Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Childrens Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises of four Hospitals located on different sites in Oxfordshire. The Horton Hospital located in Banbury provides for the local community. Located on the main John Radcliffe Hospital site, Oxford, are The John Radcliffe, the Womens Centre and Neonatal Unit and the Childrens Hospital. Still within Oxford and within 1 mile of the main site are the Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. All providing first class acute and specialist services both locally and to patients from throughout the UK and abroad.

The Childrens Hospital provides both DGH services as well as a Tertiary Centre role for specialist conditions e.g. Cystic Fibrosis, Paediatric Critical Care, Neonatal Critical Care, Neuromuscular, Orthopaedic, Neurorehabilitation and Oncology. The Childrens Hospital works in partnership with Southampton for both cardiac, neurosurgical and neurorehabilitation services.

MAIN PURPOSE OF POST

• To provide a high standard speech and language therapy service across the Childrens Hospital, covering a variety of specialties including neurology, cardiology, respiratory, critical care, oncology and surgical. Including providing a highly specialist Neonatal Speech and Language Therapy service to infants and their families and carers to include: assessment, intervention, & consultation.
• To assess, treat and manage a complex caseload of in-patients including neonates, babies and children up to 18 years with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties and acquired communication needs at Oxford Childrens Hospital.
• To work with a high level of autonomy and independence with neonates, infants, children and young people with complex needs, frequently weighing up complex clinical decisions in the context of conflicting clinical indicators with support from the Lead therapist.
• To demonstrate the ability to make independent decisions about caseload management and evaluate outcomes.
• To identify, assess and diagnose swallowing/feeding/communication impairments, and select appropriate patients and type of therapy for effective treatment.
• To ensure neonatal service provision is delivered within the context of a Family Integrated Care model.
• To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances with due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
• To contribute to clinical projects and developments in the service.
• Provide second opinions to less experienced colleagues
• Provide necessary cover for the caseloads of other SLTs within the Trust during periods of annual leave/sick leave.

PATIENT/CLIENT CARE

• To assess, develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment. To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessment, including differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment. To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
• To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge.
• To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes. To use skills to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues.
• To provide advice, including writing reports, to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with acquired communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• To have an understanding of the use videofluoroscopy to support assessment and management of infants/children with dysphagia.
• To have an understanding of the principles of paediatric tracheostomy management.
• To develop high level knowledge in the area of neurology and muscle function.
• To work collaboratively and liaise over clinical matters with a wide range of professions across the childrens hospital and within community.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
• To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs.
• To be aware of the boundaries of own practice, and to manage the associated clinical risk effectively at all times.
• Childrens rights: To promote childrens rights in all aspects of the role and to help develop a shared understanding of what this means in practice.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• To contribute to clinical teams, both multi disciplinary and uni-disciplinary, by discussing own and others input around patients and their familys needs, ensuring a well-coordinated care plan.
• To present and communicate complex clinical information in such a manner as to motivate and inform patients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, agreeing decision making relevant to the patients management.
• To negotiate with other members of the multi-disciplinary team in order to achieve the best outcomes for the child and family.
• To use good interpersonal skills to listen well and counsel patients and parents/carers, so providing support and empathy without prejudice.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• To use negotiation skills to manage conflict as needed across a range of situations
• To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
• To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children with communication impairment and additional needs and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of their difficulties and implications of the same.

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• To demonstrate Specialist Knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence based practice
• To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework.
• To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in this field. To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good speech and language therapy practice in a range of settings. To maintain up-to-date HPC and RCSLT registration.
• To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to, RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.
• To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise, with and without support.
• To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures/statutory requirements including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.

ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENT SKILLS

• To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve it.
• To use specialist knowledge and clinical expertise to analyse complex cases, in order to inform sound clinical judgements/decision-making for case management and to design appropriate treatment from a range of options
• To actively participate in reflective clinical supervision with peers/clinical supervisor in order to develop and enhance practice.
• To target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants and to reflect on and evaluate training provided.

PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

• To manage and prioritise own caseload independently.
• To manage and prioritise own workload.

PHYSICAL SKILLS

• To use highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients.
• To apply skills in manual handling with clients with disabilities with support/training.

HUMAN RESOURCES

• To supervise the work of assistants and volunteers.
• To participate in student placements as appropriate.
• To explain the role of Speech & Language Therapists to visitors, students, volunteers and other professionals.
• To participate in ongoing specialist training in area of clinical expertise
• To assist with the identification of training needs within the team

INFORMATION RESOURCES

• To be aware of and adhere to Trust, Service and team plans and policies, including:
• Providing regular, timely statistical returns in keeping with Trust requirements
• Maintaining high quality clinical records in accordance with Service and Trust Guidelines, HCPC and RCSLT professional standards, and within General Data Protection Guidelines (GDPR)
• To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines
• To share information with others, observing GDPR.
• Participation in the Trust incident reporting and risk management procedures
• To comment on proposed Service/policy developments as appropriate
• To participate in implementation of Service/Trust Clinical Governance Plan.

FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

• To monitor stock levels in own service area, and request new equipment as appropriate
• To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• To undertake Clinical Governance/audit projects within local service.
• To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
• To collect and provide research data as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC Registration
• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy

Experience

Essential

• Excellent communication skills and a commitment to quality evidence-based care
• Postgraduate experience working within the field of paediatric feeding

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

NHS Professionals Limited

Address

Oxford Children’s Hospital

Headington

Oxford

OX3 0AG

Employer's website

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