Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Adult LD Mental Health (ATU)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main duties:

1. To assess, diagnose and manage the communication needs of people with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health difficulties. To hold a specialist caseload which will also include some highly specialist complex cases.

To develop skills in the assessment and management of eating and drinking difficulties of people with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health difficulties on completion of recognised Dysphagia training.

2. To have overall responsibility for the management of own caseload, which will include clients with both communication and dysphagia

3. To participate in specialist activities under the supervision of the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.

4. To use appropriate multi-lingual assessments and therapeutic approaches. This would include the use of interpreters and culturally appropriate resources.

5. To develop skills to represent SLT in multi-professional clinics / meetings, taking on this role as and when required

6. To contribute to Health Promotion for who use the services of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

7. To contribute to the early identification of SLT disorders in the general population

8. To develop and produce appropriate materials in order to promote access to effective therapy e.g. leaflets/bilingual resources.

9. To ensure that full consent has been given to proceed with Speech and language therapy assessment, with particular regard to a communication impaired population.

10. To identify and collect relevant information through formal and informal assessments in order to make a clinical judgement/differential diagnosis.

11. To critically appraise and interpret the assessment information/diagnosis and produce appropriate evidence based therapy/management plans and predicted outcomes.

12. To ensure the nature of the communication / eating and drinking difficulty is communicated sensitively and effectively to all involved, both verbally and in writing. This includes detail of the differential diagnosis, the proposed management plans and the expected outcomes.

13. To provide details about the expected Speech and Language Therapy prognosis in a sensitive manner, especially in the case of limited potential to improve or in the case of deterioration and potential palliative care.

14. To work in partnership, to empower the most significant people involved to deliver intervention plans, negotiating and agreeing realistic goals and adapting plans to meet individual needs and preferences. This includes training and supporting others to deliver the intervention programme.

15. To evaluate the effectiveness of episodes of care and make clinical decisions to set further objectives for intervention.

16. To end the intervention in a timely manner, providing clear clinical reasoning behind this decision. This includes the provision of information as to how and when to re-access the service.

17. To know when and how to refer to other professions and agencies including the voluntary and charity sector.

18. To contribute to the planning, facilitation and evaluation of training packages / courses.

19. To support Clinical Support Workers in the delivery of SLT services, whilst maintaining overall responsibility for the caseload.

20. To contribute to the achievement of Key Performance Indicators / national SLT targets i.e. Referral to Treatment times.

21. To work in a variety of locations across the district, carrying out domiciliary visits as required.

22. To maintain accurate case records on relevant clinical systems.

23. To maintain statistical information according to requirements of the Trust.

24. To understand and actively apply all aspects of cultural and religious diversity whilst working within Bradford and adhere to Trust policies on equal opportunities.

25. To maintain strict confidentiality regarding both clients and staff.

26. To maintain the highest possible professional standards in line with departmental Service Standards and RCSLT code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, identifying improvements where appropriate.

27. To have knowledge of and implement national policies, guidelines and legislation relating to Speech and Language Therapy in general and your clinical specialism in particular

28. To use analysis and clinical judgements where there are complex issues to determine the appropriate cause of action.

29. To compile expert reports and give evidence for legal proceedings and court cases in close liaison with your line manager and Trust advisors as appropriate.

30. To take an active role in clinical governance issues, e.g. design audits, evaluate evidence.

31. To contribute to research projects developing knowledge and skills with the support of named SLT staff

32. To carry out other duties as required across the Trust and other Directorates.

33. These duties will be reviewed regularly with the post holder as part of the performance review system of the Trust.

1. To contribute to the development of the team within your clinical area
2. Create and maintain effective working relationships within the SLT Service, the Multi-disciplinary Team, and with external agencie
3. To take an active part in identifying, planning and developing projects, as part of the team.

4. To attend and actively participate in staff meetings and other meetings relevant to the Speech & Language Therapy Department.

5. To work and network within the BDCFT area, and to develop and maintain external tertiary networks as appropriate.

1. To take personal responsibility for reading and acting upon all communication including e-mail, eComms, SLT newslette
2. To ensure 100% compliance with all mandatory training as detailed on the compliance matrix
3. To deliver in-service training in your clinical specialism as requested
4. To engage in continuous professional development, including attendance at specialist training courses and Clinical Excellence Networks with managers approval
5. To engage in regular Clinical Supervision sessions in line with Trust polic
6. To seek advice and support as from Line Manager / Team Manager as require
7. To seek second opinions from senior colleagues and engage in clinical case discussions as needed
8. To take part in the People Performance Management process, including annual appraisals
9. To comply with all Trust policies, procedures and protocols
10. To ensure the safety and appropriate use of Trust equipment, including laptops and mobile phone
11. To carry out all duties with due regard to the Trusts Equal Opportunity Policy
12. To take responsibility for own and others health and safety in the work environment and comply with all aspects of Health and Safety whilst in the employ of BDCFT.

1. Supervision and Support
2. To offer advice and support to Clinical Support Workers, new and junior Speech and Language Therapists on a day-to-day basis
3. To act as a Clinical Supervisor, offering supervision to individuals in line with the Trusts Clinical Supervision policy
4. To be involved in the training and supervision of Speech and Language Therapy students on completion of Clinical Educator training
5. To be involved in promoting the profession to those interested in SLT as a career.

1. Financial Responsibility

The post holder has no specific financial responsibilities.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• oExperience of working in a variety of health, social, educational and residential settings
• oExperience supporting pre-grad SLT students, clinical support workers and junior colleagues
• oEvidence of training others e.g. parents, support staff, professionals
• oExperience of working with in and in-patient setting
• oExperience of working in a Multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

• Experience working in the youth justice sector

Qualifications

Essential

• oRegistered Speech and Language Therapist with Health Professionals Council
• oRegistered with RCSLT
• oSLT Degree/dip Qualification
• oPost-basic dysphagia training

Skills

Essential

• oAbility to mentor SLT New Graduate, SLT Generalist and Clinical Support Workers
• oAble to plan and lead existing and new therapy groups
• oAble to work independently for most general cases with support for complex clinical cases specialism
• oAbility to contribute to Audits, Research and Development
• oDeveloping skills in a specific clinical area.
• oAbility to work effectively with Bilingual assistants and interpreters
• oExcellent time management and prioritisation Skills
• oI.T. Literate

Desirable

• oAbility to speak one or more locality languages

Attitude and approach

Essential

• oCar Driver / Access to transport
• oExcellent communicator
• oAble to work in a variety of locations / situations
• oFlexible Team Player

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Assessment Treatment Unit (ATU)

Lynfield Mount Hospital

Bradford

BD9 6DP

Employer's website

https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/ (Opens in a new tab)