Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

To provide a Specialist Speech & Language Therapy service to acute stroke unit inpatients and stroke rehabilitation unit within Derriford Hospital and Mount Gould Hospital.

To clinically supervise and appraise identified junior staff.

This is a seven day working pattern, which includes full staffing levels over weekends and bank holidays.

To assess, diagnose, treat and manage own specialist caseload of patients with complex communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties, including tracheostomised patients following stroke, or with acquired neurological condition

To train and support the carers of clients and participate in appropriate highly specialist training to other colleagues.

To provide specialist clinical support and leadership to other therapists/staff on in-patient acute SLT issues.

To clinically supervise and appraise identified speech and language therapists

To provide specialist interventions and to evaluate outcomes

To provide second opinions, advice and training to less experienced SLTs in assessment and treatment programmes for stroke patients.

To provide formal clinical education, teaching and assessment for speech and language therapy students, medical students and other AHPs for stroke.

2. To manage and prioritise own specialist caseload independently. The main clinical area for this post will be stroke and neurology inpatients.

3. To contribute to specialist clinical teams by discussing own and others input around clients needs ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan

4. To demonstrate the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of the clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness

5. To use highly developed auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically

6. To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments, including risk analysis of swallowing, understanding and use of voice, grammar, vocabulary, speech sounds, fluency, social use of language, carer/patient interaction, and non-verbal communication and to make judgements re normal and abnormal functioning.

7. To monitor, recognise, assess and evaluate subtle changes in patients conditions and adapt clinical decisions and treatment programmes accordingly based on extended clinical experience.

8. To be responsible for ensuring patients safety with regard to eating and drinking by assessing, monitoring and updating, and communicating details of safe practice to the patient, medical and ward staff, and carers, ensuring that recommendations are clearly documented in medical notes and in any other care plans, notes or documents as directed by the Lead SLT for Stroke

9. To continue to develop deeper and more specialist professional expertise and clinical skills across a range of neurological and acquired speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD) by working with highly specialist staff, attending Clinical Excellence Networks, specialist courses, self-directed study and maintenance of personal CPD portfolio

10. To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training, when necessary, with in a clinical supervision and appraisal framework.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Experience

Desirable: - Member of Specialist Clinical Excellence Groups; - Interest in the use of videofluoroscopy and/or FEES assessment including analysis and report writing

Aptitude and Abilities

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION