Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust in England is looking for a passionate Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to join their specialist team at the Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre. This role includes training other professionals, participating in research, and managing complex cases. The successful candidate will have opportunities for professional development in a supportive environment focused on spinal cord injury care.

Benefits

Flexible working

Continuing Professional Development opportunities

Support for developing specialist skills

Qualifications

• Experience working with spinal injured patients and/or tracheostomy, ventilation is desirable.
• Interest in FEES and VFS services and weekend working.
• Opportunities for CPD and skill development under supervision.

Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver and evaluate specialist training within the hospital setting.
• Participate in complex audit and research projects.
• Lead on development and implementation of care pathways and policies.

Skills

Experience with spinal injured patients

Knowledge of tracheostomy and ventilation

Interest in FEES and VFS

Job description

Overview

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 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Participate in team meetings, complex audit and research projects on a regular basis.
• Participate in instrumental assessments such as videofluoroscopy and FEES; manage patients with tracheostomies and who are ventilator dependent.
• Lead on the development and implementation of care pathways, departmental policies, and protocols.
• Provide training and supervision to other professionals relating to communication and swallowing disorders; supervise and manage clinical practice as required, including SLTs, SLT students and other staff working in their clinical area.
• Work as an integral member of the wider multidisciplinary team, including medical, nursing and therapy staff; contribute to the Acute Medical and Surgical SLT Team.
• Be an integral part of the ventilation and weaning team and support the spinal cord injured patients with complex dysphagia in rehabilitation and acute settings.
• Cover different caseloads or work across other teams within the MWL Southport Hospital site as required to meet caseload demands or cover sickness absence or vacancies (permanent changes to posts will be made after consultation with the post holder).

Qualifications and experience

• Experience working with spinal injured patients and/or tracheostomy, ventilation is desirable; applications from those with experience in complex dysphagia in rehabilitation and acute settings are welcome.
• Interest in FEES and VFS services and weekend working on the acute wards; support for developing skills in FEES/VFS is offered.
• You will be working under the supervision of our Consultant SLT with opportunities for CPD and skill development.

Professional development and supervision

• The position presents an excellent opportunity to cultivate clinical, service development and supervisory skills.
• The successful applicant will lead on professional development activities and supervise SLTs, SLT students and other staff.
• Continuing Professional Development is essential and actively encouraged with opportunities such as regular clinical supervision, regular in-service training, regular SLT team meetings, relevant external training, attendance at relevant CENs, and exposure to FEES and VF.

Additional information for applicants

• Disability Confident Leader: we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job; indicate this on the online application form if applying under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
• Armed forces veterans: we commit to offering an interview under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme; indicate on the online application form if applying under this scheme.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks may be required; if applicable, applicants may need to pay for the DBS check and can enrol in the DBS Update Service.
• Flexible working: MWL supports flexible working; details discussed at interview stage.

Application and other information

• Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For more information, visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
• eVisa guidance and Immigration updates are provided for successful candidates on selected visa routes.
• From 1 July, the Trust operates as Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; the organisation delivers a wide range of services across multiple locations with a shared vision of 5 Star Patient Care (CARE, SAFETY, COMMUNICATION, SYSTEMS, PATHWAYS).

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.