Speech and Language Therapist - Acute General Medicine Speciality

The post holder will be an experienced Speech and Language Therapist working across acute inpatient wards at the John Radcliffe Hospital. This includes complex medicine, elderly care, surgery, cardiac services, and trauma. They will be an integral member of the inpatient Speech and Language Therapy team and work closely within multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring patients receive person-centred and effective care.

The post holder will

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Patient Care

1. To assess, develop and implement specialist evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy interventions. To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessments, including differential diagnosis, on the basis of evidence from assessment, and to develop care plans based on best practice.

2. To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge.

3. To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes. The post holder will use these specialist skills to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues.

4. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients with communication and swallowing disorders.

5. To work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team to achieve patient centred care.

6. To liaise with a wide range of professionals across a variety of locations and agencies.

7. To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of patients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived needs.

Policy / Service Development / Implementation

1. To represent Speech and Language Therapy at multi-disciplinary team meetings, ensuring delivery of coordinated care.

2. To be aware of, adhere to and implement Service and team plans including:

3. Providing regular, timely statistical data in keeping with Trust requirements

4. Maintaining high quality clinical records in accordance with Service and Trust Guidelines and within data protection guidelines

5. Ensuring understanding and adherence to Trust health and safety requirements, including attendance on mandatory training courses

6. To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise e.g. exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions encountered on a regular basis

7. Participation in the Trust incident reporting and risk management procedures

8. To use specialist knowledge to inform Service / policy developments as appropriate and to implement policy within own specialist area.

9. To participate in the implementation of Service / Trust Clinical Governance Plan.

Financial and Physical Resources

1. To monitor stock levels in own area and to request new equipment as required.

2. To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained, including equipment loaned to patients.

Human Resources

1. To supervise and mentor the junior Speech and Language Therapists, unregistered staff such as Speech and Language Therapy Support Workers and therapy assistants.

2. To participate in student clinical placements and to assist in the support of students from other professional groups.

3. To be able to clearly explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and other professionals.

4. To participate in ongoing specialist training in area of clinical expertise.

5. To assist in the identification of training needs within the team.

Information Resources

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Qualifications

Experience and Knowledge

Skills