Band 8a Lead Speech and Language Therapist

Clinical Leadership across the West Midlands in the specialist area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), in accordance with NHS England Service Specification D01/S/b

Clinical expert in the specialist area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication with responsibility for a significantly complex caseload of predominantly children but also adults all of who are non-verbal or illiterate.

To deliver an effective, evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy service within ACT. This will include day to day supervision, setting objectives and priorities, monitoring/reviewing performance, absence management, recruitment and conducting appraisals.

Identify, lead and or participate in service improvement initiatives and projects within ACT, the trust and nationally for AAC. This may include specific projects for individual patients, research, audit, as well as procedure development.

Provides expert / second opinions to the Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals within ACT, across the West Midlands Region and at a national level.

To be an active part of the ACT leadership team and deputise for the ACT service lead when necessary.

For further details on the job description and main responsibilities, please see the attached documents.

1. A lead clinician in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and provides second opinions, specialist advice and support in specialist area to own and other professional services throughout the Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust and the West Midlands Region.

2. Uses specialist knowledge underpinned by current theory and evidence-based practice such as speech, language and communication development and impairment, and child development in order to optimise communication to carry out specialist AAC multi-disciplinary assessments and support of clients in Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust and the West Midlands (a large multi-cultural and multi-lingual population). These are often 2 hour appointments that require sustained concentration.

3. Carry out physical handling procedures for positioning of the limbs and head of a client, to contribute to assessment for access to AAC

4. Manages own caseload of clients with disabilities of a complex nature, requiring tertiary referral, liaison with client, family, carers and professional teams including training and support.

5. Leads in client-centred goal setting and review, with full involvement of the local team (carers, family and professionals).

6. Structures clear intervention plans in highly complex cases, based on best practice, and is able to adapt to individual client needs and priorities.

7. Supports experienced SLTs to problem solve though critical analysis and evaluation for the planning, assessment and management of complex cases where the intervention pathway is not obvious or is open to interpretation.

8. Manages highly complex appointment recognising breakdown or conflict when it occurs and generating solutions, using excellent negotiation skills when liaising with clients, their families and local teams as an expert clinician in AAC.

9. Provide expert advice and consultancy to clients, relatives, carers and other professionals on how to manage issues arising from a clients communicative disabilities in relation to AAC needs.

10. Records and maintains up-to-date clinical case records including activity data in line with professional standards and Trust policies.

11. Measure outcomes of AAC intervention (techniques, low-tech tools and technology) for clients on own caseload.

12. Writes reports containing highly complex, confidential and sensitive information, which may be used in a legal context, eg. expert witness statements, tribunal reports.

13. Recommends appropriate AAC, which is often electronic assistive technology from a range of high cost devices and accessories. This is purchased from the departmental budget.

14. Sets up the prescribed equipment and ensures this is safe to use and clients team are trained in its use.

15. Offers intervention in the environment most appropriate to client needs, eg. home, school, college, day services.

16. Management of the telephone referral and advice line, triaging referrals and supporting local teams to enable AAC and Environmental Control needs across the West Midlands.

17. Have a working knowledge of Environmental Control including computer access to be able to triage and support referrals taking for these areas on the referral and helpline.

1. Complies with standards of professional conduct as laid down by the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

2. Works within the professional standards of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy.

3. Identifies and accesses appropriate Continuous Professional Development at least to a level to meet Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Health and Care Professions Council requirements and practices reflective learning.

BCHC has more than 5000 staff working across Birmingham and the West Midlands in a wide range of community nursing and specialist healthcare roles. BCHC delivers over 100 clinical services, in people's homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient facilities. We deliver a wide range of services for children, young people and families as well as adults and community services, two community hospitals, services for people with learning disabilities, the internationally recognised West Midlands Rehab Centre and one of Europe's leading Dental Hospitals and School of Dentistry. We deliver all of this with a commitment to integrated, personalised care that is rooted in our local communities. We have an ambition to deliver outstanding, integrated care as one of the key NHS providers in the West Midlands.

Qualifications

Desirable: - Masters Degree in relevant clinical area or equivalent.

Experience

Skills

Essential: - Evidence of recent relevant CPD activities in AAC

Other

Essential: - Ability to independently travel across the region, therefore car driver with full license