Speech and Language Therapist

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional NHS Trust based in Tees Valley is seeking an experienced Speech Therapist to lead on the speech therapy services for adults with long term neurological conditions. You will coordinate the service in Stockton and Hartlepool, provide specialist assessments and therapies, and work closely with the clinical team and patients using communication aids. The ideal candidate will hold relevant qualifications and have experience in a similar role, with a commitment to professional development and teamwork. This position offers a chance to enhance your leadership skills within a supportive NHS environment.

Benefits

Inclusive and supportive workplace

Health and well-being initiatives

Opportunities for personal and professional development

Qualifications

• Evidence of working as a speech and language therapist at a specialist level.
• Evidence of working with patients with swallowing and communication disorders resulting from a long term neurological condition.
• Experience of working with patients with complex dysphagia or communication needs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate speech therapy provision for adults with long term neurological conditions.
• Provide highly specialist assessment, therapy, and advice to adults with swallowing and communication difficulties.
• Develop a highly specialist role in the area, linking with local MDT services.

Skills

Knowledge of clinical guidelines relating to communication and swallowing disorders

High level planning, organisation and evaluation skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to travel between venues in a short timescale

Education

Degree or equivalent qualification in speech and language therapy

Masters degree or postgraduate portfolio relevant to the clinical area

Registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Post graduate qualification in dysphagia or equivalent

Member of RCSLT

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Adult Speech Therapy team to lead on speech therapy provision for adults with a long term neurological condition. We are looking to recruit an innovative, well organised and suitably experienced therapist with an interest in long term conditions into this exciting post. You will coordinate the Speech Therapy service to adults with a long term neurological condition living in Stockton and Hartlepool and provide a highly specialist service to adults with swallowing and communication difficulties within this clinical area. You will also take the lead for patients open to the service who are requiring and using AAC within the Stockton and Hartlepool area. This role is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to build on leadership skills whilst maintaining a specialist clinical caseload. We would welcome applications from registered Speech and Language Therapists currently working at band 7 level, or who are looking for opportunity to develop their specialist skills in a band 6/7 development role.

Main duties of the job

You will demonstrate highly developed skills in working with adults with communication and swallowing difficulties resulting from a long term neurological condition, with well-developed skills in independent caseload management, problem-solving and decision making. You will take the lead for supporting patients open to the service who are requiring AAC. This role will involve working with a busy clinical caseload, working as part of a team and as an independent practitioner. You will provide support and supervision to other SLT team members and SLT students working with patients with long term conditions, and/or patients who are using a communication aid. There will be opportunity to link with the relevant wider MDT services that work locally.

About us

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts.

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, we want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well‑being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool"

Job responsibilities

You will take responsibility for coordinating the speech therapy provision to adults with a long term neurological condition in the Stockton and Hartlepool area. You will provide highly specialist assessment, therapy, and advice to adults with swallowing and communication difficulties resulting from a long term neurological condition. You will also be available to provide input within other clinical areas, for example cover within acute and community settings, as required within the team. You will develop a highly specialist role in this area, including linking with wider, local MDT services, and supporting Speech and Language Therapists and assistants working in this clinical area. You will have a working knowledge of AAC and be able to coordinate the use of, and requests for specialist AAC within the team, and be able to provide supervision to SLTs in the team regarding this.

You will have an awareness of the national guidance and policies within this clinical area. You will be responsible for developing and monitoring the evidence-based pathway for long term neurological conditions, and will support other staff to manage clients effectively using evidence based practice. You will contribute to quality, service improvement and team development projects.

Excellent speech and language therapy support is provided within the department, with regular staff meetings, peer supervision groups and a strong commitment to continued professional development. The Trust is keen to support research.

This role requires community working, and therefore the ability to travel between venues in a short timescale is essential.

We would welcome informal visits to find out more about us and the role. To find out more or to arrange an informal visit please contact Catherine Walker, Operational Lead for Adult Speech and Language Therapy on 01429 522471.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualification in speech and language therapy.
• Masters degree or postgraduate portfolio relevant to the clinical area
• Registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Post graduate qualification in dysphagia or equivalent
• Member of RCSLT

Experience

• Evidence of working as a speech and language therapist at a specialist level
• Evidence of working with patients with swallowing and communication disorders resulting from a long term neurological condition
• Working as part of an MDT
• Experience of working with patients with complex dysphagia or communication needs
• Experience of planning and delivering teaching and training
• Experience of providing support and supervision to SLT colleagues and students
• Experience of working with AAC, or supporting a patient to use AAC

Skills

• Knowledge of clinical guidelines relating to communication and swallowing disorders
• High level planning, organisation and evaluation skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel between venues in a short timescale

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 Lead for Adult Speech Therapy