Job summary
Rotational Speech and Language Therapist
£37,152 - £43,994 per annum incl HCAS
West Middlesex University Hospital
Would you like to join a supportive and dynamic team working with a varied inpatient caseload in a diverse part of London?
Following re-structuring, an exciting opportunity has arisen fortwosuitably qualified SLTs to join our inpatient team at West Middlesex University Hospital.
These posts are part of a rotation between stroke and general acute care (including respiratory, critical care and gastroenterology). The successful post-holders will be supported to develop skills and expertise in videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy management.The team has a strong drive for quality improvement and applicants should have an enthusiasm for service development.
Both post-holders will be directly supervised and supported by a senior SLT working in the same clinical specialism.
Our service currently consists of five Speech & Language Therapists, with an additional four SLTs based at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. We offer regular in-service training, peer support, clinical supervision and team meetings.There will be ample opportunities to be involved in audits, teaching & training and other service improvement initiatives.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details.
Main duties of the job
This is a full-time, rotational post within the adult Speech & Language Therapy Team, providing a service to adult inpatients within the Trust. The post holder will be an autonomous practitioner providing specialist Speech and Language Therapy services to the adult caseload, with the expectation they will be required to provide assistance on the Chelsea and Westminster site should staffing require.
The post will rotate between the acute caseload and the stroke unit. With each rotation planned to last for 12 months.
The post holder will be expected to manage a complex caseload independently, providing second opinions and advice for junior staff when required. They will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and will be expected to contribute to collaborative working with patients, carers, and colleagues, the voluntary sector and Social Services in regards to the planning and delivery of care.
The post holder will participate in team meetings, working parties and contribute to departmental / team audits. They will be required to deliver training within the hospital setting to other professionals, patients and carers. They will contribute to training and support of junior staff members and therapy assistant.
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the post holder may be required to assist in clinical areas / tasks not typically associated with Speech and Language Therapy. This includes redeployment to other clinical areas.
About us
We provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.
We have over 6,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We're one of the safest and best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff say they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
In 2020 Trust was rated by the Care Quality Commission as Outstanding in the well-led and use of resources domains and Good in the safe, effective, caring, and responsive domains. The Trust as a whole was Good, but the Chelsea site was Outstanding.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing around £10 million a year in our estate. We are currently spending £25 million on expanding our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and redevelopment of our children's unit at West Middlesex - in partnership with our charity, CW+ and generous donors.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis and management to patients with a range of complex swallowing and communication impairments
- To demonstrate and maintain evidence based clinical practice
- To participate in the development, collection and collation of outcome measures
- To develop clear and effective management plans based on best practice
- To monitor and review patient progress, adapting management plans as appropriate
- To reflect on all aspects of a patients / carers communication, adapting according to their needs. This includes identifying and respecting cultural, religious, linguistic and differences, implementing appropriate strategies to facilitate communicative effectiveness
- To encourage and facilitate adaptive strategies to maximise effective communication between patients, family and carers
- To participate (as appropriate) in videofluoroscopy clinic at West Middlesex Hospital
- To maintain contemporaneous and up to date patient records, including reports, reflecting specialist knowledge, ensuring they meet departmental standards and are in line with Trust policy and HCPC / RCSLT professional standards
- To provide specialist advice regarding the management and care of adults with dysphagia and/or communication impairment; identifying care pathways to best meet their needs
- To ensure patients and carers are involved in care planning wherever possible
- To work closely with colleagues in the management of complex cases. This will include liaison with the multi-disciplinary team (demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved)
- To work collaboratively with interpreters during assessment and on-going intervention with families for whom English is an additional language
Indirect Clinical Responsibilities
- To provide specialist SLT advice at MDT meetings/case conferences where diagnosis etc. are in dispute and/or long term management plans need to be determined
- To communicate complex condition related information following assessment to patients, carers, and families, agreeing decision making relevant to client management
- To facilitate understanding and knowledge and awareness of adults with speech, language and communication difficulties in other professionals and families/caregivers
- To facilitate collaborative working with families/caregivers and other professionals
- To produce reports regarding patients needs, reflecting specialist knowledge, summarising proposed care plans and ensuring that these are integrated into the patients individual and/or integrated care plan
- To work with other professionals within the Speech and Language Therapy Service and the wider multi-disciplinary teams, to ensure seamless co-ordination for the needs of the patient
- To deal with complex issues and to generate appropriate and innovative strategies for caseload and workload management of self and others
- To attend and contribute to relevant multidisciplinary meetings and client reviews as appropriate
- To ensure patients are referred to other services as appropriate
- To train and support the MDT regarding dysphagia and communication difficulties
- To deal with informal complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
- To negotiate with others around case management in complex cases
Autonomous Practice
- To act in a specialist role within the adult Speech and Language Therapy service
- To interpret clinical guidelines and adapt to local service needs
- To make differential diagnosis on the basis of presenting evidence
- To reflect on and evaluate training/ service delivery and re-formulate plans in light of findings
- To manage and prioritise a defined caseload / workload independently
- To manage a specialist caseload of patients within the overall caseload independently
- To use specialist clinical judgement to discharge clients from the caseload
Strategic Development and Implementation
- To take delegated lead on development of specific team objectives or projects
- To be involved in the implementation of a range of projects and innovative programmes, reflecting national and local policies in health
- To facilitate collaborative working between acute and community settings
- To contribute to the development of care protocols/pathways for a range of clinical specialisms, and ensure appropriate referral pathways into the community
- To advise line manager regarding service delivery issues within the Speech and Language Therapy Service and wider multi-disciplinary team within the hospital, including shortfalls, service pressures etc.
- To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager
- To participate in working parties as appropriate
- To contribute to interagency/ multi-disciplinary team building and policy development
- To implement plans and policies, particularly in relation to specialist clinical areas
Supervision, training and support of others
- To provide regular specialist teaching and training for the MDT
- To provide advice and support to junior Speech and Language Therapists, assistants, volunteers and other members of the MDT as appropriate
- To co-ordinate support of students as appropriate
- To promote reflective practice through peer review, research, service evaluations etc.
- To develop problem solving/negotiation skills in junior staff
- To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers
- To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate
- To assist with the identification of training needs within the team
- To target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants
General
Covid-19 vaccination is a condition of employment for this role, unless an exemption applies. The successful applicant may have contact with vulnerable service users and we will therefore seek proof of being fully vaccinated during the recruitment process.
This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager.
All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis and management to patients with a range of complex swallowing and communication impairments
- To demonstrate and maintain evidence based clinical practice
- To participate in the development, collection and collation of outcome measures
- To develop clear and effective management plans based on best practice
- To monitor and review patient progress, adapting management plans as appropriate
- To reflect on all aspects of a patients / carers communication, adapting according to their needs. This includes identifying and respecting cultural, religious, linguistic and differences, implementing appropriate strategies to facilitate communicative effectiveness
- To encourage and facilitate adaptive strategies to maximise effective communication between patients, family and carers
- To participate (as appropriate) in videofluoroscopy clinic at West Middlesex Hospital
- To maintain contemporaneous and up to date patient records, including reports, reflecting specialist knowledge, ensuring they meet departmental standards and are in line with Trust policy and HCPC / RCSLT professional standards
- To provide specialist advice regarding the management and care of adults with dysphagia and/or communication impairment; identifying care pathways to best meet their needs
- To ensure patients and carers are involved in care planning wherever possible
- To work closely with colleagues in the management of complex cases. This will include liaison with the multi-disciplinary team (demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved)
- To work collaboratively with interpreters during assessment and on-going intervention with families for whom English is an additional language
Indirect Clinical Responsibilities
- To provide specialist SLT advice at MDT meetings/case conferences where diagnosis etc. are in dispute and/or long term management plans need to be determined
- To communicate complex condition related information following assessment to patients, carers, and families, agreeing decision making relevant to client management
- To facilitate understanding and knowledge and awareness of adults with speech, language and communication difficulties in other professionals and families/caregivers
- To facilitate collaborative working with families/caregivers and other professionals
- To produce reports regarding patients needs, reflecting specialist knowledge, summarising proposed care plans and ensuring that these are integrated into the patients individual and/or integrated care plan
- To work with other professionals within the Speech and Language Therapy Service and the wider multi-disciplinary teams, to ensure seamless co-ordination for the needs of the patient
- To deal with complex issues and to generate appropriate and innovative strategies for caseload and workload management of self and others
- To attend and contribute to relevant multidisciplinary meetings and client reviews as appropriate
- To ensure patients are referred to other services as appropriate
- To train and support the MDT regarding dysphagia and communication difficulties
- To deal with informal complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
- To negotiate with others around case management in complex cases
Autonomous Practice
- To act in a specialist role within the adult Speech and Language Therapy service
- To interpret clinical guidelines and adapt to local service needs
- To make differential diagnosis on the basis of presenting evidence
- To reflect on and evaluate training/ service delivery and re-formulate plans in light of findings
- To manage and prioritise a defined caseload / workload independently
- To manage a specialist caseload of patients within the overall caseload independently
- To use specialist clinical judgement to discharge clients from the caseload
Strategic Development and Implementation
- To take delegated lead on development of specific team objectives or projects
- To be involved in the implementation of a range of projects and innovative programmes, reflecting national and local policies in health
- To facilitate collaborative working between acute and community settings
- To contribute to the development of care protocols/pathways for a range of clinical specialisms, and ensure appropriate referral pathways into the community
- To advise line manager regarding service delivery issues within the Speech and Language Therapy Service and wider multi-disciplinary team within the hospital, including shortfalls, service pressures etc.
- To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager
- To participate in working parties as appropriate
- To contribute to interagency/ multi-disciplinary team building and policy development
- To implement plans and policies, particularly in relation to specialist clinical areas
Supervision, training and support of others
- To provide regular specialist teaching and training for the MDT
- To provide advice and support to junior Speech and Language Therapists, assistants, volunteers and other members of the MDT as appropriate
- To co-ordinate support of students as appropriate
- To promote reflective practice through peer review, research, service evaluations etc.
- To develop problem solving/negotiation skills in junior staff
- To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers
- To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate
- To assist with the identification of training needs within the team
- To target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants
General
Covid-19 vaccination is a condition of employment for this role, unless an exemption applies. The successful applicant may have contact with vulnerable service users and we will therefore seek proof of being fully vaccinated during the recruitment process.
This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager.
All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.
Person Specification
Trust Values
Essential
- Putting patients first
- Responsive to, and supportive of, patients and staff
- Open, welcoming and honest
- Unfailingly kind, treating everyone with respect, compassion and dignity
- Determined to develop our skills and continuously improve the quality of care
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Speech and Language Therapist
- Current HCPC registration
- Current RCSLT registration
- Membership of Clinical Interest Group relevant to the post
- Post graduate experience and professional development relevant to the post
Experience
Essential
- Experience working within a Multidisciplinary Team
- Experience with service development and service evaluation
- Experience providing teaching and training for members of the MDT, clients, families etc.
- Experience using evidence based practice and outcome measures
- Experience providing complex specialist dysphagia assessment and management
- Experience with assessment and management of complex communication impairment
- Experience with Videofluoroscopy clinic and reporting, with the relevant competencies
- Experience with tracheostomy weaning and management, with the relevant competencies
- Experience with FEES clinic and reporting, with the relevant competencies
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of relevant NHS policies and the value of clinical governance
- Ability to take responsibility for own clinical work from referral through to discharge
- Ability to work on autonomously and as part of a team
- Specialist knowledge of speech and language therapy assessment and management for adults with complex dysphagia
- Specialist knowledge of speech and language therapy assessment and management for adults with complex communication impairments
- Ability to communicate effectively with clients and their families in an often highly emotive clinical setting and identify and assess risk accordingly
- Ability to demonstrate an evidence based approach to clinical practice
- Ability to communicate effectively with other health professionals and with adults of all ages and abilities
- Ability to cope with stressful working situations, including emotional or aggressive clients/ carers/relatives
- Excellent organisational skills and presentation skills both written and oral
- Developed knowledge of clinical governance and clinical risk management practices
Personal qualities
Essential
- Awareness of professional and personal boundaries
- Able to maintain prolonged concentration in order to complete assessment, diagnosis and provision of the appropriate therapy and / or management plan
- Able to write clear, effective reports
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with patients/ carers and other health professionals
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with patients/ carers and other health professionals
- Highly effective presentation skills.
- Awareness of professional and personal boundaries
- Able to maintain prolonged concentration in order to complete assessment, diagnosis and provision of the appropriate therapy and / or management plan
Person Specification
Trust Values
Essential
- Putting patients first
- Responsive to, and supportive of, patients and staff
- Open, welcoming and honest
- Unfailingly kind, treating everyone with respect, compassion and dignity
- Determined to develop our skills and continuously improve the quality of care
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Speech and Language Therapist
- Current HCPC registration
- Current RCSLT registration
- Membership of Clinical Interest Group relevant to the post
- Post graduate experience and professional development relevant to the post
Experience
Essential
- Experience working within a Multidisciplinary Team
- Experience with service development and service evaluation
- Experience providing teaching and training for members of the MDT, clients, families etc.
- Experience using evidence based practice and outcome measures
- Experience providing complex specialist dysphagia assessment and management
- Experience with assessment and management of complex communication impairment
- Experience with Videofluoroscopy clinic and reporting, with the relevant competencies
- Experience with tracheostomy weaning and management, with the relevant competencies
- Experience with FEES clinic and reporting, with the relevant competencies
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of relevant NHS policies and the value of clinical governance
- Ability to take responsibility for own clinical work from referral through to discharge
- Ability to work on autonomously and as part of a team
- Specialist knowledge of speech and language therapy assessment and management for adults with complex dysphagia
- Specialist knowledge of speech and language therapy assessment and management for adults with complex communication impairments
- Ability to communicate effectively with clients and their families in an often highly emotive clinical setting and identify and assess risk accordingly
- Ability to demonstrate an evidence based approach to clinical practice
- Ability to communicate effectively with other health professionals and with adults of all ages and abilities
- Ability to cope with stressful working situations, including emotional or aggressive clients/ carers/relatives
- Excellent organisational skills and presentation skills both written and oral
- Developed knowledge of clinical governance and clinical risk management practices
Personal qualities
Essential
- Awareness of professional and personal boundaries
- Able to maintain prolonged concentration in order to complete assessment, diagnosis and provision of the appropriate therapy and / or management plan
- Able to write clear, effective reports
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with patients/ carers and other health professionals
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with patients/ carers and other health professionals
- Highly effective presentation skills.
- Awareness of professional and personal boundaries
- Able to maintain prolonged concentration in order to complete assessment, diagnosis and provision of the appropriate therapy and / or management plan
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).