Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Professional

Maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration, working to their standards of proficiency, conduct, performance and ethics.

Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to National, RCSLT and local clinical guidelines.

Be accountable for own professional actions and recognise professional boundaries seeking advice and support when necessary.

Obtain informed consent at each stage of care pathway from client/carer/relatives.

Maintain confidentiality.

Promote the department in a positive and professional manner.

Manage own time and prioritise tasks with minimal support.

Delegate to others, only those tasks that are within their known competencies.

Undertake training as necessary in line with the development needs of the post and as agreed with line manager as part of the personal development planning process.

Attend all mandatory training.

Participate in the departments appraisal system.

Access the departments supervision scheme, thereby reflecting on own practice with peers.

Contributes to the teaching of other SLTs and other professional/lay groups.

Contribute to student placements as appropriate.

Patient Related

Manage a defined general and specialist caseload independently, following departmental guidelines with regard to the organisation of caseloads and standards. The therapist will monitor their own performance against these guidelines and standards, alerting the appropriate line manager when there are difficulties achieving them. The therapist will plan and prioritise his/her own patient workload

Provide a highly specialist second opinion service.

Provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to patients at a variety of locations.

Undertake assessments, and use highly specialist knowledge to inform clinical judgements/decisions for case management and structure clear care plans based on best practice for service users with communication and/or swallowing difficulties.

Communicate complex information from assessment to client/carers/relatives in a format that will enable them to fully understand the implications and actively participate in the care programme.

Negotiate confidently with client/carers/relatives around individual case management, recognising potential breakdown/conflict and using strategies to manage this before accessing advice.

Demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures as agreed within the department.

Demonstrate empathy with client/carers/relatives, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, even where there are barriers to understanding.

Adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for culture and linguistic differences.

Where interpreters are required, the therapist will follow the departmental policy for accessing these services.

Work closely with client/carers/relatives and multi-disciplinary team members ensuring whenever possible a care package agreed by all

Refer on to other services, when appropriate, ensuring that consent is obtained from client/carers/relatives.

Deliver and lead complex care pathways.

Follow complaints policy, striving to resolve conflicts/disagreements at therapist and client level. Alert Team Leader as soon as difficulties appear unresolved.

Be aware of safeguarding policies and follow procedures.

Deliver the service from a variety of settings.

Resources used in assessment and treatment should be safe and appropriate for the age, ability and interests of client. They should meet the standards of infection control and safety. This includes equipment loaned to clients.

Ensure that accommodation is safe and appropriate, before undertaking any session. Problems, accidents etc should be reported following the incident/accident guidelines.

Be responsible for the security of and equipment in the clinical areas used by Speech and Language Therapy.

Management

Provide some operational line management duties which may include: return to work meetings, including referral to Occupational Health where appropriate; assisting in performance management; carrying out induction of new members of staff.

Formulate team and training plans for the specialist area, in liaison with the Team Leader, ensuring that the team provides evidenced based care and advice to clients.

Involvement in the recruitment and selection process for the team.

Contribute to developing the workplace as a learning environment.

Advise team leader/service lead on all issues of service delivery within specialist area.

Contribute to the interpretation and implementation of national and local policies relevant to specialist area.

Supervise staff within specialist area.

Information Governance

Maintain up to date and accurate manual and computer records in line with professional standards and local Trust policies.

Gather activity data accurately and regularly and ensure provision of such information promptly and with local Trust guidelines.

Provide minimum data for patients and record as required by each Trust.

Produce letters and reports as required and within stated time scales.

To be aware of and act in accordance with Wirral Community NHS Trust policies and procedures and code of conduct and professional practice.

Confidentiality to abide by the Data Protection Act 1998, by ensuring that all computerised information related to patients and other members of staff to which he/she has access in the course of employment, is regarded as strictly confidential. This rule applies to written information.

Research and Development

Participate in and conduct Clinical Governance/Audit projects within local service

Contribute to others research by providing data.

Contribute to departmental audit/research design and implementation.

This is not intended to be exhaustive and may be reviewed periodically with the post holder to ensure that the job relatesto the job being performed.

Person Specification

Qualifications and professional training

Essential

• SLT degree or recognised equivalent
• Registered member of RCSLT
• Registered member of HCPC
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses

Desirable

• Evidence of postgraduate study.

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Minimum of 3 years qualified with relevant specialist experience
• Experience of supervising / mentoring junior staff / students
• Experience of training others in specialist area
• Can manage own caseload of complex problems independently
• Knowledge of current trends in the management of specialist area

Desirable

• Experience of project management

Skills and attributes

Essential

• Can use a variety of assessment techniques
• Demonstrate analytical and reflection skills
• Understands and can use the principals of prioritisation
• Knowledge and experience of clinical governance/audit
• Experience in supporting staff and their development
• Competent computer skills and ability to utilise Information Technology
• Can demonstrate continuing professional development
• Demonstrates good auditory discrimination and ability to transcribe speech

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy
• Can convey ideas and information in a confident and easily understood manner, both written and verbal
• Adaptable to a varied and frequently changing work environment
• Able to work in difficult, distracting environments, with challenging clients and where intense levels of concentration are required
• Demonstrate ability to be a good team member
• Developed skills in negotiation and problem solving.
• Able to relate the values of the organisation to everyday practice
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to motivate and inspire others
• Access to a car for work purposes

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Victoria Central Hospital

Mill Lane

Wallasey

CH445UF

Employer's website

https://www.wchc.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)