Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Rotational

NHS; Guildford; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust is seeking an enthusiastic Specialist Speech & Language Therapist for a rotational role. The position involves working with complex patient needs in stroke, critical care, and oncology settings, with strong emphasis on developing clinical skills and a supportive environment for continuous learning.

Benefits

Continuous Professional Development programme

Supportive team environment

High quota of training sessions and mentorship

Qualifications

• Evidence of successful completion of post-graduate dysphagia competencies.
• Experience managing patients with complex communication and dysphagia needs.
• Supervision and line management of band 5 SLT and SLT students.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist speech and language therapy for complex communication and swallowing disorders.
• Work with MDT colleagues to assess, diagnose, and provide therapeutic interventions.
• Teach and train junior colleagues and MD team members.

Skills

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Clinical Competence

Patient-centred Care

Education

Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree

Health and Care Professional Council - License to Practice

Registered Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

Tools

Videofluoroscopy

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES)

Job description

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Rotational

We have a fantastic fixed-term opportunity for a Band 6 SLT to join our clinically passionate, friendly inpatient speech and language therapy team at the Royal Surrey Hospital.

The speech and language therapy team have extensive expertise in the management of patients with head & neck cancer (including laryngectomy), stroke, neurology, critical care, neuro-oncology, general medicine and voice disorders. This role will be a rotation across stroke/neurology, critical care, acute medicine and head & neck oncology. We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated therapists with a keen desire to learn the skills necessary to excel in these rotations.

The SLT team place a high value on the acquisition and development of evidence based clinical skills for the benefit of patients. We offer a supportive environment with regular team meetings and a rolling in-service CPD programme. In addition, you would be fully supported to enhance your knowledge and skills, working through formal competencies such as videofluoroscopy, FEES and tracheostomy management in line with your PDR goals.

Suitable candidates should have completed post-graduate competencies in acquired dysphagia management. You must be registered with the HCPC and the RCSLT for this post.

For informal discussion, or to arrange a visit to the hospital please contact Kate Blick [e-mail] 01483 408376.

Main duties of the job

To provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to patients with a range of complex communication and swallowing disorders. Depending on the rotation, this will include:o Stroke and neurology patients on the Acute Stroke Unit.o Patients within the Intensive Care Unit at RSCH, including management of patients with tracheostomy and ventilator needs (within level of competency).o Patients on the Acute Medical wards at RSCH.o Patients undergoing treatment for Head and Neck cancer within the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust and wider Cancer Network. This includes patients undergoing surgical/oncological treatment under the Maxillofacial, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) and Acute Clinical Oncology (Chemo-Radiotherapy) care pathways. As well as providing ongoing rehabilitation and support for patients in the post-acute phase of treatment as part of the MARS (Macmillan Assessment and Rehabilitation Service) team.

The SLT team are committed to sharing best practice in the fields of acquired communication and swallow disorders, so provide regular training sessions for doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants as well as those staff trained to carry out basic dysphagia screening.

About us

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Job responsibilities

To work with MDT colleagues to provide a holistic, timely, and proactive specialist service to patients including assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and evaluation of outcomes. To manage and prioritise own caseload including patients with acquired communication / swallowing difficulties or receiving end of life care, incorporating clinical assessment, therapeutic intervention and onward referral where required. To provide teaching and training (formal and informal) to junior colleagues and members of the Multi-Disciplinary team including Basic Swallow Screen Testing (BSST) for nurses with support from the BSST lead SLT. To provide second opinion, specialist clinical support and advice to less experienced colleagues including newly qualified Therapists. To provide induction, mentoring and clinical supervision (including appraisal) for band 5 SLT (in conjunction with other band 6 colleagues and supported by the Team Lead SLT). To contribute to a Surgical Voice Restoration service for patients with laryngectomy, dependent of level of competence. To assist in the co-ordination of onward referrals into the Macmillan Aftercare Rehabilitation Service (MARS) across the satellite centers. To provide specialist input to patients dependent on ventilators or tracheostomies, within scope of competence and seeking support where necessary. To attend multi-disciplinary team meetings and contribute SLT findings. To provide a FEES / Videofluoroscopy service dependent on experience and level of competence seeking support where necessary. To demonstrate defined clinical outcomes including patient satisfaction, admission avoidance and achievement of patient led goals. To represent the SLT team at relevant patient or Trust meetings. To monitor referral guidelines, patient pathways, outcome measures and evidence based practice to maximise the patient experience. To contribute to service development opportunities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree
• Health and Care Professional Council - License to Practice
• Registered Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses
• Evidence of successful completion of post-graduate dysphagia competencies
• Evidence of successful competition of post-graduate training in SVR
• Full driving licence

Knowledge

• Recent experience managing patients with complex communication and dysphagia needs in an acute setting
• Knowledge and use of patient-centred outcome measures
• Contribution to audit & Service planning / development
• Research awareness or contribution to research
• Knowledge and experience of other clinical specialties/professionals
• Knowledge of national and local policies / procedures relevant for the post
• Knowledge of assessment tools and treatment techniques relevant to acquired communication / dysphagia needs in each rotation
• Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance/audit
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping and Information Governance
• Supervision and line management of band 5 SLT and SLT students
• Experience of videofluoroscopy including interpretation of results
• Experience of Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) including interpretation of results
• Experience of managing tracheostomised patients
• Experience of managing communication and swallowing in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for head & neck oncology
• Experience of managing communication and swallowing in post-surgical head & neck oncology patients
• Member of relevant Clinical Excellence Network

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.

Operational Manager Speech & Language Therapy

£39,205 to £47,084 a year(per annum) - includes high cost area supplements (HCAS)