Job summary
Are you a Band 6 specialist speech & language therapist wanting to work in the community with adults with learning disabilities, or perhaps you have been working in learning disabilities as a Band 5 speech & language therapist and are ready to take the to take the next step and start to specialise.
However you may be newly qualified or even a student graduating this year, in which case this may still be the right job for you. We would consider Band 4 employment once your course has ended, whilst awaiting HCPC registration.
As a service we have speech and language therapists who work in the learning disability team as well as other teams who would be there to support you to develop in your career. We would be happy to set out a structured plan of competencies and training that you would be required to complete to support you to develop through the role and eventually become a Band 6 specialist speech and language therapist
Working in the community speech and language therapy team gives you the support of a wider speech and language therapy team. There are opportunities for CPD & internal training sessions. We run videofluoroscopy clinics so there is opportunity to develop in this area if desired.
Our agile working policy means there is a mixture of clinic, community and home working.
This is a permanent full time post (37.5 hours) working Monday to Friday.
Main duties of the job
The learning disability team consists of learning disability nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, assistant practitioners, and support workers. You could work in day services, care homes, patients' own homes, educational settings, clinics and hospital settings.
Summary of Role :
- To provide a high standard Speech and Language Therapy Service to patients within Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.
- To manage a defined caseload and provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of Speech and Language Therapy intervention.
- To act as a source of knowledge on the management of your current caseload and provide an advisory service to patients, relatives, other professionals, assistants and students.
- To maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
You must be able to travel across Trust independently.
An Enhanced DBS with Adults' Barred List checks will be obtained during pre-employment checks.
This post involves contact with patients and families face to face within a community setting. Therefore it cannot be ruled out that the postholder may come in to contact with people who have COVID-19, although the Trust provides PPE and takes all reasonable steps to minimise risk.
This vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received. Previous applicants will not be considered unless they have significantly strengthened their application.
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'.
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.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information available by contacting covid-19.vaccine@wwl.nhs.uk where you can also ask about how to access vaccinations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Band 5
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care, and to maintain overall accountability for delegated duties of treatment to junior staff for patients on your caseload.
- To complete assessments using knowledge of specific assessment tools relevant to the client group, differentially diagnose, develop care plans and identify goals appropriate to knowledge of prognosis, and plan, implement and evaluate detailed programmes of SLT treatment for the designated caseloads.
- To ensure that clients, families and other carers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of care plans.
- To use clinical knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement and decision making for case management.
- To provide a flexible and person-centred service to these client groups.
- To deliver therapy on a 1:1, group and programme/care plan basis.
- To use a range of approaches to meet the needs of individuals, including reflecting on global aspects of a client/carer communication and adapting the environment to enhance communication.
- To adapt practice to meet individual circumstances, including cultural and linguistic differences.
- To write reports for patients, carers and other professionals.
- To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
- To be responsible for continuing developing knowledge and competence in the ability to apply a range of approaches within intervention / therapy.
- To make discharge decisions involving clients following departmental procedures.
Band 6
- To be a specialist community speech and language therapist in the field of communication and swallowing disorders in patients with complex physical, psychological, behavioural and emotional care needs.
- To provide clinical intervention as required for individuals including the provision of client specific training in communication and safe eating and drinking for clients, families and carers.
- To act as an autonomous practitioner with specialist knowledge, skills and experience in assessing, diagnosing and managing patients on the caseload who present with various healthcare needs which may include early ageing conditions, severe challenging behaviour, autism, mental health needs and terminal illness.
- To provide specialist advice and training in aspects of speech and language therapy to local health and social care providers.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own professional and clinical work, working to agreed national and professional standards.
- To participate in clinical audit and research activities and in-service training within specialist area.
- To work closely with members of the Adult Learning Disability team and develop strong links with hospital, community, tertiary and voluntary organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Band 5
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care, and to maintain overall accountability for delegated duties of treatment to junior staff for patients on your caseload.
- To complete assessments using knowledge of specific assessment tools relevant to the client group, differentially diagnose, develop care plans and identify goals appropriate to knowledge of prognosis, and plan, implement and evaluate detailed programmes of SLT treatment for the designated caseloads.
- To ensure that clients, families and other carers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of care plans.
- To use clinical knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement and decision making for case management.
- To provide a flexible and person-centred service to these client groups.
- To deliver therapy on a 1:1, group and programme/care plan basis.
- To use a range of approaches to meet the needs of individuals, including reflecting on global aspects of a client/carer communication and adapting the environment to enhance communication.
- To adapt practice to meet individual circumstances, including cultural and linguistic differences.
- To write reports for patients, carers and other professionals.
- To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
- To be responsible for continuing developing knowledge and competence in the ability to apply a range of approaches within intervention / therapy.
- To make discharge decisions involving clients following departmental procedures.
Band 6
- To be a specialist community speech and language therapist in the field of communication and swallowing disorders in patients with complex physical, psychological, behavioural and emotional care needs.
- To provide clinical intervention as required for individuals including the provision of client specific training in communication and safe eating and drinking for clients, families and carers.
- To act as an autonomous practitioner with specialist knowledge, skills and experience in assessing, diagnosing and managing patients on the caseload who present with various healthcare needs which may include early ageing conditions, severe challenging behaviour, autism, mental health needs and terminal illness.
- To provide specialist advice and training in aspects of speech and language therapy to local health and social care providers.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own professional and clinical work, working to agreed national and professional standards.
- To participate in clinical audit and research activities and in-service training within specialist area.
- To work closely with members of the Adult Learning Disability team and develop strong links with hospital, community, tertiary and voluntary organisations.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist theoretical knowledge of communication and swallowing impairments relevant to learning disabilities
- Specialist knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to learning disabilities.
- Specialist knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to learning disabilities) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.
- Understanding of roles of other professionals (relevant to learning disabilities).
- In depth knowledge of National Policies and procedures (relevant to learning disabilities).
Skills
Essential
- Good caseload management skills including experience of managing own caseload.
- Good written and oral language skills.
- Well developed analytical and reflection skills, prioritising and time management skills, negotiation and problem solving skills
- Good presentation skills, written and verbal.
- Good interpersonal skills including observation, listening IT Skills and empathic skills.
- Good organisational skills.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-graduate Speech and Language Therapy experience of working with patients with learning disabilities who have communication and / or swallowing problems.
- Experience of working both collaboratively and autonomously
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of working in a community setting.
- NHS experience
Qualifications
Essential
- Accredited degree or equivalent within appropriate area.
- Registered with HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council).
- Post graduate training or equivalent competencies in Dysphagia.
Additional
Essential
- Ability and commitment to deliver training packages.
- Ability to undertake community visits.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Demonstrate the ability to be diplomatic
- Use of de-escalation and breakaway techniques
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
- Able to travel across Trust independently
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist theoretical knowledge of communication and swallowing impairments relevant to learning disabilities
- Specialist knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to learning disabilities.
- Specialist knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to learning disabilities) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.
- Understanding of roles of other professionals (relevant to learning disabilities).
- In depth knowledge of National Policies and procedures (relevant to learning disabilities).
Skills
Essential
- Good caseload management skills including experience of managing own caseload.
- Good written and oral language skills.
- Well developed analytical and reflection skills, prioritising and time management skills, negotiation and problem solving skills
- Good presentation skills, written and verbal.
- Good interpersonal skills including observation, listening IT Skills and empathic skills.
- Good organisational skills.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-graduate Speech and Language Therapy experience of working with patients with learning disabilities who have communication and / or swallowing problems.
- Experience of working both collaboratively and autonomously
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of working in a community setting.
- NHS experience
Qualifications
Essential
- Accredited degree or equivalent within appropriate area.
- Registered with HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council).
- Post graduate training or equivalent competencies in Dysphagia.
Additional
Essential
- Ability and commitment to deliver training packages.
- Ability to undertake community visits.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Demonstrate the ability to be diplomatic
- Use of de-escalation and breakaway techniques
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
- Able to travel across Trust independently
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).
