Job responsibilities
Managerial
To manage and supervise band 5 Speech and Language Therapists and band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapists within the team.
To manage and supervise band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioners.
To manage and supervise band 5 and 6 Speech and Language Therapists in the Care Setting.
To use highly skilled assessment procedures to differentially diagnose acquired communication disorders and to implement highly specialist intervention programmes either directly with the client and/or indirectly with their family, carers and other agencies that may be involved such as volunteer services (e.g. the Stroke Association).
To use highly skilled procedures to assess and manage clients with eating, drinking and swallowing problems (dysphagia). The management of dysphagia may involve implementing therapy programmes, giving advice and developing strategies to improve on the dysphagic clients skills and includes referral on for further medical investigations as necessary.
To provide highly specialist advice and guidance regarding high and low tech communication aids such as electronic voice output systems and picture communication books, referring onto or working in collaboration with specialist agencies in this field as applicable.
To gather activity data accurately and regularly ensuring the provision of such information promptly within Trust guidelines.
To work independently accessing appraisal within an individual performance framework at pre-determined intervals
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
To provide high quality clinical placements for student speech and language therapists.
To explain the role of the Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
Leadership
Accountable to the Service Expert Practitioners
To provide highly specialist advice/second opinions to speech and language therapy colleagues and other professionals in area of expertise.
To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
To liaise with relevant client/user groups as appropriate.
To monitor and evaluate own highly specialist service delivery.
To develop care protocols for specific clinical groups in liaison with the multi-disciplinary team and clinical leader to improve client care.
To advise clinical lead of issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures and to use highly specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate.
To develop skills in leadership within appropriate specialist area.
To take delegated lead on the development of team objectives or projects in liaison with peers.
To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence based practice.
To comment on proposed service/policy developments as appropriate
To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
To provide mentoring, supervision, support and advice to more junior speech and language therapists.
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
To identify personal/professional development evidenced by a personal development plan/professional portfolio developed within an appraisal framework including objectives relating to clinical specialism.
To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain skills and knowledge required of a therapist working in the field of acquired communication and/or dysphagia and maintain up to date Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and RCSLT registration.
To participate in the development of others problem solving/negotiation skills within peer review/ support.
Clinical
To assess, develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment and evaluate outcomes.
To use highly specialist skills to formulate a diagnosis.
To contribute to clinical teams both uni-disciplinary and multidisciplinary by discussing own and others input around clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan.
To demonstrate empathy with clients, families, carers and colleagues, ensuring effective communication is achieved particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
To demonstrate skills in motivating clients with severe communication needs and/or their families or carers to engage in the therapeutic process and enabling them to contribute to the decision making process regarding their care plans.
To demonstrate skills in motivating clients with complex feeding and swallowing difficulties to partake in therapeutic processes and to employ strategies to facilitate their eating, drinking and swallowing ability.
To demonstrate skills in facilitating family and/or carers to support the client in their employment of strategies to facilitate their eating, drinking and swallowing ability.
To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties and/or complex feeding and swallowing problems.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of a clients communication to identify and enhance communicative effectiveness.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of a clients feeding and swallowing ability to identify and enhance their feeding and swallowing skills.
To negotiate with clients, family, carers and others around individual case management.
To demonstrate good negotiation skills with clients, family, carers and other professionals around complex case management.
To employ counselling skills with clients and family or carers with highly complex needs and maintain sensitivity when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and the implications of the same.
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
To maintain highly specialist knowledge of current practice and literature, ensuring decisions are based on best available evidence
To produce reports reflecting highly specialist knowledge for individual clients and client groups.
To be an active member of the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to service delivery, audit and development.
To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods.
To be aware of and adhere to service and team plans and policies.
To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
To maintain and develop highly specialist clinical skills through attending relevant courses, meetings and special interest groups.
To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including Adult Protection, Consent to Treatment, NSF for Older People and the NSF for Long-Term Conditions and other legal frameworks.
To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to Professional practice.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor and identify own strengths and development needs.
To keep up to date with new techniques and developments in areas of clinical specialism
To ensure adequate and informed consent is obtained for every intervention.
To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to differing clinical settings and client contact as they arise, for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions that can be encountered on a regular basis.
To employ appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the workplace.
To adapt clinical practice to meet individual clients circumstances including home situations, cultural and linguistic differences.
To demonstrate highly specialist skills in the handling clients with disabilities.
To respect the individuals dignity, wishes & beliefs and to involve them in shared decision-making.
Non-Clinical
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
Training & Education
To use highly specialist knowledge to devise and deliver training for speech and language therapists, other professionals, clients family/carers and other user groups such as voluntary agencies.
To develop and implement training for clients, families, carers and other professionals within health and social care professions regarding the management of complex communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties appropriate to the receiving audience.
To provide training (formal and informal) targeted to the needs of course participants and evaluate training provided.
To provide formal/informal training to the Liverpool Community Matrons and Case Managers, as required.
To provide formal and informal training to Intermediate Care Staff
Clinical Governance/Research and Audit
To undertake Clinical Governance/audit projects within the locality.
To collect and provide research data as required.
Communication
To provide highly specialised written and verbal advice to a range of professionals, regarding the management and care of clients with complex/severe acquired communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, family, carers and members of other professions and voluntary agencies.
To demonstrate empathy with clients, families, carers and colleagues, ensuring effective communication is achieved particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and to seek advice and support to resolve this.