Speech and language therapist - stroke services

at  Medway Community Healthcare CIC

Are you passionate about working in stroke?
Do you want to build on your knowledge and skills within a specialist team?
Would you like flexible working to support your work/life balance?
If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you!
MCH are looking for a self-motivated and dynamic Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly stroke team.
This exciting opportunity working with adults with communication and swallowing problems following a stroke has arisen due to expanding our team. This post will be based at Sheppey Community Hospital and will also include community work in the Swale area.
The role covers diverse communities across Medway and Swale and gives you the chance to work with your patient from hospital discharge to home. The stroke pathway consists of inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Units (SRU) at Harmony House and Sheppey Community Hospital, as well as Early Supported Discharge Team (ESD) and Stroke Community Assessment Rehabilitation Team (SCART) for longer term rehab. You will have the opportunity to support your patients to achieve their goals for as long as clinically indicated.
To assess, diagnose, treat and manage own specialist caseload of patients and maintain associated records.
To provide specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.
To work with colleagues in an interdisciplinary manner for the benefit of stroke patients and the service, towards national and key service objectives.
To train and support the carers of patients and participate in appropriate specialist training of colleagues.
To advise and provide clinical support to therapists/staff on Speech and Language Therapy issues.
To supervise the work of assistants, technical instructors, students and other staff working with the post holder.
To be able to work within own scope of practice and engage fully in the supervision and performance development review processes.

So what else?

• This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
• We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
• We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
• You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

• Informal visits can be arranged on request.
• We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
• MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

Communication and relationship skills
To work alongside other speech & language therapy colleagues providing support and professional exchange of ideas and experience.
To attend appropriate meetings within stroke services & adult SLT team.
To liaise with the lead stroke speech and language therapist and manager of stroke services
To liaise with the area team lead clinician regarding day to day management of with in stroke services
To liaise with the appropriate acute speech & language therapists at the acute sites regarding day to day management of the acute caseload
To contribute to specialist clinical teams by discussing own and others input around clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan
To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multidisciplinary team/other professions
To communicate condition related information to clients who have communication problems themselves requiring tact or persuasive skills
To work closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the client management
To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understand exist
To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and carers to engage in the therapeutic process
To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations
To deal with initial complaints sensitively and to process according to organisational policy
To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties
To employ excellent verbal and written communication skills
To represent the speech & language therapy within stroke services.
To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies including integrated/multi-agency working
To provide specialist advice to other parties as appropriate
To explain the role of speech & language therapy in work settings
Internal
Patients, relatives and carers
Referrers
Medical and nursing colleagues
Discharge co-ordinator
AHP colleagues

Please refer the Job description for details