Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist

North Bristol NHS Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 31,365 - 37,890; Part time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Bristol seeks an experienced Speech and Language Therapist for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on a part-time, fixed term basis. The role involves assessing feeding and swallowing issues for babies, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, and providing specialized care. Applicants must hold a degree in speech therapy and relevant registrations. This position is ideal for dedicated professionals passionate about delivering high-quality neonatal care.

Qualifications

• Experience working with infants with complex feeding and communication difficulties.
• Recent experience in an acute hospital setting.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and audit processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment of feeding difficulties for babies.
• Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team for patient care.
• Plan and evaluate speech and language therapy services.
• Contribute to policies and protocols regarding patient management.

Skills

Independent working

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Ability to assess feeding difficulties

Education

Recognised degree in speech and language therapy

Registration with HCPC

Registered member of RCSLT

Post-graduate training in paediatric dysphagia

Job description

Overview

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our team on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at North Bristol NHS Trust on a part-time, fixed term basis. This opportunity has arisen due to a secondment, and the appointed candidate will work alongside an established specialist neonatal speech and language therapist, although will often be the only speech and language therapist on the unit. We would prefer for the appointed candidate to work with us on a Tuesday, as this would support the multi-disciplinary ward round and would be well supported by the established team; however please contact us to discuss if required.

The successful candidates will be joining an established team of Allied Health Professionals (AHP). Our AHPs are highly valued and essential part of the NICU multidisciplinary team (MDT) at North Bristol NHS Trust. Able to work independently and flexibly, the successful applicant will work alongside other AHPs, nurses and medical staff to deliver high quality care to babies and their families.

Southmead NICU is a Level 3 unit providing a centre of excellence for babies requiring medical treatment from 22 weeks gestation. Our unit has 34 cots, comprising of 8 ITU, 8 HDU and 18 SC, with an additional 8 cots on our Transitional Care Ward. If you are enthusiastic, forward-thinking and hard working with a passion to provide high quality care to babies and their families we would welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a highly specialist assessment of feeding and swallowing difficulties to babies admitted to NNU and advice regarding the patient achieving the safest possible method of oral feeding and minimising the risk of aspiration.
• To work alongside other members of the multidisciplinary team to give highly specialist guidance, advice and education on feeding and communication issues for babies on NNU
• To work in conjunction with the clinical team in planning, co-ordinating and evaluating the speech and language therapy service within the NNU
• To provide highly specialist input into policies, procedures and protocols regarding the management of patients on the SLT caseload.
• To work with the multi-disciplinary team on quality improvement and audit projects

For further information, please review the attached job description & person specification.

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For more detailed information about the role, please review the attached job description & person specification.

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Recognised degree in speech and language therapy
• Registration with HCPC
• Registered member of RCSLT
• Post-graduate training in paediatric dysphagia

Desirable criteria

• Active member of relevant clinical excellence networks
• Evidence of significant post graduate CPD – to include paediatric dysphagia and neonatal dysphagia

Work Experience

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and experience of working with babies and infants with complex feeding and communication difficulties as a result of their neuro-disability/ prematurity
• Recent experience of working with babies and infants with complex medical and physical needs that affect feeding and swallowing
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary therapy team
• Experience of planning and implementing individualised therapy programmes

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and experience of working with children/babies born prematurely
• Experience of working within neonatal unit
• Experience of working within an acute hospital setting

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to use a full range of diagnostic assessments, formal and informal, appropriate for this patient population
• Demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of paediatric patients
• Knowledge of clinical governance and audit
• Ability to work independently and prioritise caseload
• Responsibility for own decision making whilst working closely within an MDT
• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with a wide range of adults and children
• Ability to manage own time and to prioritise tasks and duties
• Ability to negotiate and problem solve, often involving highly sensitive issues and problems

Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel [phone].

North Bristol NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.

At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.