Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Stroke

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• NHS pension scheme membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• NHS Staff discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice

Essential

• Degree level qualification in Speech and Language pathology/therapy.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Post graduate training and experience in dysphagia.
• Postgraduate specialist courses and post qualification experience across a wide range of relevant specialist areas.

Desirable

• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (R.C.S.L.T.).
• Post graduate training in specialist area.
• Attendance at courses, conferences or study days which support Speech and Language Therapy knowledge and/or practice.

Essential

• Highly specialised knowledge of the head, neck and thorax.
• Maintenance of clinical knowledge base/level of professional competency across the range of acquired communication and swallowing disorders to ensure evidence-based practice.
• Able to identify areas for own personal/professional development.
• Specialist knowledge relevant to stroke
• Awareness of the potential uses of videofluoroscopy and FEES in dysphagia management and patient referral criteria.
• Understanding of audit and its role in clinical practice/service development.
• Awareness of SSNAP (The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Program).

Desirable

• Knowledge of policies and procedures and guidelines relevant to role.
• Awareness of range of software available for therapeutic. purposes.
• Understanding of NHS structure and systems.
• Awareness of cultural diversity and equality issues.
• Good working knowledge of frailty and underlying health conditions.

Essential

• Post-graduate clinical experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist in a clinical setting.
• Experience in providing therapy to patients following a stroke.
• Working in a multi-professional environment.
• Able to independently make complex discharge decisions and advise the MDT on the safety of potential discharges in terms of communication and swallowing.
• Working in a team.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Managing a clinical caseload and prioritising tasks.
• Clinical audit.

Essential

• Competent in the assessment and management of a range of swallowing and communication disorders.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills to facilitate therapeutic relationships.
• High quality written communication skills.
• High quality verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex and potentially distressing information to clients, carers and other professionals in a sensitive manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively with angry or distressed patients/relatives
• Ability to adapt communication style to overcome barriers to understanding.
• Able to communicate effectively with members of the MDT regarding patient care.
• Able to manage the emotional consequences of working with communication impaired clients and their relatives, in distressing situations, such as late stage terminal illness or coming to terms with disability.
• Able to carry out assessment in physically restricted situations e.g. at the bedside.
• Excellent observation skills.
• Able to analyse and evaluate results of formal/informal assessments of communication and swallowing, evaluate outcomes and modify approach to maximise outcome.
• Able to contribute to complex discharge decisions, advising the MDT on the safety of potential discharges in terms of communication and swallowing.
• Behaviour change skills.
• Ability to motivate or persuade others to facilitate change.
• Able to keep accurate records relating to patient care.
• Ability to reflect on practice with peers/supervisor(s).
• Active team member.
• Able to train/teach students, other professionals and assistants.
• Flexibility/adaptability in handling work pressures, competing interests and busy caseload to meet service need.

Essential

• Exposure to potentially distressing or emotional situations pertaining to the clinical or social circumstances of patients.
• Able to apply policies to own work area and identify potential difficulties.
• Able to implement infection control guidelines on a daily basis when dealing with bodily fluids e.g. sputum and phlegm whilst engaged in swallowing assessments.
• Prepared to carry out lone working in community settings when required.
• To employ appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the workplace.
• Must maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.