Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist Acute Medicine/Surgery

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals; Rishton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a highly motivated Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist to oversee acute medicine and surgery. You will lead service development across two sites, work with FEES and VFS clinics, and develop MDT working to improve swallowing and communication outcomes.

The role offers flexible working options and opportunities for Band 6-7 development for the right candidate, with commitment to CPD and research in line with the department's GOLD

Qualifications

• HCPC and RCSLT registration required.
• Graduate or postgraduate qualification in Speech and Language Pathology.
• Postgraduate CPD toward master's level.
• Evidence of CPD in relevant areas.
• Experience with instrumental dysphagia assessment (VFS/FEES) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide operational management of the SLT service to acute medicine and surgery.
• Lead service developments and support staff working.
• Use advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose and manage complex dysphagia and communication disorders.
• Represent SLT in MDT settings and contribute highly specialist expertise.
• Integrate with MDTs and contribute to training and quality improvement projects.
• Demonstrate motivation and prioritisation in a flexible work approach.
• Participate in instrumental assessment using FEES and VFS clinics.
• Contribute to trust-wide service developments impacting patient care.
• Maintain clinical professional development and stay up to date with research.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Dysphagia management

MDT education delivery

Acute care understanding

Education

HCPC registration

RCSLT registration

Graduate or post-graduate qualification in Speech and Language Pathology

Post graduate CPD towards master's level

Evidence of CPD in relevant areas

Tools

VFS (Videofluoroscopy)

FEES

Instrumental dysphagia assessment

Job description

Due to a side step within our SLT team, we have another exciting opportunity in Acute Medicine & Surgery!

We are seeking an enthusiastic clinical lead speech and language therapist with a passion for improving care and leading change within both the acute and outpatient services.

As a large teaching hospital and tertiary centre, we offer a diverse caseload across acute, emergency, critical care, surgical, frailty, admission avoidance and instrumental assessment services. The post holder will jointly lead the service across two sites with an established Band 7 Clinical Lead, reviewing service models, streamlining pathways, strengthening MDT working, and delivering education to improve care for patients with swallowing and communication needs.

This person will understand acute care and be motivated to deliver a high-quality service with a vision on how to improve patient outcomes and flow with the opportunity to work across the inpatient and outpatient pathway and in FEES and videofluoroscopy clinics.

The service supports evidence-based practice and CPD, offering opportunities to develop your clinical portfolio. Part-time and flexible working may be considered, with potential for Band 6-7 development for the right candidate.

Main duties of the job

• To lead and provide operational management of the Speech & Language therapy service to acute medicine and surgery.
• To lead service developments and support staff working.
• To use advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose and independently manage complex dysphagia and disorders of communication respectively.
• To represent speech and language therapy in multidisciplinary team settings and contribute highly specialist expertise for the management of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• To integrate with the multidisciplinary teams and contribute to training and education and quality improvement projects as appropriate.
• To demonstrate skills in motivating patients to engage in therapeutic process.
• To use excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and a flexible approach to work practice.
• To participate in instrumental assessment using videofluoroscopy and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
• To participate in appropriate trust level service developments which impact on the care delivered to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties.
• To maintain clinical professional development and be up to date with research and advancements within this clinical area.

Working for our organisation

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust is a large acute organisation, delivering specialist services both locally and regionally. The Speech Therapy Department is situated at the Royal Preston Hospital site; however, we also deliver services to Chorley District Hospital (District Hospital).

We are a dedicated SLT service with excellent patient care at the core of our values, and our varied caseload provides complex presentations across dysphagia, communication and voice respectively. We have established VFS and FEES clinics, with in-service training to provide sustainability. We strive to continuously improve our SLT services through service development and innovation and are keen that audit / research are part of our clinical roles. We have strong clinical leadership within the department and structured clinical supervision and CPD is promoted.

You will join a large friendly team of speech and language therapists covering a range of specialist services. The department is rated 'GOLD' on the STAR quality assurance framework, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. CPD and training are well supported.

To find out more about us, look at our Twitter @SLT_LTHTR or Bluesky page @LTHTR-SLT

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

• To communicate and collaborate with all SLT Stakeholders.
• To provide leadership and highly specialist clinical skills within acute medicine and surgery.
• To support personal and people development.
• To ensure the health, safety and security of self and colleagues.
• To support service development and planning.
• To support the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda within SLT.
• To support equality of opportunity and access withing SLT for both staff and patients.
• To directly support delivery of therapy to patients.
• To provide leadership and management support.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

• HCPC registration
• RCSLT registration
• Graduate or post-graduate qualification in Speech and Language Pathology
• Post graduate courses in relevant clinical area of Speech and Language Therapy
• Evidence of CPD in relevant areas working towards master's level

Knowledge & Experience

• Highly specialised knowledge in clinical area
• Assess, diagnose and manage complex dysphagia
• Assess, diagnose and manage complex communication disorders
• Awareness of emerging assessment and treatment developments and able to critically appraise the evidence base
• Experience of planning and delivering training/education to MDT
• Trained in instrumental dysphagia assessment, VFS and FEES
• Experience undertaking local research projects
• Experience of working with an out-patient case load

Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist Acute Medicine/Surgery Preston, UK