Speech and Language Therapist

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) team at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust invites applications from enthusiastic therapists to join a dedicated unit caring for stroke and neurology patients. You will assess, plan and deliver evidence-based therapy, involve carers, write discharge reports, and contribute to teaching students.

Rotations across Stroke & Neurology and Acute Medical SLT offer broad clinical development.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate competencies in acquired dysphagia management.
• Experience in an acute hospital setting at band 5 level.
• Flexibility to rotate across Stroke & Neurology and Acute Medical SLT teams.

Responsibilities

• Assess and diagnose patients with complex communication and swallowing disorders.
• Formulate and deliver individual therapy programmes based on evidence-based practice.
• Lead and run the weekly communication group on the Stroke unit.
• Involve patients, carers and families in planning and goals, including family meetings.
• Write discharge reports reflecting specialist knowledge and care pathways.
• Provide teaching and training to student SLTs and MDT members.
• Contribute to quality improvement and research opportunities.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Assessment & diagnosis

Treatment planning

Team communication

Discharge reporting

Teaching & mentoring

Quality improvement

Research opportunities

Education

Post-graduate competencies in acquired dysphagia

Job description

The SLT team have extensive expertise in the management of patients with stroke, neurology, critical care, neuro-oncology, general medicine, head and neck cancer (including laryngectomy), and voice disorders. 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.

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.

• Using your skilled clinical reasoning, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients seeking advice from senior colleagues when necessary.
• Ensuring patients, carers and families are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible (including family meetings and keyworker role on the Stroke unit).
• Ensuring patients give informed consent prior to treatment, working within the legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to give valid consent.
• Formulating and delivering individual therapy programmes based on current evidence-based practice (EBP) and evaluation of outcomes.
• Lead on planning and running the weekly communication group on the Stroke unit.
• Ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan/patient pathway through discussion of therapy findings and planned goals.
• Communicating complex condition-related information from assessment to patients, carers, families and members of Multi-Disciplinary team/other professions.
• Writing discharge reports reflecting specialist knowledge.
• Providing teaching and training (formal and informal) to Student Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
• Generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
• Participation in Quality Improvement and research opportunities.

The post holder will have the opportunity to rotate across the Stroke & Neurology and Acute Medical SLT teams. We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated therapists with a keen desire to learn the skills necessary to excel in these rotations. Ideal candidates will have completed post-graduate competencies in acquired dysphagia management and have experience of working in an acute hospital setting at a band 5 level.

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5,000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme alongside a strong commitment to developing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family ensures you feel valued from your initial interview and throughout your time with us.

We work in partnership with Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust through a collaborative Group Model, supporting joined-up services, workforce flexibility and development opportunities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated us as Outstanding. We are proud of our achievements and continue to invest in our people and infrastructure.

To learn more about life at Royal Surrey, please watch our short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo