Job responsibilities
Key Result Areas & Performance:The post-holder will be responsible, for the provision of full and comprehensive, highly specialist SLT services to culturally diverse male and female in-patients with severe and enduring mental health disorders, adults with organic mental health disorders (Dementia) and highly complex needs.
Responsibilities will include:
Provision of highly specialist SLT assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with mental health problems, working collaboratively with the patient and their clinical team towards shared treatment goals
Provision of highly specialist eating and drinking assessment and advice on risk management. To include educating, training and sharing of skills with MDT as required.
Provision of SLT advice and consultation to others involved in patient care. As an autonomous practitioner, he/she will be responsible for their own work and interventions and for the interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies.
Workforce
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
To monitor and review the effectiveness of the clinical work undertaken either personally or jointly with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure that it reflects the best available evidence for practice.
To participate in data collection, audit, service evaluation and clinical research designed to improve the understanding and effectiveness of services delivered to patients. This will be agreed with the Trust according to clinical governance guidelines and in agreement with the post-holders service and professional managers.
To undertake project management, including clinical audit and service evaluation to help develop service provision.
To disseminate research from work that the post-holder has been involved in a way that will benefit the services provided by the Trust. This will include feedback from any training opportunities that the post-holder has been able to attend as part of their employment with the Trust.
To work with the MDT to develop and maintain a philosophy of care for SLT services in line with service and pathway objectives.
To develop a range of therapeutic interventions and care protocols which relate directly to the service philosophy or specific clinical issues.
To regularly review the delivery of the service, working with service managers to look at changes and new initiatives, both national and local, to ensure that the service remains needs led. Including looking at strategies for caseload management.
To be involved in clinical governance/audit projects.
Promote multi-disciplinary and inter-agency liaison, collaborative practice and policy development within BNSSG, the Trust and wider agencies.
Advise line managers and other members of the MDT on issues of service delivery including shortfalls, service pressures, clinical evidence base, guidelines etc.
To ensure that all interventions reflect current SLT best practice and adhere to professional standards.
To assess, develop and implement highly specialist programmes of care and treatment to meet the needs of all patients including highly complex cases, offering direct interventions for highly complex patients, indirect programmes carried out by other members of the team supported by the SLT for those with less complex needs, and developing, then supporting universal strategies for use by members of the MDT.
To use assessment material and information to offer differential diagnosis in patients with highly complex presentations and needs.
To be involved in the development and implementation of outcome measures for all therapeutic interventions.
To work collaboratively with the patients clinical team towards shared treatment goals with clear structured care plans. This will involve negotiation with others around complex case management.
To maintain notes and provide reports on clients communication to clinical teams both within the trust and upon discharge inline with Service, Trust and professional guidelines and policies.
To lead in the delivery of an effective dysphagia service.
To access appropriate training and supervision to maintain and improve skills in dysphagia assessment and treatment.
To educate, train and share skills with other members of staff involved in the patients care.
Demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of highly complex patients.
Exposure to aggressive behaviour of patients and carers.
Frequent and prolonged exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances. The backgrounds and presentation of many of these clients can present exceptional challenges both in working with the patients, in managing personal emotional responses and those of others e.g. carers.
Financial
Authorised signatory for staff expenses and petty cash.
Uses petty cash for group activities as appropriate.
Responsible for ensuring that all staff are trained in the safe use of specialist SLT equipment, following manufacturers instructions, and immediately reporting any defects in accordance with local procedures.
Responsible for ensuring required Trust standards of infection control are maintained.
Responsible for ensuring safe transport and storage of SLT equipment and materials.
Makes recommendations to management on new or replacement SLT resources/equipment required by staff to carry out their roles.
Responsible for ensuring equipment/resources ordered are fit for purpose before being used by self or others.
Communications and Relationships
To keep up to date with and contribute to developments in current SLT practice with this client group.
To engage in continued professional development opportunities.
To educate, train and share clinical expertise with other members of staff and the Trust.
To act according to the SLT Code of Professional Conduct, the standards set out in Communicating Quality 3 and any other relevant local or national clinical guidelines.
To be involved in the promotion of the service in inpatient mental health settings to foster greater understanding of the SLT contribution and contribute to the development of the SLT service as a whole.
To offer, where appropriate, professional advice relating to SLT for people with mental health difficulties or who present with behaviours that challenge the service.
To participate in supervision (managerial and clinical) and the Information for Quality process.
To communicate the outcome of assessment and therapy to the referrer, the multi-disciplinary team and the wider health & social care system, as appropriate. This will include the production of formal written reports.
To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner with service users and other professionals in relation to all aspects of the post-holders work, including advisory and support services. This will include feedback to patients who are compulsorily detained and who have severe mental disorders and a heightened potential for hostile reactions.
To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate.
General
To contribute to the development and maintenance of high professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holders professional and service manager(s).
To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in speech and language therapy across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflective practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of speech and language therapy and related disciplines.
To maintain high standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the Health and Care Professions Council and Trust policies and procedures.
To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.
To assist in the monitoring of equipment and ensuring Health & Safety standards are maintained
To work in accordance with the Trusts policies and procedures
To apply equal opportunity principles at all times
This job descriptions is not exhaustive and other duties or tasks may be required consistent with the job role and grade
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