Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist - Neuroscience Inpatients

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading NHS teaching trust in Oxford is seeking a motivated Speech & Language Therapist to join their Inpatient Adult Team. The role involves managing the Neurosciences Inpatient Speech and Language Therapy workstream, providing specialist intervention, and leading service development within the department. Candidates should have a recognized Speech & Language Therapy degree and post-graduate dysphagia training, along with strong leadership and clinical decision-making skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in clinical settings as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Knowledge of dysphagia and communication impairments.
• Ability to conduct assessments and develop treatment plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Neurosciences Inpatient Speech and Language Therapy workstream.
• Assess and implement specialized therapy treatment and care plans.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical decision-making

Interpersonal communication

Negotiation skills

Team leadership

Education

Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent

HCPC Licence to Practice

Formal post-graduate dysphagia training

Job description

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated, highly skilled, creative, and leadership oriented SLT to join the Inpatient Adult Team at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The post is a Band 7 grade, on a permanent part time (0.8 WTE, 30 hours per week) contract. The successful candidate will be directly responsible for supporting and managing the Neurosciences Inpatient Speech and Language Therapy workstream, which currently provides clinical cover for Neuroscience inpatient wards, the 15 bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, and Specialist Surgery Inpatient Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital. They will support development of the FEES, VGS, and tracheostomy services alongside peer Clinical Lead SLTs, and supervise and support professional development of SLT colleagues. The post holder will be the Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist for the Neuroscience Inpatients SLT workstream and will work as part of the OUH Adult SLT Department with opportunities for cross-site collaboration across inpatient and outpatient services and with other specialist workstreams. Additionally, they will lead on service development and innovation in collaboration with the SLT Service Manager and peer Band 7 Clinical Leads, particularly in relation to OUH VFS, FEES, and tracheostomy inpatient services.

Responsibilities

• Assess, develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment, make clinical decisions following assessments, diagnose where appropriate, and develop specialist care plans based on best practice and expert knowledge.
• Produce written reports reflecting specialist knowledge derived from assessments and interventions.
• Provide specialist intervention, evaluate outcomes, and manage a complex caseload for patients with diverse dysphagia and communication needs.
• Advise on management and care of patients with communication, feeding and swallowing difficulties or tracheostomies; provide specialist advice relevant to care groups.
• Work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals across locations and agencies.
• Demonstrate clinical effectiveness using evidence-based practice and outcome measures.
• Maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management, monitoring sensory modalities and adapting approaches to perceived client needs.

Policy / Service Development / Implementation

• Take delegated lead on implementing team objectives or projects in liaison with peers.
• Develop care protocols for specific clinical issues; advise line manager on service delivery issues, shortfalls and pressures.
• Participate in policy development groups and contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building.
• Develop care protocols/packages relating to the specialty in liaison with the Service Manager to improve patient care.
• Inform service/policy developments using specialist knowledge and implement policies within the specialty.
• Lead in the implementation of the Service/Trust Clinical Governance Plan within the specialist area.

Financial and Physical Resources

• Monitor stock levels and request new equipment as appropriate.
• Be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, maintaining infection control and safety standards, including equipment loaned to clients.

Human Resources

• Provide regular specialist training and facilitate the development of others' problem-solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support.
• Provide mentoring, advice and support to junior SLTs, assistants, students and volunteers; supervise the work of unregistered staff and volunteers.
• Take responsibility for appraisal of junior SLTs/unregistered staff; provide full student placements and assess placements as appropriate.
• Participate in recruitment, including interviews and induction; provide second opinions to less experienced colleagues and expert opinions to others.
• Maintain an overview of clinical service delivery to ensure coordinated, equitable, high-quality service; explain the role of SLTs to visitors and students; support students from other professional groups as appropriate.
• Identify training needs linked to the specialty for wider service.

Information Resources

• Maintain up-to-date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT standards and local Trust policies.
• Share information while observing data protection guidelines; gather and update activity data accurately and regularly.

Research and Development

• Participate in and develop innovations in risk management, quality standards, and clinical effectiveness.
• Initiate and undertake research/clinical governance/audit projects within the specialty.
• Represent the team within multi-disciplinary governance and research within the Trust; participate in departmental research and governance/audit projects; collect and provide research data as required; participate in National trials as required.

Freedom to Act

• Provide leadership within the specialist area and manage a complex caseload independently.
• Monitor and evaluate service delivery and be accountable for professional actions; work within defined departmental and national protocols and codes of conduct.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Contribute to clinical teams and coordinate care plans; present complex information to motivate and inform patients, carers, families and the MDT; maintain high interpersonal and communication standards; use negotiation skills to manage conflicts.
• Exercise sensitivity when delivering difficult information; form productive relationships under stress; maintain awareness of emotional needs of acutely ill adults with communication impairments.
• Demonstrate highly specialist clinical knowledge underpinned by current evidence-based practice; make highly specialist clinical decisions from complex assessments.

Qualifications

• Essential: Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent; HCPC Licence to Practice; Formal post-graduate dysphagia training.
• Desirable: Registered member of RCSLT; evidence of specialist short courses; evidence of training as a clinical supervisor; FEES competencies (Level 2b+); Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study competencies (Level 2+); Tracheostomy RCSLT competencies (basic/advanced as appropriate); evidence of high-level specialist knowledge/CPD.
• Other desirable attributes: excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills; time/workload prioritisation/management; team leadership capabilities; UK professional registration is required.

About Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals: John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence guide our delivery of compassionate care. These values put patients at the heart of what we do. View more about our approach on the OUH YouTube channel. The Trust signed the NHS England sexual safety charter in 2023 and upholds zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour.