Job summary
We are looking for an energetic, self-motivated Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to lead our Acute and Neuro Team. If you are enthusiastic, dynamic and motivated, then we would love you to join our team at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to lead our SLT team in the delivery of evidence-based assessment and intervention for patients with acute neurological, medical and surgical diagnoses. You will be required to support the SLT team and wider MDT with complex patients including those with tracheostomies and complex needs, as well as facilitating inpatient FEES and videofluoroscopy.
We are a friendly, hard-working team who get together regularly for team meetings, clinical supervision and CPD. We provide a high quality SLT service across three busy acute hospital sites.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a motivated and progressive SLT service who are continuously striving towards best-practice care.We are passionate about providing high quality care for our patients.
About us
Our Therapy service is a dynamic and exciting team that works across our three main site at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate and Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury.
We form part of close MDT working on all the wards and the therapy team are key team members in the rehabilitation of patients and discharge planning. We firmly believe that developing our staff is key to success; we have a dynamic and progressive training and development ethos, providing excellent opportunities to enhance your knowledge and competencies, nurturing your personal and professional development by encouraging and supporting you to reach your full potential.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Highlights of this post:
- Having the opportunity to work with patients with complex communication, swallowing and tracheostomy needs following neurological injury or disease (e.g. stroke, brain injury, Myasthenia Gravis, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease)
- Working within a team that embraces new initiatives and ideas, who value and respect each other
- Sharing and receiving support from other skilled, knowledgeable colleagues
- Leading a team of SLTs to ensure high quality SLT service provision and well supported staff
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents'.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Highlights of this post:
- Having the opportunity to work with patients with complex communication, swallowing and tracheostomy needs following neurological injury or disease (e.g. stroke, brain injury, Myasthenia Gravis, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease)
- Working within a team that embraces new initiatives and ideas, who value and respect each other
- Sharing and receiving support from other skilled, knowledgeable colleagues
- Leading a team of SLTs to ensure high quality SLT service provision and well supported staff
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents'.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant post graduate experience in acute medical, acute neurology and critical care caseloads
- Working in an acute hospital setting
- Proven record of providing high quality intervention for high risk patients
- Experience in the use of instrumental assessment, management and treatment of swallowing impairments
- Delivering training
- Working in specialist areas (including acute respiratory, neurology, critical care, stroke and frailty)
- Teaching and supervision
Desirable
- Clinical audit
- Registration and active involvement in relevant specialist clinical interest groups
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Advanced competencies (i.e. videofluoroscopy, FEES, tracheostomy or critical care)
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills
- Excellent analytical and reflection skills
- Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
- Skills in specialist dysphagia management
- Prioritisation skills
- Highly developed clinical skills in assessment, therapy and management of patients with communication and swallowing impairments
- Proven skills in leadership
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Basic IT knowledge
- Effective and strong team player
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of professional issues and recent developments in the NHS and Primary Care including Clinical Governance, NICE and CQC
- Broad knowledge of a range of assessment tools relevant to the patient group, (acquired communication and swallowing disorders, Stroke)
- Evidence based knowledge of a wide variety of treatment techniques and strategies relevant adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to role)
- Knowledge of standards of record keeping
- Awareness of Key Performance Indicators or service contracts
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a diploma/degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Evidence of completion of post graduate RCSLT Dysphagia Competencies or equivalent
Desirable
- Leadership training
- Further higher or advanced education (e.g. Masters qualification)
personal attributes
Essential
- Ability to motivate and organise others to ensure best practice
- Ability to work under pressure
- Flexible and adaptable
Ability to manage
Essential
- Able to support the implementation of local and national agendas for health under the guidance of the team lead / service manager
- Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures
- Ability to organise own work
- Ability to cope with change and use initiative
- Able to provide line-management and supervision to junior members of staff
Other
Essential
- To be aware of and adhere to the Trust's Vision, Mission and Values
- Able to travel between sites
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant post graduate experience in acute medical, acute neurology and critical care caseloads
- Working in an acute hospital setting
- Proven record of providing high quality intervention for high risk patients
- Experience in the use of instrumental assessment, management and treatment of swallowing impairments
- Delivering training
- Working in specialist areas (including acute respiratory, neurology, critical care, stroke and frailty)
- Teaching and supervision
Desirable
- Clinical audit
- Registration and active involvement in relevant specialist clinical interest groups
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Advanced competencies (i.e. videofluoroscopy, FEES, tracheostomy or critical care)
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills
- Excellent analytical and reflection skills
- Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
- Skills in specialist dysphagia management
- Prioritisation skills
- Highly developed clinical skills in assessment, therapy and management of patients with communication and swallowing impairments
- Proven skills in leadership
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Basic IT knowledge
- Effective and strong team player
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of professional issues and recent developments in the NHS and Primary Care including Clinical Governance, NICE and CQC
- Broad knowledge of a range of assessment tools relevant to the patient group, (acquired communication and swallowing disorders, Stroke)
- Evidence based knowledge of a wide variety of treatment techniques and strategies relevant adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to role)
- Knowledge of standards of record keeping
- Awareness of Key Performance Indicators or service contracts
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a diploma/degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Evidence of completion of post graduate RCSLT Dysphagia Competencies or equivalent
Desirable
- Leadership training
- Further higher or advanced education (e.g. Masters qualification)
personal attributes
Essential
- Ability to motivate and organise others to ensure best practice
- Ability to work under pressure
- Flexible and adaptable
Ability to manage
Essential
- Able to support the implementation of local and national agendas for health under the guidance of the team lead / service manager
- Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures
- Ability to organise own work
- Ability to cope with change and use initiative
- Able to provide line-management and supervision to junior members of staff
Other
Essential
- To be aware of and adhere to the Trust's Vision, Mission and Values
- Able to travel between sites
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
