Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

NELFT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Greater London; On-site; GBP 4,000 - 6,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join its innovative community service in Greater London. This role involves independent management of patients with swallowing difficulties, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and leading quality improvement projects. Successful candidates must have recognized postgraduate training in dysphagia management and experience in procedures like videofluoroscopy. The position offers a High Cost Area Supplement, enhancing the annual salary significantly.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement

Qualifications

• Essential training in dysphagia management is required.
• Desirable experience with videofluoroscopy and/or FEES.
• Ability to lead quality improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent assessment and management of patients with swallowing difficulties.
• Supervise junior colleagues and train healthcare professionals.
• Collaborate with dietetic, nursing, and medical colleagues.

Skills

Evidence-based patient care

Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams

Swallowing assessment

Education

Recognised postgraduate training in dysphagia management

Job description

Overview

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join our innovative service in community frailty. The NELFT Speech and Language Therapy service supports adults with acquired disorders in Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. The successful candidate will join a supportive and innovative team with established clinical specialists across multiple fields, including stroke, progressive neurology, head and neck cancers, and voice disorders.

Service Delivery

The service offers weekly community videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics, and a monthly joint voice/dysphagia clinic with ENT. Competencies in these procedures would therefore be desirable. All staff are encouraged to lead quality improvement projects. In 2024, we were highly commended at the HSJ Awards for our community laryngectomy service development.

Clinical Support & CPD

Clinical support will be provided by the Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapists in head and neck/ENT and adult neurology. CPD is actively supported through regular supervision, appraisals, and excellent training opportunities. Members of the team are supported to get involved in CENs and research. For further information, please follow our X @NELFTAdultSLT .

Responsibilities

Weare interested in recruiting an individual who is able to provide a thorough, evidence-based and holistic approach to patient care. The successful candidate will be responsible for independent assessment and management of patients with acquired swallowing difficulties. You will be expected to supervise junior colleagues and provide training to other healthcare professionals. There will be a specific expectation within this role to work collaboratively and in a timely fashion with dietetic, nursing and medical colleagues to keep people in their home environments wherever possible and work proactively to reduce future risks for the individual linked to their swallowing or communication concerns. The role will also involve collaboration with external teams, particularly primary care teams, our local virtual frailty ward and the frailty unit at the new St George's Health and Wellbeing Centre in Hornchurch.

Team and Development

Clinical support will also be provided via the clinical leads for the Community Treatment Team. CPD is actively supported through regular clinical supervision, appraisals, quality improvement 'huddles' and excellent training opportunities. For further information on some of our work, please follow our twitter @NELFTAdultSLT . The NELFT Speech and Language Therapy service provides a service to adults with acquired disorders in the London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. The team encourages training and leading formal quality improvement projects, with awards including the trust's Make a Difference Award for Quality Improvement in 2019 and national conference presentations such as our Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programme, domiciliary laryngectomy service, and community FEES provision.

Qualifications

Speech and Language Therapy are a respected and integrated part of the multidisciplinary team across our inpatient and community pathways. Recognised post graduate training in dysphagia management is essential. Experience of videofluoroscopy and/or FEES would therefore be desirable.

Benefits and Salary

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London. This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,551 to a maximum of £5,735 p.a. pro rata for part time).