Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

at  Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

After a review of Speech and Language Therapy provision across the Trust we are pleased to offer a development opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapist with experience of working in the acute hospital and rehabilitation settings and with acquired speech, language, voice and communication impairments and dysphagia.
This post is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Band 5 looking to develop their specialist skills in inpatient and outpatient settings. There are opportunities to contribute to the development of Speech and Language Therapy Services for patients in a variety of clinical areas including Stroke, Frailty, Respiratory, Critical Care and the Regional Burns Unit .

KEY DUTIES

• To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these.
• To work on Seddon Rehabilitation Unit.
• To demonstrate as appropriate to role highly developed physical skills for assessment and treatment of patients eg dexterity, co-ordination, palpatory and other senses.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis, and therapy for clients with complex communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
• To develop a specialist knowledge within a specific clinical area.
• To take individual responsibility for maintaining and developing clinical skills to ensure evidence-based practice is offered at all times.
• To work autonomously and independently daily without immediate access to professional support. To be aware of when support is needed and professional boundaries.
• To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge in complex rehabilitation as well as being meaningful to the recipient.
• To have knowledge and /or experience of using Low and High tech AAC with clients.
• To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• To plan, set up and monitor treatment programmes carried out by rehabilitation assistants for clients on own caseload.
• To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues.
• To ensure that clients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible.
• To adapt practice to meet individual clients’ circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences. This may include situations that are difficult or challenging.
• To have current knowledge and skills in dysphagia caseload management.
• To liaise closely with SLTs from referring settings and community teams to provide a seamless.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up to date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
• To collect appropriate data and statistics for the use in the review of the service delivery.
• To use appropriate information technology skills for communication when required.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• To deliver relevant, evidence-based training to patients, families, carers and trust staff.
• To provide specific training as required to the patient, family, carers, and other members of the multidisciplinary team on the clinical and therapeutic management of an individual to support their health and wellbeing.
• To supervise clinical and non-clinical staff (including students) as required to do so, taking into account the breadth of knowledge, skills and experience held and required.
• To attend and contribute to local and national conferences and special interest groups within sphere of practice.
• To maintain own CPD by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate them as necessary into your work, supporting other staff with their CPD.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• To demonstrate leadership by means of:
  Delivering change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.

Influencing, motivating, supporting, and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the trust.

• To provide advice and guidance in working with colleagues locally to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment and long-term management of patients/ service users within sphere of practice.
• To identify innovations and support implementation of new working practices in conjunction with patients/ service users, health, wellbeing, local authority and third sector partners.
• To take responsibility for their own decision making and the decisions of their team which effect service delivery.