Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in England is seeking a Specialist Speech & Language Therapist to join their adult acute team. This role involves the assessment and treatment of patients with communication and swallowing disorders, requiring experience in managing dysphagia. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to quality improvement. Competitive salary offered with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Opportunities for professional development

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in managing adult acquired disorders including dysphagia.
• Awareness of objective assessment methods like Videofluoroscopy.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage patients with communication and swallowing disorders.
• Work closely with the MDT in patient management and discharge.
• Supervise junior staff and students.

Skills

Independent dysphagia caseload management

Experience with tracheostomised patients

Objective assessment methods

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Membership of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Registration with HCPC

Postgraduate dysphagia training

Job description

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - 1.0 WTE

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to join our adult acute Speech & Language Therapy team at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich! We are proud to be part of Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust who serve a diverse & multicultural local community.

Our SLT teams are friendly & inclusive, we work closely across the MDT & value audit & quality improvement to better refine & develop our services. We have strong links with other acute & community Speech & Language Therapy services within the Trust & our local areas.

We are looking for a therapist who has previously held an independent dysphagia caseload and demonstrates experience of working with adults with acquired disorders with established competence in both dysphagia & communication disorder management.

Our Band 6 roles offer excellent opportunities to build on acute assessment and therapy skills including developing or expanding on existing competencies in objective assessment (both VF & FEES) and tracheostomy management.

Main duties of the job

A typical day might include:

• Assessment and treatment for patients with communication and swallowing disorders
• Working with patients who are tracheostomised as part of the MDT
• Participation in weekly VF clinics and FEES assessments on the medical wards
• Supervision of Junior staff and students as necessary
• Participating in Quality Improvement and service development projects within the team and wider trust

The successful candidate will share our commitment to excellence & ensure high standards of evidence-based therapy practice. Within our lovely team, you will benefit from diverse opportunities to engage in regular supervision, in-house & external CPD, action learning sessions, leadership development, peer supervision and advanced skill development such as FEES and VF.

Contact us for an informal chat in confidence, or arrange a visit and allow us to welcome you to the department.

Helen Sampson, Cross-site Lead - Adult Speech and Language Therapy, [e-mail]

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement.

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

• To provide a specialist SLT service to patients from acute (medical and surgical) and Critical Care wards at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich
• To assess, diagnose and manage adult clients with acquired swallowing and/or communication disorders, using sound theoretical knowledge to inform advice, support and therapy.
• To work closely with the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) in the management and discharge planning of these patients in an acute setting
• To assist the Head of Speech and Language Therapy with service evaluation and development

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists - Acute team
• L&G Acute and ITU Consultants
• All Therapists/Leads in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Dietetics
• All L&G Speech and Language Therapy Staff
• Referring Hospitals
• Social Services
• Community Services
• Home Enteral Nutrition Team MDT & Community Head & Neck Team
• GPs
• Voluntary Services
• Academic Institutions
• Acute & Stroke Specialists external to L&G

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Fully registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Registration with HCPC
• Successful completion of post graduate dysphagia training

Experience

• Relevant experience of working with adult acquired disorders, including independent practice in dysphagia management.
• Experience of working with patients with tracheostomies in critical care and acute inpatient settings.
• Awareness of and experience with objective assessment methods for dysphagia including Videofluoroscopy and FEES

Knowledge

• Evidence of knowledge of own clinical skills and initiative in continuing development
• Knowledge of evidence base for effective treatment for adults with communication and swallowing disorders
• Knowledge of particular needs of patients in this setting
• Knowledge of national policies and guidelines relevant to setting
• In-depth knowledge of assessment tools relevant to assessment of acquired disorders
• Knowledge of recent changes in NHS

PERSONAL QUALITIES & SKILLS

• Ability to learn from clinical experience
• Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical practice
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Basic IT skills
• Ability to supervise students and newly qualified Speech and Language Therapists
• Ability to carry out audit

Cross-site Lead - Adult Speech & Language Therapy

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum plus HCAS