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Job summary

Main area
Neurosciences
Grade
Band 7
Contract
6 months (Fixed term)
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week
Job ref
213-DH-7005556-A
Employer
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Kings College Hospital
Town
london
Salary
£54,320 - £60,981 per annum inclusive of HCAS
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/03/2025 23:59

Employer heading

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist Neurosciences

Band 7

Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Band 7 SLT to take on a fixed term Team Lead position within our Neurosciences team at Denmark Hill. This post will include management of the neuro surgery and neuro trauma clinical caseload and working as part of a team of 3 Team Leads within the SLT Neurosciences team. 

Your expertise and leadership experience will be pivotal in delivering exceptional patient care and ensuring our services are efficient and effective. 


The Neurosciences SLT team consists of  6.6 wte staff working across Neurosurgery, Neuro trauma, inpatient neurology and neuro oncology led by an 8a Clinical Lead for Neurosciences.

The team works closely with the wider multidisciplinary teams with whom they are co-located and  SLT colleagues across our DH site including in ITU, Acute and Stroke.

Main duties of the job

To act as a Team Lead in the SLT Neurosciences service focusing on the sub-specialities of Neurosurgery and Neuro Trauma within the Denmark Hill Neurosurgery wards.  The post holder will provide a highly specialist inpatient service to adults who have communication and/or swallowing disorders.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL:

  • To autonomously manage and provide highly specialist assessment, treatment and management of a neurosurgery and neuro trauma caseload with acquired swallowing and/or communication problems within the Neurosciences wards.
  • To provide highly specialist input into policies and protocols regarding the management of neurosurgery and neuro trauma patients seen by the Speech and Language Therapy team.
  • To act as a link between SLT’s involved in treating neurosurgery and neuro trauma patients to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment and that knowledge and resources are shared across the service.
  • To act as a link with the other therapy professions to develop the process for planning rehabilitation goals and programmes for relevant patients with neurosurgery and neuro trauma needs
  • To provide accurate appropriate and current information for clients and their carers to enable autonomy and choice where possible.
  • To carry out instrumental assessments (VF/FEES) and assist in the training and supervision of other SLT staff in these assessments.
  • To liaise effectively and work collaboratively with the relevant multidisciplinary teams to plan and facilitate appropriate management.
  • To attend clinical meetings/ward rounds/case conferences where appropriate.
  • To maintain an active liaison role, including SLT colleagues in the acute and community sector. To maintain an active liaison role with members of the in-patient and community multidisciplinary teams, GPs, other members of the primary health care team, local authority services and voluntary organisations, ensuring consultation and feedback.
  • To carry out joint assessments with other members of the multidisciplinary team where appropriate.
  • To instigate referrals, when appropriate, to internal/external agencies
  • To assist with clinical cover in neurology and stroke as required.

SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND EDUCATION:

  • To provide clinical support and mentoring for junior members of the SLT team
  • To take part in the clinical training for SLT students as agreed and appropriate and ensure they receive adequate supervision and support whilst on placement.
  • To participate in managerial and clinical supervision, including annual appraisals.
  • To be responsible for the training of staff from a range of professional groups, including B6 on neurosciences HDU and students.
  • To disseminate and present on the work of the SLT in neuro trauma locally, regionally and nationally.
  • To be responsible, with management support, for own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

MANAGERIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE:

  • To be responsible for prioritising and managing own caseload. To support the Neurosurgery SLT Clinical Lead in overseeing the caseload, identifying shortfalls and risk.
  • To maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records within EPIC/paper notes.
  • To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data
  • To comply with departmental procedures and policies and contribute to developments in clinical effectiveness, including risk management
  • To assist in the ordering and be responsible for the accurate record keeping, safe-keeping and maintenance of therapy equipment, in line with standards and policy, including infection control.
  • To assist in the co-ordination of the Neurosurgery team SLT team objectives and projects.
  • To attend and participate in King’s SLT and Multiprofessional team meetings as appropriate.
  • To actively participate in the development of care protocols and standards relating to the delivery of the SLT in Neurosurgery across all King’s sites

RESEARCH AND AUDIT:

  • To lead and develop relevant audit and research activity within the specialty of neuro trauma on the DH site and within the wider King’s SLT team.
  • To take part in any clinical research programmes developed by the Neurosciences service and King’s SLT team. To initiate research as appropriate.
  • To participate in clinical audit and evaluation exercises as appropriate.
  • To contribute to the publication and dissemination of any research or audit initiatives.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
  • HCPC Registration
  • Portfolio and evidence of continuing professional development
  • Postgraduate training and experience in the clinical specialities of neurosciences or rehabilitation
Desirable criteria
  • MSc or specialist postgraduate training/ experience to masters level equivalent
  • Postgraduate training in management of dysphagia, including training and experience in instrumental assessment of swallowing skills (Videofluoroscopy and / or FEES)
  • Member of Professional Body
  • Member of Specialist Section or special interest group

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with patients in an acute medical and/or rehabilitation setting at a senior level including the management of patients with tracheostomies in situ – as well as acute adult acquired neurological and medical disorders including the management of a busy swallowing and communication caseload and the use of a range of assessment and therapy techniques
  • The management of patients presenting with disorders which impact on communication, cognition / behavioural feeding
  • Experience of specialist assessment and differential diagnosis with a complex caseload
  • Experience of risk identification and management including MD liaison and decision making.
  • Experience of audit procedures
  • Application of standardised assessments and outcome measures
  • Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of presenting to small and large audiences

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to build effective working relationships and work as part of an MDT
  • Ability to work autonomously, planning and prioritising own workload
  • Ability to communicate complex and emotive information, including where there are barriers to understanding
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication
  • Ability to plan and implement appropriate highly specialist treatment packages
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and guidelines
  • Excellent IT and record keeping skills
  • Previous experience of clinical supervision of others
  • Highly motivated and able to demonstrate ability to lead designated clinical area
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to develop staff

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Capital Nurse, LondonApprenticeships logoAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthOne NHS Finance

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Justine Vella
Job title
Head of Speech & Language Therapy
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
09032998221
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