Specialist Speech And Language Therapist

County Durham & Darlington Nhs Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Clinical supervision

Monthly staff meetings and supervision

In-Service Training

Well-resourced department with up-to‑d

Good access to communication aids/ipad

Mobile-working laptop and mobile phone

Professional Lead and Clinical Leads

Weekly SLT-led VFSS/FEES

Good IT access

Job summary

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 6) with a focus on dysphagia to work across acute and community settings at University Hospital. You will be supported by senior staff to develop a broad range of dysphagia competencies and professional development opportunities.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team in a varied caseload, including progressive neurological disease and acquired neurology, and contribute to teaching

Qualifications

• Must hold a Speech & Language Therapy degree or equivalent and be HCPC registered.
• Post-basic dysphagia qualification or equivalent is essential.
• Experience working with both communication and swallowing impaired community caseloads.
• Ability to travel county wide and carry small equipment daily.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based speech and language therapy assessments and interventions across acute and community settings.
• Supervise SLT students and contribute to teaching programmes for community professionals.
• Develop specialist skills in progressive neurological disease caseload and acquired neurology.
• Provide professional development and supervision within a supportive team.

Education

Speech & Language Therapy Degree or equivalent as recognised by RCSLT

Evidence of successful completion of non-specialist short courses including post-basic dysphagia or equivalent

Job description

Job summary
Team
CDDFT Speech and language Therapy are pleased to advertise an exciting Specialist Speech and Language Therapy post which includes a number of development oppourtunities based at University Hospital. The Band 6 post will be supported by senior staff to ensure that the successful applicant continues to develop a broad range of specialist dysphagia competencies that meet the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy standards. We will provide professional development oppourtunities to enable career development with a varied acute and community caseload in a number of different settings. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of around 600,000 people. For informal enquiries please contact [e-mail]
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a well-organised therapist who has completed their post-basic dysphagia training and has experience of working with both communication and swallowing impaired community caseloads. The successful candidate will hold a degree in Speech and Language Therapy, be registered with the Health Professionals Council and be committed to continuing professional development as well as holding an accredited post-basic dysphagia qualification or equivalent. The post will offer opportunities to develop further specialist skills in progressive neurological disease caseload and acquired neurology.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
Job responsibilities
The Speech and Language Therapy Service offers a supportive team of experienced colleagues allowing ready-access to support second opinions and ongoing peer supervision to deliver evidence-based practise assessment and therapy to patients across all settings.
You will help supervise speech and language therapy students, as well as contribute to the delivery of teaching programmes to a wide range of community professionals enhancing patient care.
We can offer you a challenging and rewarding post that includes:

• Clinical supervision
• Monthly staff meetings, regular management supervision and peer support groups
• In-Service Training
• Well-resourced department with up-to-date technology
• Good access to communication aids/ ipads and apps
• Mobile-working laptop and mobile phone
• Professional Lead in Speech and Language Therapy and Clinical Leads in all specialist areas
• Weekly SLT-led VFSS/ FEES
• Good IT access

If successful you will be required to undertake a CRB check. A copy of the Code of Practice is available on request.
Please note this position requires a Disclosure Barring Service check (DBS) formerly
IN LINE WITH NHS EMPLOYMENT CHECK STANDARDS, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN REFERENCES COVERING A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT AND/OR TRAINING.
The Trust has core values of Quality, Care, Respect, Leadership and Achievement which it expects all employees to demonstrate. Full details of these are available on the Trust website: http://www.cddft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/our-core-values.aspx
We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community and actively promote equal opportunities.
Unfortunately we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within 6 weeks should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential

• Health Professionals Council Licence to Practice
• Ability to travel independently county wide and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis. Ability to meet physical demands of the post
• Commitment, motivation and ability to work flexibly within a multidisciplinary service
• Experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist.

Qualifications
Essential

• Speech & Language Therapy Degree or equivalent as recognised by RCSLT.
• Evidence of successful completion of non-specialist short courses including post-basic dysphagia or equivalent.
• Knowledge and understanding of national and local Health/education/Social Care Policies and practices.
• Understanding of a range of work procedures and practices which requires expertise within a specialism or discipline, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience.
• Knowledge and understanding of a range of procedures and practices relating to the identification, definition diagnosis and remediation of disorders of human communication, some of which are non-routine.
• Ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations which require the analysis or comparison of a range of options.
• Planning and organisational skills applicable to handling a small number of complex activities that may require the formulation and adjustment of plans.
• High level interpersonal and communication skills persuasion, negotiation, training, empathy and re-assurance.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community and actively promote equal opportunities.