Job summary
SALT (Adult) Advanced Practitioner for Critical Care, Tracheostomy & Instrumental Lead
An exciting opportunity has arisen to develop a new Speech and Language service within critical care. The post is to take a lead role responsible for the advanced assessment, diagnosis, management and specialist treatment of complex communication, swallowing and tracheostomy weaning related to a wide range of conditions in Critical Care.
Also to provide operational management, leadership and support across Speech and Language Therapy, Videofluoroscopy (VF), and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) teams. Lead on SLT Instrumental strategic development, operational policy and pathways for the Trust. Contribute to strategic planning and service development. To act as Professional Lead for Speech & Language Therapy within the Trust.
Main duties of the job
Taking the lead on developing and maintaining the SLT pathways in Adult Critical Care and ensuring the highest possible clinical standards are met. He/she will manage audit and quality improvement data collection, analysing, interpreting and reporting findings. He/she will participate in teaching and support other team members in this provision. He/she will contribute to the highest standards of clinical governance and respond to and influence Trust, national and professional standards in the area of Adult Critical Care.
He/She will provide leadership and support for the Videofluoroscopy (VF) and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) services and contribute to discussions on SLT instrumental strategies, development, operational policies and pathways for the trust.
About us
Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) is a leader in the digital health revolution. With the launch of a full Electronic Patient Record in 2017 the Trust aims to be the safest, most efficient and patient centred Trust in the NHS. The Through working at CHFT you can be part of this innovative area aiming to bring safer and more effective care to our patients.
CHFT is open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. If you have some particular requirements, please make sure you state these during the applicant process to allow these to be discussed and considered at interview stage.
CHFT is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
He/she will be an expert practitioner and will utilise specialist knowledge in line with local and national policies/protocols and professional guidelines to manage risk and improve function. The post holder will provide specialist speech and language therapy advice to any appropriate hospital or primary health care professional. They will build links with allied agencies across primary and secondary care improving local and regional care pathways, initially across the acute setting, but with potential to develop into outpatient and community settings. He/she will actively contribute to the strategic development and implementation of both the specialist SLT and wider multi-disciplinary Adult Critical Care Service.
This will include taking the lead on developing and maintaining the SLT pathways in Adult Critical Care and ensuring the highest possible clinical standards are met. He/she will manage audit and quality improvement data collection, analysing, interpreting and reporting findings. He/she will participate in teaching and support other team members in this provision. He/she will contribute to the highest standards of clinical governance and respond to and influence Trust, national and professional standards in the area of Adult Critical Care.
He/She will provide leadership and support for the Videofluoroscopy (VF) and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) services and contribute to discussions on SLT instrumental strategies, development, operational policies and pathways for the trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
He/she will be an expert practitioner and will utilise specialist knowledge in line with local and national policies/protocols and professional guidelines to manage risk and improve function. The post holder will provide specialist speech and language therapy advice to any appropriate hospital or primary health care professional. They will build links with allied agencies across primary and secondary care improving local and regional care pathways, initially across the acute setting, but with potential to develop into outpatient and community settings. He/she will actively contribute to the strategic development and implementation of both the specialist SLT and wider multi-disciplinary Adult Critical Care Service.
This will include taking the lead on developing and maintaining the SLT pathways in Adult Critical Care and ensuring the highest possible clinical standards are met. He/she will manage audit and quality improvement data collection, analysing, interpreting and reporting findings. He/she will participate in teaching and support other team members in this provision. He/she will contribute to the highest standards of clinical governance and respond to and influence Trust, national and professional standards in the area of Adult Critical Care.
He/She will provide leadership and support for the Videofluoroscopy (VF) and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) services and contribute to discussions on SLT instrumental strategies, development, operational policies and pathways for the trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant Degree/Diploma
- Registered with HCPC
- Evidence of Postgraduate Training
- Studied at Masters level or equivalent
- Post-graduate training in FEES
- Post graduate training in Videofluoroscopy
Experience
Essential
- High level of knowledge and experience in conducting a range of assessments (FEES essential) to support diagnosis and management of patients presenting with complex dysphagia.
- Uses specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements and decision-making for complex cases
- Experience of providing advice and professional guidance on complex clinical issues relating to Critical Care
- Experience in teaching and supporting competency development for less experienced Speech and Language Therapists.
- Experience of conducting clinical audit and quality improvement.
- Experience in delivering Communication and Swallowing training to SLT colleagues and other members Healthcare professionals.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including audit cycle, continuous quality improvement and user involvement.
- Experience in conducting appraisals
- Experience of working in MDT's and acting as a specialist SLT resource
Training
Essential
- Extensive portfolio and evidence of advanced personal and advanced/highly specialist professional development with skills, experience and achieved outcomes
- Evidence of Leadership Training
- Level 2 FEES Competencies
- Tracheostomy competencies (including critical care)
- Level 4 VF competencies
Desirable
- Level 3 FEES competencies (including specific critical care FEES competencies)
Special Knowledge/ Expertise
Essential
- Highly specialist Knowledge of Critical Care including Tracheostomy and Ventilation
- High level of in-depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and evidence of highly specialist clinical expertise relevant to this caseload
- Well established knowledge of RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines/Policies both locally and nationally in the specialism of Critical Care as well as relevant national strategy and drivers
Practical/Intellectual Skills/Personal Qualities
Essential
- Demonstrates positive attitude and behaviours
- Innovative and willing to exchange, develop and implement ideas
- Excellent Time Management skills
- Able to communicate complex, sensitive condition-related information from assessment to patients and carers
- Ability to give clear advice, instruction and training to patients, carers and other professionals relating to complex communication/ swallowing disorders
- Recognises own limitations and have willingness to share and learn from others
- Ability to concentrate and work in conditions requiring emotional demands
- Ability to identify and articulate own training needs
- Self motivated with ability to work independently and influence others
- Excellent Team Player
- Ability to make decisions and problem solve when dealing with routine situations
- Ability to work in a stressful environment and concentrate in conditions requiring emotional demands
- Ability to recognise own limitations and have a willingness to share and learn skills from others
- Ability to prioritise own and others caseloads
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant Degree/Diploma
- Registered with HCPC
- Evidence of Postgraduate Training
- Studied at Masters level or equivalent
- Post-graduate training in FEES
- Post graduate training in Videofluoroscopy
Experience
Essential
- High level of knowledge and experience in conducting a range of assessments (FEES essential) to support diagnosis and management of patients presenting with complex dysphagia.
- Uses specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements and decision-making for complex cases
- Experience of providing advice and professional guidance on complex clinical issues relating to Critical Care
- Experience in teaching and supporting competency development for less experienced Speech and Language Therapists.
- Experience of conducting clinical audit and quality improvement.
- Experience in delivering Communication and Swallowing training to SLT colleagues and other members Healthcare professionals.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including audit cycle, continuous quality improvement and user involvement.
- Experience in conducting appraisals
- Experience of working in MDT's and acting as a specialist SLT resource
Training
Essential
- Extensive portfolio and evidence of advanced personal and advanced/highly specialist professional development with skills, experience and achieved outcomes
- Evidence of Leadership Training
- Level 2 FEES Competencies
- Tracheostomy competencies (including critical care)
- Level 4 VF competencies
Desirable
- Level 3 FEES competencies (including specific critical care FEES competencies)
Special Knowledge/ Expertise
Essential
- Highly specialist Knowledge of Critical Care including Tracheostomy and Ventilation
- High level of in-depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and evidence of highly specialist clinical expertise relevant to this caseload
- Well established knowledge of RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines/Policies both locally and nationally in the specialism of Critical Care as well as relevant national strategy and drivers
Practical/Intellectual Skills/Personal Qualities
Essential
- Demonstrates positive attitude and behaviours
- Innovative and willing to exchange, develop and implement ideas
- Excellent Time Management skills
- Able to communicate complex, sensitive condition-related information from assessment to patients and carers
- Ability to give clear advice, instruction and training to patients, carers and other professionals relating to complex communication/ swallowing disorders
- Recognises own limitations and have willingness to share and learn from others
- Ability to concentrate and work in conditions requiring emotional demands
- Ability to identify and articulate own training needs
- Self motivated with ability to work independently and influence others
- Excellent Team Player
- Ability to make decisions and problem solve when dealing with routine situations
- Ability to work in a stressful environment and concentrate in conditions requiring emotional demands
- Ability to recognise own limitations and have a willingness to share and learn skills from others
- Ability to prioritise own and others caseloads
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.
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
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.
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).
