Job summary
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Neonatal
Division: Women's and Children's Services
Care Group: Planned Care
Band: 8a developmental role
Salary: £40,057 - £53,219 per annum/pro rata
Interview Date: Week Commencing 9th May 2022
We are recruiting for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist who shares our ambition and vision to deliver theBest of Care by the Best Peopleand has the drive to take us forward, by ensuring that the Trust continues to be the first choice for patients and our staff.
Main duties of the job
This is a new post to complement the existing establishment of Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHP's) in NICU. The appointee will join the existing team of physiotherapist, occupational therapist, a unit dietician, a pharmacist and a counsellor. The post is based on The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit at Medway Maritime Hospital.
The neonatal unit is a fully recognised tertiary medical neonatal referral centre with full supporting staff.
We operate as part of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Operational Delivery Network and we host the Kent arm of the neonatal transport service.
Our values are Bold, Every Person Counts, Sharing and Open and Together. It is important that you understand and to refer to our values when completing your application and always reflect our values throughout your employment with the Trust.
We are committed to endorsing diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion; our policies / procedures ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
To contribute to our exciting future and become part of our team, apply today.
About us
Here at Medway, we pride ourselves on working together as one to ensure that our shared vision of Better, Best, Brilliant is achieved. Our culture and values are what drives the Trust and is the heartbeat of who we are as an organisation.
Our Trust is a great choice for people who want to develop their career in an ambitious environment.
The NHS are striving towards "we work flexibly" as a workforce, we want to ensure that you can work in a way that is best for us, our patients, and importantly for you. We offer many flexible working opportunities, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement for you and if it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
All of our substantive & fixed term employees can enjoy a range of staff benefits, a gym, an active health and wellbeing programme, an on-site nursery and a cycle to work scheme.
We are taking positive action to ensure that we can attract, recruit and retain the best talent and would welcome more applicants from under - represented groups to support the Trusts commitment to a diverse, inclusive and an employer of choice workforce.
All staff at Medway comply the Trust's and the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Board's policies on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The new appointee will have joint responsibility to support governance within the neonatal department and advance the speech and language skills assessments on the neonatal unit.
Currently, the neonatal consultants have expertise in neonatal cardiology, neonatal infection diseases, antenatal renal anomalies, neonatal respiratory conditions, neonatal screening, neurodevelopmental follow-up, family integrated care and neonatal nutrition.
The new post holder is expected to work closely with the lead for neonatal nutrition, BFI nursing team and dietician on developing this service further supported by clinical audit and quality improvement. The post holder will lead clinically on all aspects of speech and language assessments for all babies who qualify in NICU.
This includes supporting the neonatal unit to achieve stage 2 and 3 of the Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation. The post holder will be supported to be actively involved in research projects that are undertaken in the unit.
The unit supports the clinical practice of medical students undertaking the specialist neonatal qualification who are based at Canterbury Christchurch University and Kings College University. In addition, the unit supports training for Physician Associates and neonatal trainees from KSS Deanery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The new appointee will have joint responsibility to support governance within the neonatal department and advance the speech and language skills assessments on the neonatal unit.
Currently, the neonatal consultants have expertise in neonatal cardiology, neonatal infection diseases, antenatal renal anomalies, neonatal respiratory conditions, neonatal screening, neurodevelopmental follow-up, family integrated care and neonatal nutrition.
The new post holder is expected to work closely with the lead for neonatal nutrition, BFI nursing team and dietician on developing this service further supported by clinical audit and quality improvement. The post holder will lead clinically on all aspects of speech and language assessments for all babies who qualify in NICU.
This includes supporting the neonatal unit to achieve stage 2 and 3 of the Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation. The post holder will be supported to be actively involved in research projects that are undertaken in the unit.
The unit supports the clinical practice of medical students undertaking the specialist neonatal qualification who are based at Canterbury Christchurch University and Kings College University. In addition, the unit supports training for Physician Associates and neonatal trainees from KSS Deanery.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- HCPC registered AHP
- Degree / diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
Desirable
- Masters degree or equivalent
Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to analyze, interpret and compare information e.g. interpreting results of investigations
- Ability to assess, formulate a diagnosis and plan patient management, using highly specialist
- Ability to provide an expert 'second opinion' to patients with highly complex clinical conditions
- Knowledge and awareness of safeguarding procedures and the SLT role within that management skills
Experience
Essential
- Experience in infant feeding using a range of assessment and therapy techniques within community setting
- Knowledge and experience of implementing developmental care strategies
- Experience of risk identification and management including MD liaison and decision making
Desirable
- Training and experience in instrumental assessment of swallowing skills using cervical auscultation would be desirable
Skills
Essential
- Ability to assess, formulate a diagnosis and plan patient management, using highly specialist
- Able to communicate highly complex information which may be sensitive or contentious to all concerned where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. , psychosocial, issues language barriers, speech problems, learning difficulties or where English is not the first language
- Ability to plan and prioritise own workload, by using planning, organisational and time management
- Ability to provide an expert 'second opinion' to patients with highly complex clinical conditions
- Ability to analyse, interpret and compare information e.g. interpreting results of investigations
- Provide critical evaluation of service delivery and facilitate necessary change
Values Based Question
Essential
- Give an example of when you have acted as a role model
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- HCPC registered AHP
- Degree / diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
Desirable
- Masters degree or equivalent
Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to analyze, interpret and compare information e.g. interpreting results of investigations
- Ability to assess, formulate a diagnosis and plan patient management, using highly specialist
- Ability to provide an expert 'second opinion' to patients with highly complex clinical conditions
- Knowledge and awareness of safeguarding procedures and the SLT role within that management skills
Experience
Essential
- Experience in infant feeding using a range of assessment and therapy techniques within community setting
- Knowledge and experience of implementing developmental care strategies
- Experience of risk identification and management including MD liaison and decision making
Desirable
- Training and experience in instrumental assessment of swallowing skills using cervical auscultation would be desirable
Skills
Essential
- Ability to assess, formulate a diagnosis and plan patient management, using highly specialist
- Able to communicate highly complex information which may be sensitive or contentious to all concerned where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. , psychosocial, issues language barriers, speech problems, learning difficulties or where English is not the first language
- Ability to plan and prioritise own workload, by using planning, organisational and time management
- Ability to provide an expert 'second opinion' to patients with highly complex clinical conditions
- Ability to analyse, interpret and compare information e.g. interpreting results of investigations
- Provide critical evaluation of service delivery and facilitate necessary change
Values Based Question
Essential
- Give an example of when you have acted as a role model
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).
