Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Band 7
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
This job is now closed
Job summary
We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Highly Specialist SLT to take a lead role in managing Neonatal/ Paediatric inpatient referrals at Ashford and St Peters Hospital. The post holder will be a member of the SLT team, working closely with the multidisciplinary Paediatric team at ASPH Foundation Trust.
We are looking for someone with advanced skills in the field of paediatric Dysphagia managing a caseload of acutely ill infants/children with complex communication and swallowing problems. The postholder will provide highly specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and intervention, as well as advice/liaison to patients and those caring for them.
The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the ability to work both independently, as well as showing excellent team working skills, enthusiasm and drive.
The Speech and Language Therapy department is a dynamic and friendly service managed jointly with the Dietetic Department offering collaborative ways of working.
The department is strongly committed to Clinical Governance and Continuing Professional development with an excellent support and clinical supervision structure in place.
Main duties of the job
· Assessing, diagnosing and treating patients on the Neonatal and Paediatric Ward with a high level of clinical complexity
· Working within MDTs providing specialist advice and support, as appropriate, to facilitate the effective management of patients whilst in hospital and on discharge
· Being a resource of expertise for Speech and Language Therapy colleagues and others for patient and clinical service issues
· Providing advice, second opinions, learning opportunities, training and direction for service development and improvement
· Contributing to the development and updating of information leaflets and other resources produced by the department
Taking an active role within the general functioning of the Speech and Language Therapy Department, including contributing to student training, supervision of staff members, and training of other health care professionals
About us
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in the boroughs of Runnymede, Spelthorne, Woking and parts of Elmbridge, Hounslow, Surrey Heath and beyond. The Trust employs around 4,400 individual members of staff. Our turnover was £387.3 million in 2020/21.The Trust provides a whole range of services across its hospital sites. The majority of planned care, like day case and orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation services, is provided at Ashford Hospital, with more complex medical and surgical care and emergency services at St. Peters Hospital. Our vision at Ashford & St Peters is to provide an outstanding experience and outcomes for patients and staff. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at Ashford & St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with our strong commitment to staff health and wellbeing. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
Visit Join the Team - https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/your-job-application
Date posted
30 September 2022
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£43,574 to £49,587 a year include HCAS (Pro rata - 15hrs Per Week)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9323-KPG2175-3
Job locations
Guildford Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 0PZ
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Dimensions & Accountabilities
• Assess, differentially diagnoses, formulate treatment plans (in collaboration with patients and carers), write assessment reports, identify and choose appropriate therapeutic or clinical management techniques from a range of options, provide appropriate therapeutic intervention and evaluate treatment outcomes.
• To continue to acquire the combination of specialist and broader, deeper basic knowledge that is required to maintain fitness for specialist practice with high level autonomy in making decisions for a wide range of specialist cases and contexts
Professional autonomy and accountability
• To maintain Health Profession Council Standards of Proficiency, to practise within the legal and ethical boundaries of the profession and to be aware of current legislation applicable to the work of speech and language therapists
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols / policies and professional code of conduct
• Provide clinical management of neonatal and paediatric inpatient referrals at St Peters Hospital and other sites if required
Knowledge understanding and skills
• To know and keep up to date with national, local and client contextual knowledge and understanding as well as the relevant core and care group specific, specialist underpinning knowledge and skills related to the assessment, management and professional craft knowledge of specialist speech and language therapy practice
• To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines
• To have a working knowledge of all relevant procedures for specialist practice including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Vulnerable Adults, capacity for consent and other legal frameworks
Physical skills
• To demonstrate highly developed and accurate auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients / clients
• To demonstrate skills in handling clients with disabilities
• To demonstrate skills in the use of equipment and technology in specialist clinical care
Learning and education
a) Self
• To identify training and development needs required for highly specialist practice through critical self-reflection
• To engage in continuous self-directed learning that promotes professional development and quality of practice
• To seek a range of opportunities through the appropriate channels for meeting learning needs
• To attend specialist short courses appropriate to the specialty
• To evaluate learning outcomes, including how learning impacts on practice
• To implement learning outcomes through appropriate and / or agreed changes within practice
b) Students
• To provide opportunities for speech and language therapy students to observe, discuss and have hands on experience of working with clients in order to support learning about the context, the theory and process of speech and language therapy practice within a range of settings
c) Speech and language therapy colleagues
• To participate in and make an active contribution / lead in case discussions, peer review and action learning sets, drawing on specialist knowledge and experience
• To support the development and practice of colleagues whilst respecting their existing levels of expertise, e.g. through mentoring, clinical supervision, providing second opinions, co-working, and evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen methods in meeting learning needs
d) Others
• To provide a supporting role in identifying the specialist training needs of individuals or groups, in developing the appropriate content and style of information giving / skill development, in providing the training through the most appropriate means and in evaluating the impact
• To provide opportunities for other health professionals to learn about speech and language therapy and relevant health promotion and health prevention from observation and discussion
Practice research and development
• To contribute to and, as a full specialist speech and language therapist, lead the continuous improvement of the speech and language therapy service by
1. critical reflection on service level practice and planning
2. local research / audit projects focused on practice,
3. implementing agreed quality improvements within practice
4. participating in and developing innovations to reduce risk, and improve quality and clinical effectiveness
• To contribute to the body of knowledge about specialist speech and language therapy and multi professional practice through sharing experience with colleagues and clinical networks and by providing a supporting role in research and publication
Policy / service development and implementation
• To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies across agencies and organisations
• To use specialist knowledge to inform and comment on proposed service / policy developments across agencies and organisations
• To identify care issues for the specialty and make recommendations
• To participate in and, as a full specialist speech and language therapist, lead in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of the clinical specialty
Communications and Working Relationships
• To make referrals within health, education and social services settings
• To liaise, work in partnership with, and be proactive with other professionals, support staff, patients / clients and parents or carers within and across Trust and organisational boundaries
• To build and sustain professional relationships as an independent practitioner and collaboratively as a member of a team
• To engage patients / clients, parents and carers expert contribution in planning and evaluating care
• To communicate specialist, complex condition related information from assessment, as well as information, advice, instruction and professional opinion effectively and appropriately to a wide range of colleagues, specialist and non specialist, and to patients / clients, parents and carers
• To modify communication to take account of the individual’s needs, including demonstration of empathy and skills to overcome barriers to understanding
• To be aware of the characteristics and consequences of non verbal communication and how it can be affected by culture, age, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs and socio-economic status
• To provide patients or clients or people acting on their behalf, including other agencies, with the information necessary to enable them to make informed decisions
• To use an appropriate interpreter to assist patients whose first language is not English, whenever possible
• To build relationships based on mutual respect and trust and maintain high standards of care even in situations of personal incompatibility
• To communicate effectively, reflecting specialist knowledge, throughout the care of individuals with specialist, complex, high risk needs
• To agree and identify jointly all patients / clients’ and /or parents / carers’ information, support and training needs
• To use interpersonal and persuasion skills to encourage the active participation of patients / clients and parents or carers in the therapeutic process
• To manage actual breakdown and conflict when they occur
• To use assertiveness and negotiation skills at a team level in the management of conflict across a range of situations
• To fulfil a Primary Partner role to ensure patient / clients with specialist, complex, high risk needs and their parents or carers benefit from a comprehensive, co-ordinated plan of care
• To liaise and negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management
• To communicate complex, high risk care issues and concerns in speech and language therapy and wider contexts, including child protection, vulnerable adults and health prevention
• To attend meetings with a specialist client focus
Further Information and General Responsibilities
• Care for self and maintain own health
• To have responsibility for health, safety and welfare of self and others at work. This includes being conversant with relevant Trust safety policies and procedures. Each staff member has a responsibility to report incidents, accidents and near misses at work; to take part in the risk management process; to attend all mandatory training course in the agreed duration as defined in Trust policy and to carry out tasks and use equipment only when competent to do so.
• To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity. To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• To comply with the Trust’s corporate and local policies and procedures on such subjects as clinical management, human resources, data quality, staff safety, particularly lone working.
• To comply with the Trust’s policies on equal opportunities, the consumption of alcohol and non-smoking.
• As part of the Speech & Language Therapy Team to work flexibly and in a co-operative and supportive way with colleagues including covering for absent colleagues.
• To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Dimensions & Accountabilities
• Assess, differentially diagnoses, formulate treatment plans (in collaboration with patients and carers), write assessment reports, identify and choose appropriate therapeutic or clinical management techniques from a range of options, provide appropriate therapeutic intervention and evaluate treatment outcomes.
• To continue to acquire the combination of specialist and broader, deeper basic knowledge that is required to maintain fitness for specialist practice with high level autonomy in making decisions for a wide range of specialist cases and contexts
Professional autonomy and accountability
• To maintain Health Profession Council Standards of Proficiency, to practise within the legal and ethical boundaries of the profession and to be aware of current legislation applicable to the work of speech and language therapists
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols / policies and professional code of conduct
• Provide clinical management of neonatal and paediatric inpatient referrals at St Peters Hospital and other sites if required
Knowledge understanding and skills
• To know and keep up to date with national, local and client contextual knowledge and understanding as well as the relevant core and care group specific, specialist underpinning knowledge and skills related to the assessment, management and professional craft knowledge of specialist speech and language therapy practice
• To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines
• To have a working knowledge of all relevant procedures for specialist practice including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Vulnerable Adults, capacity for consent and other legal frameworks
Physical skills
• To demonstrate highly developed and accurate auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients / clients
• To demonstrate skills in handling clients with disabilities
• To demonstrate skills in the use of equipment and technology in specialist clinical care
Learning and education
a) Self
• To identify training and development needs required for highly specialist practice through critical self-reflection
• To engage in continuous self-directed learning that promotes professional development and quality of practice
• To seek a range of opportunities through the appropriate channels for meeting learning needs
• To attend specialist short courses appropriate to the specialty
• To evaluate learning outcomes, including how learning impacts on practice
• To implement learning outcomes through appropriate and / or agreed changes within practice
b) Students
• To provide opportunities for speech and language therapy students to observe, discuss and have hands on experience of working with clients in order to support learning about the context, the theory and process of speech and language therapy practice within a range of settings
c) Speech and language therapy colleagues
• To participate in and make an active contribution / lead in case discussions, peer review and action learning sets, drawing on specialist knowledge and experience
• To support the development and practice of colleagues whilst respecting their existing levels of expertise, e.g. through mentoring, clinical supervision, providing second opinions, co-working, and evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen methods in meeting learning needs
d) Others
• To provide a supporting role in identifying the specialist training needs of individuals or groups, in developing the appropriate content and style of information giving / skill development, in providing the training through the most appropriate means and in evaluating the impact
• To provide opportunities for other health professionals to learn about speech and language therapy and relevant health promotion and health prevention from observation and discussion
Practice research and development
• To contribute to and, as a full specialist speech and language therapist, lead the continuous improvement of the speech and language therapy service by
1. critical reflection on service level practice and planning
2. local research / audit projects focused on practice,
3. implementing agreed quality improvements within practice
4. participating in and developing innovations to reduce risk, and improve quality and clinical effectiveness
• To contribute to the body of knowledge about specialist speech and language therapy and multi professional practice through sharing experience with colleagues and clinical networks and by providing a supporting role in research and publication
Policy / service development and implementation
• To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies across agencies and organisations
• To use specialist knowledge to inform and comment on proposed service / policy developments across agencies and organisations
• To identify care issues for the specialty and make recommendations
• To participate in and, as a full specialist speech and language therapist, lead in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of the clinical specialty
Communications and Working Relationships
• To make referrals within health, education and social services settings
• To liaise, work in partnership with, and be proactive with other professionals, support staff, patients / clients and parents or carers within and across Trust and organisational boundaries
• To build and sustain professional relationships as an independent practitioner and collaboratively as a member of a team
• To engage patients / clients, parents and carers expert contribution in planning and evaluating care
• To communicate specialist, complex condition related information from assessment, as well as information, advice, instruction and professional opinion effectively and appropriately to a wide range of colleagues, specialist and non specialist, and to patients / clients, parents and carers
• To modify communication to take account of the individual’s needs, including demonstration of empathy and skills to overcome barriers to understanding
• To be aware of the characteristics and consequences of non verbal communication and how it can be affected by culture, age, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs and socio-economic status
• To provide patients or clients or people acting on their behalf, including other agencies, with the information necessary to enable them to make informed decisions
• To use an appropriate interpreter to assist patients whose first language is not English, whenever possible
• To build relationships based on mutual respect and trust and maintain high standards of care even in situations of personal incompatibility
• To communicate effectively, reflecting specialist knowledge, throughout the care of individuals with specialist, complex, high risk needs
• To agree and identify jointly all patients / clients’ and /or parents / carers’ information, support and training needs
• To use interpersonal and persuasion skills to encourage the active participation of patients / clients and parents or carers in the therapeutic process
• To manage actual breakdown and conflict when they occur
• To use assertiveness and negotiation skills at a team level in the management of conflict across a range of situations
• To fulfil a Primary Partner role to ensure patient / clients with specialist, complex, high risk needs and their parents or carers benefit from a comprehensive, co-ordinated plan of care
• To liaise and negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management
• To communicate complex, high risk care issues and concerns in speech and language therapy and wider contexts, including child protection, vulnerable adults and health prevention
• To attend meetings with a specialist client focus
Further Information and General Responsibilities
• Care for self and maintain own health
• To have responsibility for health, safety and welfare of self and others at work. This includes being conversant with relevant Trust safety policies and procedures. Each staff member has a responsibility to report incidents, accidents and near misses at work; to take part in the risk management process; to attend all mandatory training course in the agreed duration as defined in Trust policy and to carry out tasks and use equipment only when competent to do so.
• To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity. To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• To comply with the Trust’s corporate and local policies and procedures on such subjects as clinical management, human resources, data quality, staff safety, particularly lone working.
• To comply with the Trust’s policies on equal opportunities, the consumption of alcohol and non-smoking.
• As part of the Speech & Language Therapy Team to work flexibly and in a co-operative and supportive way with colleagues including covering for absent colleagues.
• To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- NHS Constitution
- Trust vision, values and strategic objectives
- Core professional knowledge from qualifying course
- Specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement/ decision making for specialist, complex, high risk case management
- Well established knowledge of recent developments in practice relevant to the specialist client group:
- assessment tools
- national policies and procedures
- a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience at undergraduate / post graduate level
- Relevant specialist experience post registration
- Post graduate dysphagia training and up to date specialist knowledge and skills
- Extensive specialist clinical experience and with complex case management.
- Extensive experience of training other professionals, Speech and Language Therapists and speech and language therapy assistants / volunteers in a range of communication and dysphagia issues / skills
- Extensive experience of mentoring / supporting junior colleagues and providing second opinions
Desirable
- Evidence of project work/research/publication in specialist field.
Skills
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate, in relation to people who use Trust and other related services:
- You have knowledge & awareness of diversity and human rights and the competencies appropriate to your role to support their diverse needs and human rights.
- You are able to communicate effectively with them, parents/carers and with other staff to ensure that their care, treatment and support are not compromised.
- You have a good understanding of their communication, physical & emotional needs; can identify their individual needs and preferences, their changing needs and recognise and promote their independence.
- Well established practical understanding of a range of the principles of: clinical governance /audit research / evidence base enquiry methods
- Excellent team working skills and understanding of other professionals roles
- Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
- Able to provide a customer focussed service
ATTITUDE, BEHAVIOUR AND VALUES
Essential
- Always puts patients first
- Customer service focus
- Willing and able to take personal responsibility
- Demonstrates passion for excellence
- Seeks out and takes opportunities for improving the service offered
- Takes pride in their work and their team
- Flexible in their attitudes and behaviours to support team working and delivery of objectives
- Respects, values and cares for others
- Supports learning and development of self and others
- Supports and promotes equality and diversity
- Extensive evidence of maintaining and developing clinical skills and theoretical knowledge in specialist field through further study/short courses etc.
- Advanced practitioner competency sign off on relevant framework/s
Qualifications
Essential
- Specific competencies (where appropriate)
- Evidence of completed Level C Dysphagia Competencies (Dysphagia training and competency framework RCSLT) and working towards Level D.
- Neonatal and infant feeing assessment and management Level C Dysphagia Competency
- Evidence of achieved videofluroscosopy competency Level 3 (RCSLT VF competency framework) and working towards level 4.
- Signed off on RCSLT Tracheostomy competency framework for Core Trache Skills with additional: Critical care & Paediatric competencies.
Desirable
- Hold FEES competency validation (by Level 2 or 3 practitioner). Minimum level 1. Working towards 2 or 3.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Able to demonstrate that you are honest, reliable and trustworthy
- Treat patients, visitors, colleagues with respect
- Ability to travel between Trust sites
- Ability to be flexible to meet the needs of the team, the service and the Trust
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- NHS Constitution
- Trust vision, values and strategic objectives
- Core professional knowledge from qualifying course
- Specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement/ decision making for specialist, complex, high risk case management
- Well established knowledge of recent developments in practice relevant to the specialist client group:
- assessment tools
- national policies and procedures
- a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience at undergraduate / post graduate level
- Relevant specialist experience post registration
- Post graduate dysphagia training and up to date specialist knowledge and skills
- Extensive specialist clinical experience and with complex case management.
- Extensive experience of training other professionals, Speech and Language Therapists and speech and language therapy assistants / volunteers in a range of communication and dysphagia issues / skills
- Extensive experience of mentoring / supporting junior colleagues and providing second opinions
Desirable
- Evidence of project work/research/publication in specialist field.
Skills
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate, in relation to people who use Trust and other related services:
- You have knowledge & awareness of diversity and human rights and the competencies appropriate to your role to support their diverse needs and human rights.
- You are able to communicate effectively with them, parents/carers and with other staff to ensure that their care, treatment and support are not compromised.
- You have a good understanding of their communication, physical & emotional needs; can identify their individual needs and preferences, their changing needs and recognise and promote their independence.
- Well established practical understanding of a range of the principles of: clinical governance /audit research / evidence base enquiry methods
- Excellent team working skills and understanding of other professionals roles
- Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
- Able to provide a customer focussed service
ATTITUDE, BEHAVIOUR AND VALUES
Essential
- Always puts patients first
- Customer service focus
- Willing and able to take personal responsibility
- Demonstrates passion for excellence
- Seeks out and takes opportunities for improving the service offered
- Takes pride in their work and their team
- Flexible in their attitudes and behaviours to support team working and delivery of objectives
- Respects, values and cares for others
- Supports learning and development of self and others
- Supports and promotes equality and diversity
- Extensive evidence of maintaining and developing clinical skills and theoretical knowledge in specialist field through further study/short courses etc.
- Advanced practitioner competency sign off on relevant framework/s
Qualifications
Essential
- Specific competencies (where appropriate)
- Evidence of completed Level C Dysphagia Competencies (Dysphagia training and competency framework RCSLT) and working towards Level D.
- Neonatal and infant feeing assessment and management Level C Dysphagia Competency
- Evidence of achieved videofluroscosopy competency Level 3 (RCSLT VF competency framework) and working towards level 4.
- Signed off on RCSLT Tracheostomy competency framework for Core Trache Skills with additional: Critical care & Paediatric competencies.
Desirable
- Hold FEES competency validation (by Level 2 or 3 practitioner). Minimum level 1. Working towards 2 or 3.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Able to demonstrate that you are honest, reliable and trustworthy
- Treat patients, visitors, colleagues with respect
- Ability to travel between Trust sites
- Ability to be flexible to meet the needs of the team, the service and the Trust
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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
Certificate of Sponsorship
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
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Guildford Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 0PZ
Employer's website
https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Guildford Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 0PZ
Employer's website
https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
For questions about the job, contact:
Date posted
30 September 2022
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£43,574 to £49,587 a year include HCAS (Pro rata - 15hrs Per Week)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9323-KPG2175-3
Job locations
Guildford Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 0PZ
Supporting documents
Privacy notice
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)