Paediatric and Neonatal Lead Speech and Language Therapist

• Leading, co-ordinating and delivering a high quality, evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy service to the highly specialised and complex clinical area of neonates (working alongside Coventry & Warwickshire Neonatal AHPs Integrated Service) and paediatrics, requiring a highly advanced level of knowledge, skills and experience.
• Providing clinical supervision, training and support
• To work as an autonomous practitioner, providing comprehensive, specialist speech and language therapy assessment, differential diagnosis and treatment of children and babies who present with feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• Work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to team discussions and influencing decisions about patient care programmes, taking on the role of care coordinator where appropriate.
• To be a source of expertise and provide clinical support, where appropriate to other MDT colleagues, Health Care professionals including students and community services.
• To lead SLT policy development within neonates and paediatric Speech and Language Therapy.
• Use specialist knowledge to respond to urgent requests for input and ensure that referrals are prioritised and triaged effectively to ensure that high risk patients are seen urgently, and to expedite rapid assessment and discharge planning

Essential

• Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification or Equivalent
• Masters level qualification in a relevant field or equivalent experience
• Member of RCSLT
• HCPC Registration - Licence to Practise
• Postgraduate advanced accredited paediatric dysphagia training
• Evidence of relevant postgraduate training in neonates

Essential

• Specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of complex paediatric feeding, swallowing and communication disorders.
• Relevant postgraduate experience in the assessment and management of neonates
• Relevant postgraduate experience in the acute setting
• Experience of SaLT students at student clinical tutor and supervisor levels
• Experience of training staff groups at all levels
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of leading service development related to this client group
• Experience of leading audit related to this client group
• Significant leadership experience including line management, managing change, workforce/service planning, governance/risk and performance/data
• Evidence of delivering service improvement

Essential

• Advanced knowledge of assessment tools and a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group.
• Advanced knowledge of trends and best practice in the clinical specialism
• Good working knowledge of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group) and their implications for SaLT.
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group)
• Understanding of the impact of local cultural, linguistic and demographic factors influencing service delivery in the specialist area.
• Ability to work through interpreters to gain and impart information (relevant to the client group)

Desirable

• Understanding of the impact of local cultural, linguistic and demographic factors influencing service delivery in the specialist area.
• Competence in the management of complex dysphagia in infants
• Competence in the management of communication disorders
• Competence in SaLT management of tracheostomy/ventilator-dependent patients

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Able to adapt communication style to varied listeners
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and function effectively in the multidisciplinary team, leading where appropriate
• Able to judge limits of skills/competence and recognise professional boundaries where appropriate
• Supportive to other staff
• Demonstrates excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Basic IT skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Insight into own CPD needs and appropriate strategies for addressing them
• Enthusiasm for the development and promotion of the service and the ability to take initiative
• Demonstrates strategies for keeping up to date e.g. oinvolvement in appropriate Clinical Excellence Group and Professional Body
• An ability to evaluate service delivery and lead service planning for this client group
• An ability to assess, identify and manage clinical risk.

Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. (As detailed in UHCW's Values in Action document below)
• Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience