Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job responsibilities

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings

CLINICAL

To use highly specialist clinical skills to manage and prioritise a complex caseload of adults with learning disabilities who present with communication and/or swallowing difficulties.

To provide highly specialist assessment of communication and swallowing problems, formulate a hypothesis using a high level of clinical reasoning and to give evidence of sound clinical judgements.

To develop and implement appropriate interventions or rehabilitation, as appropriate in the community settings.

To apply specialist knowledge and skills to implement high and low technology alternative and augmentative communication aids with a range of service users.

To provide appropriate highly specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.

To write comprehensive reports that are accessible to a range of professionals and service users, reflecting highly specialist knowledge.

To develop clear care plans, advice and information, based on best practice and to use highly specialist knowledge to inform clinical judgments for care management.

To ensure the service users and/or their carers and support workers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans.

To facilitate, wherever possible, the service users involvement in the process to ensure meaningful outcomes, taking into account the severity of their learning disability and their communication and/ or swallowing difficulties.

To provide advice and training to other professionals, carers, support workers and relatives regarding the safe management and care of patients with communication and/or swallowing difficulties to maximise the service users skills and reduce clinical risk.

To work collaboratively and liaise with a wide range of other professionals across a variety of locations and agencies

To adapt practice to meet individual service users circumstances, including due regard for cognitive ability, cultural and linguistic backgrounds and differences.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures, and maintain knowledge of current literature and developments within the specialist clinical field of communication and dysphagia within learning disability, which may at times include progressive conditions and dementia.

To supervise student placements and promote the area of learning disabilities within the Speech and Language Therapy profession

TEAM WORKING

To attend Multidisciplinary Team Meetings, and to actively promote and contribute to MDT working, maintaining effective communication and client centred focus.

To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager related to the development of the speech and language therapy service.

To work closely with service users, carers and other community healthcare professionals where appropriate discussing the needs of service users and ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan.

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

To employ excellent communication skills.

To communicate information following assessment related to complex conditions, to service users, carers, support workers, families and members of the multidisciplinary team/other professions.

To work collaboratively with service users, carers, support workers, and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the service users care package.

To demonstrate empathy with service users, carers, support workers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where problems with understanding exist.

To include use of augmentative or alternative communication, as well as accessing interpreter services where patients do not have English as a first language.

To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.

To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs, and seek advice and support to resolve.

To actively build links with relevant local support / community groups.

To facilitate continuity of care through appropriate liaison with relevant agencies and services on transfer or discharge of clients from service.

To provide training to a variety of audiences on communication and dysphagia in relation to learning disabilities.

MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE

To triage and direct SLT community / inpatient referrals to the appropriate sources.

To advise line manager of issues of service shortfall or pressure.

To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as required.

To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of SLT equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients.

To advise on and record the stock of equipment / communication aids to patients.

To actively provide input to Team and Departmental meetings.

To contribute to proposed service/policy developments related to the speech and language therapy service.

To provide mentoring, advice and support (including second opinions) to more junior Speech and Language Therapists, assistants, volunteers and other professional groups as appropriate.

To participate in the supervision and training of junior staff and students on placement as appropriate.

To facilitate the development of others problem solving / negotiation skills within peer review / support.

To participate in Individual Performance Reviews and appraisals of more junior staff ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans.

This job description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the post and not as an exhaustive list of duties and tasks. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to his/her grade, which are not listed above, time after consultation with the post holder.

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised degree in Speech and Language Therapy, Registered with HCPC
• Learning Disabilities, communication and dysphagia workshops and short courses
• Registered with RCSLT as a qualified practitioner

Desirable

• MSc or equivalent post graduate study and training in specialist area
• Post-graduate / intermediate dysphagia certification or relevant experience
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellent Network or equivalent

Previous experience

Essential

• Significant post qualification experience in working with adults with learning disabilities
• Experience of carrying out highly specialist communication and swallowing assessments and intervention
• Experience and skills in working with people with complex health needs such as epilepsy, respiratory difficulties, postural needs and dementia
• Experience in participating in audit / research projects
• Experience in leading and/or developing a service/component of a service
• Experience of effective partnership working, with external providers and mainstream services in promoting socially inclusive opportunities for service users

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Positive Behaviour Support Framework
• Experience and skills in working with people with behaviours that challenges

Personal qualities

Essential

• High level of personal motivation
• Flexibility and creativity in approach
• Demonstrate self-awareness and an ability to use initiative
• Commitment to learning and development
• Commitment to treating service users with respect and dignity at all times
• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, motivating, listening, empathy and counseling skills
• Highly developed negotiation, problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrates highly developed analytical, evaluation and reflection skills
• Positive role model for all staff

Skills, Knowledge and abilities

Essential

• Highly developed skills in the assessment and management of complex dysphagia
• Knowledge and skills in using a range of communication assessment tools relevant to the client group
• Skills in using a variety of communication interventions including high and low tech visual communication aids, Makaton signs, Intensive Interaction
• Ability to work autonomously, on own initiative and under pressure to meet deadlines; & to make and action decisions independently within agreed time frames
• Excellent communication skills i.e. written, verbal, listening and proficient use of up to date systems of communication i.e. IT systems, e-mail, telephone etc
• Computer skills (ECDL) to be able to complete electronic patient records such as Systm One, reports and presentations as appropriate to role
• Ability to deal with sensitivities and complexities, using interpersonal skills
• Effective leadership skills through the management of designated projects, audits and research
• Ability to implement a range of therapy outcome measures, evaluate outcomes and apply to service improvement
• Skills in supervising others including SLT students
• Skills in producing timely, accurate and informative reports and notes
• Excellent organisational skills to manage the demands of the role, including prioritisation of workload, delegation skills
• Highly developed written and verbal presentation skills
• Skills in developing and delivering training
• Ability to regularly identify and undertake appropriate learning and development opportunities as part of ongoing CPD
• Ability to ensure the application of risk assessment and risk management strategies which facilitates a service user's management
• Ability to identify and effectively manage performance of self and others
• Ability to maintain effective partnership working with resources both internal and external to the Trust.
• Knowledge and application of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group)
• Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
• Experience in the application of the principles of clinical governance
• Ability to work well as part of a multidisciplinary team

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).