Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a passionate Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to join their specialist team at the Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre. This role focuses on spinal injury patients, providing support through advanced assessment techniques, including videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy management. The position involves participation in training, audits, and weekend service coverage. Applicants with experience in complex dysphagia are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Experience working with spinal injury and tracheostomy patients is desirable.
• Familiarity with advanced swallowing assessments like FEES.
• Ability to deliver specialist training and conduct audits.

Responsibilities

• Work primarily within the spinal injury center with potential for acute service input.
• Participate in research projects and team meetings regularly.
• Manage patients requiring mechanical ventilation and contribute to weekend working.

Skills

Experience with complex dysphagia

Knowledge of tracheostomy

Videofluoroscopy skills

Ability to work in teams

Job description

A unique & exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate SLT to join a growing specialist team on the Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre (NWRSIC) and additionally be part of the wider acute SLT services. The successful candidate will work predominantly on the spinal centre, but the role will also provide some input to the acute medical service, including contributing to weekend working. You will have the opportunity to further develop your skills in FEES (Fibre‑optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) and videofluoroscopy as well as tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation. The successful post holder will work alongside and be managed by a Consultant SLT. The primary focus of this role will be within the spinal injury centre, but you will also provide input to the wider SLT team, specifically to our established FEES and VFS services and weekend working on the acute wards. Experience working with spinal injured patients and/or tracheostomy, ventilation in desirable but we would welcome applications from individuals who have worked with complex dysphagia in both a rehabilitation and acute setting. You will be working under the supervision of our consultant SLT. The post holder will participate in team meetings, complex audit and research projects on a regular basis. They will plan, deliver and evaluate specialist training within the hospital setting to other professionals and patients/carers on all aspects of swallowing, speech, language and communication. They will be expected to participate in instrumental assessments such as videofluoroscopy and FEES; managing patients with tracheostomies and who are ventilator dependent. Although, support from your line manager will be provided as required.

In order to meet caseload demands and/or to cover sickness absence or other vacancies, you may be required, from time to time, to cover different caseloads or to work across other teams within the MWL Southport Hospital site. Permanent changes to posts will only be made after consultation with the post holder.

The NWRSIC is one of only 12 specialist centres in the UK & Ireland designated to receive and treat spinal cord injured patients. The NWRSIC houses the largest ventilatory bed base of any spinal centre. You will be part of the ventilation and weaning team and work with spinal cord injured patients who may require mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy. You will be joining an innovative and research active team with a strong commitment to supporting the CPD of our therapists. The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals 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.

Core Values

• 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

Awards and Achievements

• 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