
- Postgraduate training in instrumental and computer-based treatments
- Member of RCSLT
Clinical Decision Making
Essential
- Able to manage own caseload effectively
- Able to make decisions in complex cases
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).
