Speech and Language Therapist - Band 5

Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group; Lincoln; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is seeking a Speech and Language Therapist (or soon to be qualified SLT) to work with adults with communication difficulties on the Ashby ward at Lincoln County Hospital.

The role includes assessing and treating patients with aphasia, motor speech and cognitive communication issues, with flexible hours up to 33 per week. Weekend/Bank Holiday rotation is expected, and support is available to progress dysphagia competencies where appropriate.

Qualifications

• Final year SLT students or HCPC registration pending.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work on an inpatient neurorehabilitation ward.
• Commitment to patient-centred communication support.

Responsibilities

• Regularly assess, diagnose and provide intervention for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Collaborate with patients, families and the MDT to implement communication strategies.
• Support progression toward Level B (Foundation) dysphagia competencies where relevant.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Experience with adults with braininjry

Flexibility and adaptability

Education

Final year SLT students or HCPC registration pending

Job description

Due to the promotion of the current post holder, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Speech and Language Therapist (or soon to be qualified SLT) interested in working with Adults with communication difficulties on an inpatient neurorehabilitation unit. We would consider applications from final year SLT students or those with HCPC registration pending.

We are looking for a proactive individual to join our small and supportive SLT team based on Ashby rehabilitation ward at Lincoln County Hospital. Ashby is an 18 bed ward which admits patients aged 16 years+, the majority of whom have an acquired or traumatic brain injury. The SLT team on Ashby is well established within the multidisciplinary team to support patients with communication and swallowing difficulties to reach their optimum potential and enhance their quality of life.

This post has funding for working up to 33 hours per week. It can be discussed at interview how this could be worked flexibly to accommodate both service need and the personal and work commitments of the appointed post holder.

Patients on Ashby may be experiencing communication difficulties including expressive and/or receptive aphasia, motor speech difficulties and cognitive communication disorder. The SLT team work closely with patients, families and other staff on the ward to implement patient centred communication support strategies, and the use of augmentative and alternative communication where appropriate.

This post holder will frequently assess, diagnose and provide intervention to patients who may present with higher level cognitive linguistic and social communication difficulties following brain injury. It is therefore essential that the successful applicant has excellent interpersonal skills and that they can adapt their verbal and written communication according to need. Regular weekend and Bank holiday working is an essential part of this role on a rota basis.

Due to the complex nature of the Ashby caseload, it will not be possible for the post holder to obtain independent dysphagia competence in this role. However, the successful applicant will be supported to work towards signing off competencies at Level B (Foundation dysphagia practitioner) of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework which are deemed relevant in this role.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is in the top 25 per cent of all community trusts for overall staff engagement in the 2021 NHS National Staff Survey.

At LCHS, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in LCHS’ workforce.

LCHS recognises the increasing demand for more flexibility in working practices in order to accommodate the personal goals and commitments that employees experience at different stages during their working lives. Flexible working opportunities such as part-time working, compressed hours, job shares, and hybrid working models can help staff to balance their personal and work commitments. Arrangements can be put in place if it can be shown that the needs of the individual can be balanced with those of the service and the impact on other team members, enabling the Trust to recruit and retain skilled staff, raise staff morale, reduce absenteeism and respond to changing service needs more effectively.

We are an ambassador of a learning culture that will support the right individual to progress in their chosen career through an ‘earn while you learn’ apprenticeship programme. Visit our Learning and Development page to find out more https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/join-us/learning-and-dev

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Jennifer Burnett Job title: Operations Lead - Adult SLT Telephone number: 07840 842081