Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Neurosciences/Mnd

South Tees Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Speech & Language Therapist at Band 7 or Senior level, with a focus on neurological conditions and dysphagia.

You will provide advanced dysphagia management for adults with neuro conditions, work within a busy MDT, and travel for community visits to support patient care across acute and community settings.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy and registered with HCPC.
• Post-graduate training in dysphagia (in-house or external).
• Substantial post graduate experience in neuro patients in acute and community settings.
• Experience in management/supervision of other staff is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a caseload of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
• Participate in multidisciplinary decision making and develop service delivery initiatives.
• Work across inpatient neurology, neurosurgery/HDU, outpatient clinics and community visits.

Skills

Basic IT skills

Audit and research experience

Electronic note systems (SystmOne/EPR)

Knowledge of national guidelines & EBP

Education

Degree in Speech & Language Therapy

HCPC registration

Post-graduate training in dysphagia

Leadership qualifications or training

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for a candidate currently working as a Band 7, or an experienced Senior Speech & Language Therapist ready for the next step in their career. You will have clinical experience of working with patients with neurological conditions, including MND. Those seeking to further specialise in the field of neurosciences and who enjoy a mix of both acute and community working would be ideal for this role.

You will have completed post graduate dysphagia training and will have advanced skills in managing neurological dysphagia and related communication disorders.

The Speech & Language Therapy team is looking for a team player, who can demonstrate an ability to work under pressure and be flexible in their approach to patient care. The individual should be confident working in a busy multidisciplinary team and be able to travel independently for community visits.

Knowledge of videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy dysphagia management would be advantageous.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of a high-quality service within the specialist area of neurosciences and MND.

They will independently manage a caseload of adults with acquired communication and / or swallowing disorders, actively participating in multidisciplinary decision making around patient care and developing service delivery initiatives. The post will include inpatient caseloads within neurology and neuro-surgery/neuro HDU, outpatient clinics (including the multidisciplinary MND clinic) and community visits.

The role includes;

• Provision of advanced dysphagia management in patients who have a progressive neurological condition eg MND, PD, PSP, FTD. To assess deteriorating swallow safety, manage aspiration risks and guide complex discussions regarding non oral feeding such as PEG.

About us

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Basic IT skills
• Audit and research experience
• Experience with use of electronic note systems e.g. SystmOne/EPR
• Knowledge of national and professional guidelines and evidence-based practice related to specialist area

Qualifications and training

Essential

• To hold a degree or relevant diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
• To be a registered member of the Health Care Professions Council
• To have post-graduate training in dysphagia (can be in house or external)
• Leadership qualifications or training

Desirable

• Member of RCSLT

Experience

Essential

• To have substantial post graduate experience including work with neuro patients in an acute and community setting
• To have experience in the management of dysphagia, ideally including videofluoroscopy (or working towards)
• Experience of working within the NHS

Desirable

• Tracheostomy skills
• Evidence of relevant post graduate courses or study at Masters level or equivalent
• To have experience in management and/or supervising other staff members in a team

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.

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).