Speech and Language Therapist

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service in Knowsley invites applications for a Band 5 SLT. You will assess and treat adults with communication and swallowing difficulties, delivering care across clinics, homes, care homes and wards, under supervision.

We offer regular supervision, opportunities for development in dysphagia and communication competencies, and flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy and HCPC registration.
• Experience in assessing and diagnosing speech, language and communication issues.
• Experience with dysphagia and adult community settings preferred.
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and carers.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate SLT interventions for adults.
• Manage and prioritise caseload with supervision.
• Deliver evidence-based assessment for acquired communication disorders and dysphagia.
• Work across community settings including homes, clinics, care homes and wards.
• Contribute to referrals, supervision, training and service development.

Skills

Challenging behaviour handling

Engaging leadership

Transparency & honesty

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC registration

RCSLT member

Tools

iPad usage

Symbol software packages

General IT skills

Job description

Are you an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop your clinical skills within a supportive and experienced adult community team?

We are seeking a motivated Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist to join our Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service. This is an exciting opportunity for a therapist wishing to develop their knowledge and experience in the assessment and management of adults with communication and swallowing difficulties arising from a range of physical and mental health conditions.

You will be part of a friendly, well-established team delivering high-quality, person-centred care across Knowsley and St Helens, working in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, care homes, patients' own homes and adult mental health wards. You will have the opportunity to work with individuals with conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, Motor Neurone Disease, dementia and other neurological conditions.

The successful candidate will receive regular clinical supervision and support from experienced Band 6 and Band 7 Speech and Language Therapists, with opportunities for ongoing professional development and progression of dysphagia and communication competencies. This post is ideal for a newly qualified therapist or an existing Band 5 looking to broaden their experience within adult community services.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide assessment, treatment and management for adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties across Knowsley and St Helens.

• Managing a caseload of adults with communication and swallowing disorders under appropriate supervision.
• Undertaking assessment and intervention for a range of communication difficulties.
• Supporting the assessment and management of adults with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties in line with competencies and service protocols.
• Delivering interventions across a range of community settings, including patients' homes, clinics, care homes and adult mental health wards.
• Working collaboratively with patients, carers, multidisciplinary teams and partner agencies.
• Contributing to waiting list management and prioritisation of referrals.
• Providing advice, training and support to carers, support staff and healthcare professionals.
• Participating in service development, audit and quality improvement activities.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate Speech and Language Therapy interventions for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Manage and prioritise an allocated caseload, seeking support and guidance from senior therapists where required.
• Deliver evidence-based assessment and intervention for adults presenting with acquired communication disorders and dysphagia.
• Work with adults with a range of physical, neurological and mental health conditions, including Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease and Dementia.
• Deliver care across a variety of community settings throughout Knowsley and St Helens, including outpatient clinics, care homes, patients' own homes and adult mental health wards.
• Develop and review person-centred treatment programmes in partnership with service users, carers and the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive clinical records in accordance with professional and organisational standards.
• Provide advice and support to patients, families, carers and other professionals regarding communication and swallowing management.
• Contribute to the management and prioritisation of referrals and waiting lists to support timely access to services.
• Support the implementation of communication strategies and alternative and augmentative communication approaches where appropriate.
• Deliver training and education to carers, healthcare staff and partner agencies relating to individual patient needs.
• Work within defined competencies and actively participate in regular clinical supervision to support professional development.
• Participate in audit, service evaluation, quality improvement and continuing professional development activities.
• Contribute positively to team working and support the delivery of a high-quality, responsive Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive team and develop your skills in adult Speech and Language Therapy while making a meaningful difference to people living across Knowsley and St Helens.

Person Specification

Skills

• Ability to work with service users who exhibit behaviours that may be considered challenging appropriate training
• Engaging leadership style
• Transparency and honesty

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registration with Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) or in the process of obtaining registration if newly qualified
• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

Experience

• Experience of assessing and diagnosing speech, language and communication difficulties
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills both written and verbal
• Speech and Language Therapy caseload (with supervision)
• Experience of working with children/adults as applicable to the role
• Experience of working with dysphagia
• Experience of delivering/developing training to staff/carers
• Experience of using iPads and other forms of technology
• Experience of facilitating groups

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy assessments and appropriate experience of using assessments
• Evidence of good IT skills including the use of a range of software (including symbol software packages)
• Knowledge of current key RCSLT and national developments and policies driving current practice

Values

• Continuous improvement - committed to making improvements to our services for the benefit of all
• Accountability - taking ownership to anticipate, develop and deliver high quality care
• Respect - how we treat others in an inclusive and supportive way
• Enthusiasm - demonstrate our passion and pride for what we do and how we do it
• Support - actively supporting others with compassion and courage

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.