Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

NHS; Hassocks; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading community healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a full-time B6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist to join their team. You will provide triage, assessment, and treatment for patients with dysphagia and communication difficulties. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and experience, particularly in interdisciplinary team settings. The role offers flexible working options and the potential for part-time arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Excellent training and development opportunities

Supportive community environment

Qualifications

• Postgraduate and experiential training in relevant areas required.
• Significant post-graduation experience in clinical specialism required.
• Experience in dysphagia and interdisciplinary team working is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality triage, assessment, and treatment for dysphagia.
• Involve patients in planning and prioritizing care plans.
• Deliver training for other speech and language therapists.

Skills

Communication skills

Diagnostic skills

Empathy

Negotiation skills

Auditory discrimination skills

Conflict resolution skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Registered member of RCSLT and HCPC

Job description

Job summary

The Community Adult Speech & Language Therapy Service in Central Sussex has an exciting opportunity for a full-time B6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist. The service is happy to consider requests for part-time, job share, and flexible working. The post holder will work at the forefront of community healthcare and will work alongside multi-disciplinary teams to deliver patient care that supports skill sharing across professions and reduces avoidable harm because of dysphagia-related ill health. The position can be based at Crawley, Hurstpierpoint, or Horsham. The post holder will be required to travel across surrounding areas; plus other Trust sites. Therefore, the post holder will need a full driving license and access to a vehicle.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a high-quality triage, assessment, and treatment service for patients living with dysphagia and/or communication difficulties.

If you are an experienced Band 5 Speech & Language Therapist looking for career progression; or an experienced B6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist looking for a new challenge, then we would welcome a discussion with you.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence -- guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Job responsibilities

• To inform and support patients, relatives, carers, and significant others to reduce the impact of swallowing and/or communication difficulties in everyday life.
• To ensure patients and/or significant others are involved in the decision-making, planning, and prioritisation of their care plans/goals.
• To provide reports and specialist information and advice to facilitate and support others working with the client.
• To participate in the delivery of training to other SLTs, other professionals, relatives/carers, and relevant others.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Professional Registration Essential

• Degree (or recognised equivalent) in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered member of RCSLT and HCPC
• Postgraduate and experiential training in relevant areas

Experience Essential

• Significant years post-graduation experience in clinical specialism in acquired adult disorders
• Post basic training and experience in dysphagia
• Interdisciplinary team working within Acute and Community settings
• Participation in student placements and provision of training for others

Skills & Knowledge Essential

• Specialist clinician, able to demonstrate credibility, diagnostic skills, and in-depth knowledge of appropriate assessment and management
• Excellent written and verbal communication including observation, empathy, and listening skills
• Demonstrates ability to manage caseload independently
• Developing negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Excellent auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically and analyse narrative linguistically
• Working knowledge of professional standards and policies related to clinical and management practice
• Demonstrates a commitment to learning and development and skill sharing

Other Essential

• Car driver with own transport

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Crawley Hospital, Hurstpierpoint or Horsham, Crawley, Hurstpierpoint or Horsham, RH11 7DH

Employer's website: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/