Job overview

We have a fantastic opportunity for a suitably experienced SLT to join our clinically passionate, friendly, supportive inpatient speech and language therapy team at the Royal Surrey Hospital for a period of 12 months to cover maternity leave. The post holder will lead the SLT Critical Care service, as well as provide clinical support and expertise for complex patients across the trust, especially in the management of tracheostomy.

The speech and language therapy team have extensive expertise in the management of patients with head & neck cancer (including laryngectomy), stroke, neurology, critical care, neuro-oncology, general medicine and voice disorders. The team place a high value on the acquisition and development of evidence based clinical skills for the benefit of patients. We offer a supportive environment with regular team meetings and a rolling in-service CPD programme.

The team are committed to sharing best practice in the fields of acquired communication and swallow disorders, so provide regular training sessions for doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants as well as those staff trained to carry out basic dysphagia screening.

The trust has put staff well-being at the forefront of many of its initiatives in recent years, and there is a real focus on the importance of happiness and fulfilment at work. Equality and Diversity is also at the heart of the Trusts objectives, and there are opportunities to both promote, and learn about other cultures.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will have had previous experience working in both acute and critical care settings, and be confident in managing a wide range of patients, encompassing both complex dysphagia and acquired communication difficulties.  They will ideally be a fully competent FEES practitioner, and be able to work independently with both tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent patients.   Experience in providing education and training relevant to their clinical specialism is essential.

The successful candidate should work well under pressure, be passionate about high standards of patient care, and embrace the challenge of developing this relatively new service.  Support will be available both internally, through regular supervision and peer support, and externally through access to relevant Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs).

You must be registered with the HCPC and the RCSLT for this post.

Working for our organisation

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo