Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work in our dynamic In-Patient Speech and Language Stroke Therapy Team based at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan.
This is an exciting post offering the opportunity to work on the Acute Stroke Unit within a well-established multi-disciplinary unit working closely together to ensure safe and timely discharge for stroke patients. The team also works closely with the Greater Manchester Neuro rehabilitation and Integrated Stroke Delivery Network to continually review and improve stroke services and there are opportunities therefore to be involved in service improvements.
The Speech and Language therapy service operates on the acute stroke unit across 6 days and the working pattern is on a rota basis (Monday - Saturday). The post does have some flexibility regarding working pattern however a Friday would be a preferred working day to meet the needs of the service.
You will have the opportunity to be involved with student training, service developments and in service training programmes delivering teaching on stroke management to the MDT, nursing, and medical staff within the organisation.Previous experience within the field of Stroke is essential.
We can offer you an excellent support system, regular team and staff meetings and good training opportunities.
Please note this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received.
Main duties of the job
To provide a high standard of speech & language therapy service to patients on the stroke unit at RAEI.
To act as a source of knowledge on the management of stroke conditions providing an advisory service to patients, relatives, speech & language therapists, medical staff and other healthcare professionals.
To take a role in the specialist assessment and treatment of patients within the speciality who may have complex and/or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical diagnosis and speech & language therapy treatment indicated and to maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the stroke Speech & Language Therapy service. Supervision takes the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, peer review, case conferences. Access to advice and support from a senior speech & language therapist is available if required, clinical work is routinely evaluated.
To assist the Team Leader and Therapy Lead in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the speech & language therapy service provided to the stroke unit on a day-today basis.
About us
Choose Well - Choose WWL
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values 'the WWL Way'.
WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.
The role will require you to work across all areas in the trust which includes those that are designated as positive, asymptomatic and negative COVID wards
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key results from the job holder
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including dysphagia and to maintain overall accountability for delegated duties of treatment to junior staff for patients on your caseload.
- To plan, prepare and undertake client assessments for a designated caseload in line with professional and national standards and guidelines.
- To maintain a professional portfolio of Continuing Professional Development recording learning outcomes through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
- To use clinical judgement in order to prioritise caseload in line with clinical guidelines and protocols.
Planning and Organisational Duties
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
- To formulate and deliver an individual speech & language therapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice, and treatment options using appropriate clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. acquired communication difficulties and dysphagia interventions including tracheostomy management and videofluoroscopy
- To accept partial responsibility for any tasks delegated to less senior qualified or unqualified staff.
- To support the team leader in developing policy changes within acute speech & language therapy team.
- To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation.
- To be responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed with the team leader, and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and use of time.
- To decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands, and ensure that they remain in accordance with those of the team as a whole.
- To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all assessment and treatment modalities available.
- To demonstrate appropriately developed dexterity, co-ordination, palpatory and auditory senses for assessment and treatment of patients.
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in form of reports and letters.
- Post holders are required to work independently, guided by defined clinical and professional guidelines. Access to a more senior member of speech & language therapy staff is available when necessary. Clinical work is evaluated on a regular basis.
- To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with the team leader. Use information gained to make recommendations for change.
- To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
- To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the Team Leader, Therapy Lead, or the Head of Therapy Services.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Use communication skills such as persuasion, motivation explanation to encourage patients to undertake their management programme.
- To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc.
- To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- To communicate complex patient-related information (as well as non-patient information) effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.
Responsibility for Human Resources
- To undertake the supervision of junior staff as delegated by senior staff.
- To regularly supervise, evaluate and assess speech and language therapy students to include negotiating learning contracts and setting objectives.
- To comply with annual IPR and appraisal system.
Responsibility for Health & Safety
- Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Responsibility for Teaching
- To educate patients, relatives and carers in conditions and their effects in order to adapt to an appropriate lifestyle.
- To receive, plan and deliver in-service training for own profession and others.
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practices, clinical pathways and protocols within your clinical area.
- To participate with other team members in measurement of and evaluation of work and current practice through use of outcome measures and audit.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key results from the job holder
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including dysphagia and to maintain overall accountability for delegated duties of treatment to junior staff for patients on your caseload.
- To plan, prepare and undertake client assessments for a designated caseload in line with professional and national standards and guidelines.
- To maintain a professional portfolio of Continuing Professional Development recording learning outcomes through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
- To use clinical judgement in order to prioritise caseload in line with clinical guidelines and protocols.
Planning and Organisational Duties
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
- To formulate and deliver an individual speech & language therapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice, and treatment options using appropriate clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. acquired communication difficulties and dysphagia interventions including tracheostomy management and videofluoroscopy
- To accept partial responsibility for any tasks delegated to less senior qualified or unqualified staff.
- To support the team leader in developing policy changes within acute speech & language therapy team.
- To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation.
- To be responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed with the team leader, and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and use of time.
- To decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands, and ensure that they remain in accordance with those of the team as a whole.
- To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all assessment and treatment modalities available.
- To demonstrate appropriately developed dexterity, co-ordination, palpatory and auditory senses for assessment and treatment of patients.
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in form of reports and letters.
- Post holders are required to work independently, guided by defined clinical and professional guidelines. Access to a more senior member of speech & language therapy staff is available when necessary. Clinical work is evaluated on a regular basis.
- To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with the team leader. Use information gained to make recommendations for change.
- To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
- To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the Team Leader, Therapy Lead, or the Head of Therapy Services.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Use communication skills such as persuasion, motivation explanation to encourage patients to undertake their management programme.
- To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc.
- To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- To communicate complex patient-related information (as well as non-patient information) effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.
Responsibility for Human Resources
- To undertake the supervision of junior staff as delegated by senior staff.
- To regularly supervise, evaluate and assess speech and language therapy students to include negotiating learning contracts and setting objectives.
- To comply with annual IPR and appraisal system.
Responsibility for Health & Safety
- Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Responsibility for Teaching
- To educate patients, relatives and carers in conditions and their effects in order to adapt to an appropriate lifestyle.
- To receive, plan and deliver in-service training for own profession and others.
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practices, clinical pathways and protocols within your clinical area.
- To participate with other team members in measurement of and evaluation of work and current practice through use of outcome measures and audit.
Person Specification
Additional
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team
- Committed to personal and team development
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure
- Clear vision of role
- Speaks English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
Knowledge
Essential
- Well-developed knowledge of speech and language therapy in acute medicine including dysphagia
- Relevant national guidelines and policies
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Self directed learning
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
- Presentation skills
- Able to practice independently in dysphagia management
Experience
Essential
- Experience at post graduate level with a variety of communication and swallowing disorders
- Experience of working independently in adult dusphagia
- Experience of delivering training in relevant areas.
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Postgraduate training/experience in dysphagia
Person Specification
Additional
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team
- Committed to personal and team development
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure
- Clear vision of role
- Speaks English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
Knowledge
Essential
- Well-developed knowledge of speech and language therapy in acute medicine including dysphagia
- Relevant national guidelines and policies
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Self directed learning
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
- Presentation skills
- Able to practice independently in dysphagia management
Experience
Essential
- Experience at post graduate level with a variety of communication and swallowing disorders
- Experience of working independently in adult dusphagia
- Experience of delivering training in relevant areas.
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Postgraduate training/experience in dysphagia
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Wigan Lane
Wigan
WN1 2NN
Employer's website
http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
