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Job summary

Main area
Speech and Language Therapy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
409-6474618
Employer
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
MWL Trust - Various Sites
Town
Prescot
Salary
£35,392 - £42,618 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
14/08/2024 23:59
Interview date
05/09/2024

Employer heading

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

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.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

  • Have a working knowledge of a broad range of acute conditions
  • Deliver high standard evidence-based care
  • Perform therapy assessments of patients, providing a diagnosis to develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme
  • Demonstrate a flexible approach to day-to-day tasks
  • Be able to carry out complex holistic assessments
  • Make prompt clinically reasoned decisions
  • Participate in the care planning process, facilitating the patient’s contribution to decisions about their care
  • Supervise staff within the team and students on placement
  • Have a minimum of 12 months post graduate experience
  • Have evidence of post graduate training and development
  • Practicing at a Level B dysphagia competencies and working towards Emerging level C
  • Have the ability to work flexibly and adaptably to changing working patterns as the team work their 37.5 hours across a 7 day rota, participating in late shifts (11am-7pm)

Working for our organisation

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

  • CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
  • ​​​​​​SAFETY that is of the highest standards
  • COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
  • SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
  • PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

  • Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 

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.

 

RESEARCH & AUDIT

·       Registered Practitioners are required to evidence maintenance of their registration with the relevant regulatory body and work to their Code of Professional Conduct.

·       To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.

·       To measure and evaluate own work and current practices through the use of evidence-based projects, audit, research, statistical information and outcome measures and lead others in doing so.

·       To network with practitioner colleagues within the trust and across the North West and Nationally, to learn together and share good practice.

·       To interpret and implement quality assurance practices within own work situation.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
  • HCPC registration
Desirable criteria
  • Clinical Educators Certificate or equivalent/experience

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence-based practise in relevant health setting
  • Substantial experience working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders.
  • Experience of working with patients with complex neurological conditions.
  • Awareness of own strengths and limitations
  • Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
  • Evidence of effective working within an MDT
  • Experience of Service development
  • Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
  • Demonstrates continuous Professional Development
Desirable criteria
  • Audit and research in a clinical area

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of evidence-based assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired speech and language disorders in adults
  • Knowledge of evidence-based assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired swallowing disorders in adults
  • Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills
  • Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
  • Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
  • Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
  • Have a flexible approach to working with good time management

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyJob share policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderHSJ Best places to workMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Care quality commission - OutstandingStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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
Katherine Thorpe
Job title
Advanced Speech and Language Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0151 430 2472
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