Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist; Community

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist; Community

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

This is an exciting opportunity for a speech and language therapist who loves community work with people with acquired communication and/or swallowing difficulties, as well as enjoying supporting newly qualified therapists and therapy students. Working closely with the community lead, you will be getting the best of both worlds, continuing your clinical development whilst gaining leadership experience.

We are an acute and community SLT team with drive and enthusiasm to make a difference to the people we serve, always striving to improve.

Coming to join us, you will have support from SLT colleagues with regular supervisions and good training opportunities.

Main duties of the job

1. To deliver Speech and Language Therapy to patients in the community living with complex needs, relating to communication and/or swallowing.
2. To work with the community lead SLT in the delivery of a dynamic, evidence-based service proactively responding to service pressures.
3. To provide support to the wider SLT team with their in-depth knowledge and experience of the presenting patient group both in the community and acute setting.
4. Supporting the Leadership for the community Speech and Language Therapy team.
5. Input into Speech and Language Therapy strategy development and implementation supporting the clinical lead in the area of community care.
6. Input into Speech and Language Therapy practice development and quality improvement supporting the clinical lead in the area of community care.
7. Input into Speech and Language Therapy workforce development, education, students.
8. Participation in the development of Speech and Language Therapy research, audit, and evaluation.
9. Health promotion, Making Every Contact Count (MECC).

About us

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity, and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.

Job responsibilities

1. To contribute to and take a lead in multidisciplinary projects/initiatives appropriate to the role.
2. To undertake other relevant duties appropriate to clinical role as requested by the Head of Service for Adult PH SLT, Deputy Service Director Therapies and Equipment or Head of Profession following discussion around capacity.
3. To provide leadership, supervision and training for newly qualified SLTs, assisting them through the newly qualified practitioner competencies and working with the team to achieve dysphagia competencies.
4. To provide leadership, supervision and training for SLTs and SLTAs within your areas of expertise.
5. To actively participate in the professional development of the speech and language therapy team.
6. To contribute highly specialist clinical knowledge and skills in the development of the adult SLT service plan taking delegated lead on the development of team objectives or projects with peers.
7. To advise the Community Lead and Head of Service about needs and/or gaps in service provision within the specialist area.
8. To assist the Community Lead, Head of Service for PH SLT, Deputy Service Director for Therapies and Specialist Equipment and Head of Profession in the monitoring of professional, clinical, and departmental standards and assist in the implementation of necessary changes.
9. To contribute to the recruitment and selection of team members to meet organisational needs consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures.
10. To be responsible for the organisation of and contribute to the In-service Training of Speech and Language Therapists, professionals, and students on topics related to communication and/or swallowing difficulties and therapy, targeting this training to the needs of the participants/Service.
11. To be responsible for the delivery of core and specialist training on a range of subjects relating to clinical specialism.
12. To plan and participate in the provision of clinical observational and experiential placements for student Speech and Language Therapists including exam placements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT) degree level qualification.
• Member of Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Registered with the RCSLT.
• Post graduate qualification in dysphagia management at Masters level or equivalent.

Length and/or Nature of Experience

• Well established experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist in a community setting.
• Experience and evidence of training speech and language therapists and other professionals.
• Experience and evidence of supervising staff and students e.g. supervision, appraisals, performance management.
• Skills in differential diagnosis and ability to offer second opinions.
• Experience in either videofluoroscopy, FEES or tracheostomy.
• Experience of quality improvement.

Professional/Managerial/Specialist Knowledge

• Demonstrate experience in the assessment treatment and evaluation of swallowing and communication disorders of various aetiologies, including those with complex presentations.
• Demonstration of specialist knowledge in clinical specialism, underpinned by current evidence-based practice.
• Knowledge of a broad range of specialist formal and informal assessment methods and their interpretation.
• Skill in selection of appropriate strategies for prioritisation and management of a complex caseload independently.
• Awareness of national policies and procedures relevant to health care and this specialist SLT caseload.
• Highly motivated and able to evidence effective leadership and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to ongoing training, education and mentoring to develop clinical skills.
• Experience of providing evidence-based support to newly qualified therapists.

Attributes

• Approachable and flexible.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including skilled and professional recognition of communication barriers/facilitation.
• Be able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.
• Active and empathetic listening and counselling skills.
• Negotiation skills for management of conflict across a range of situations.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Ability to effectively manage own caseload.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience of recruiting and inducting staff.

Other requirements

• Able to attend and participate in all mandatory and statutory training events.
• Ability to travel around the locality as requested, independently and efficiently.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Service for Adult Physical Health SLT

£46,148 to £52,809 a year (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours