Speech and Language Therapist - Speech & Language Therapy

NHS Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

27 days annual leave

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) invites applications for a Speech and Language Therapist within the Adult Head & Neck/Oncology service at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow. You will work with patients with dysphagia and communication needs in acute and outpatient settings, as part of the MDT.

The role offers opportunities to develop specialist clinical skills, contribute to service evaluation and CPD, and supervise SLTs and students, with a rota across 5 days in 7 including

Qualifications

• Holds Speech & Language Therapy degree or equivalent leading to HCPC registration.
• CPD portfolio with evidence of training to maintain practice.
• Has dysphagia training and experience relevant to the post.
• Awareness of audit, and knowledge of relevant policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for own practice including direct patient care.
• Assess capacity and obtain valid consent within legal frameworks.
• Provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and management for dysphagia and communication needs.
• Deliver multidisciplinary input and discharge planning.
• Support supervision of SLTs, healthcare support workers and students.

Skills

Clinical communication

Dysphagia management

Team collaboration

CPD commitment

Education

Bachelor in Speech & Language Therapy

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Adult Speech and Language Therapy team within Greater Glasgow and Clyde predominantly within the Head & Neck/Oncology service at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. You will gain experience in managing patients with complex swallowing and communication difficulties associated with head and neck cancer diagnosis and treatment, in an acute hospital and outpatient setting. As a core member of the MDT, you will work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centred, holistic high-quality care.

The Head & Neck service is committed to demonstrating outcomes, and contribution to service evaluation through quality improvement and clinical governance, is part of this role. This is an excellent opportunity for someone wishing to develop specialist clinical skills, working with a broad range of head and neck cancer patients, across the patient journey.

You will gain experience providing comprehensive specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment/management onward referral and discharge to a complex caseload of patients with dysphagia and communication needs. This will include laryngectomy care with training and development opportunities in surgical voice restoration and videofluoroscopy. In addition, you will support the supervision of SLTs at various stages of career development, healthcare support workers and SLT students, as well as providing training for a wide range of professionals and carers. The successful candidate will have relevant clinical experience in adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders, evidence of motivation to work in this specialist area, and a commitment to CPD across the 4 pillars of practice.

A Speech and Language Therapy degree and current HCPC registration are essential for this post You may be asked to work in other areas of the service or across other acute sites within NHS GGC as required. The post is part of a service that works 5 days over 7 with a rota for weekend and public holiday cover. The Adult Acute Service is committed to offering all staff the opportunity to develop clinical skills with a varied caseload, and also offers appraisal, supervision and opportunities for Continuing Professional Development.

All other roles will be assessed for sponsorship eligibility in line with current Home Office requirements. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) can only issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) where these are met.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern

• Location based in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
• Permanent Contract
• Full-time position (36 hours per week)
• Shift pattern for this post are 5 days over 7 with a rota for weekend and public holiday cover.

Key Responsibilities

• Professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work including direct and indirect patient care within scope of practice.
• Assesses capacity, gains valid consent and has the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent, taking full consideration of appropriate legislation i.e. Adults with Incapacity Act
• Assesses and analyses clinical and non-clinical information, and provides a clinical diagnosis for individual patients based on knowledge and experience of a range of conditions within several specialist clinical areas
• Provides specialist advice to inform clinical decision-making within the multidisciplinary team. Issues discussed may be contentious, e.g., decisions as to non-oral versus oral feeding.
• Acts independently to plan, implement, evaluate, and deliver individual programmes of care to maximise the outcome of intervention, including decision-making regarding discharge from SLT caseload
• Liaises with a senior SLT as required in management of a specialist ER caseload
• Contributes to SLT student clinical placements with support from senior staff
• Occasionally delivers training in SLT departmental and speciality team in-service training programme to promote personal and professional development
• Explains the role of SLTs to visitors, students and volunteers and others as appropriate
• Please refer to the job description for further details.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job

• Holds Speech & language therapy degree or equivalent leading to statutory Health Professions Council registration
• Requires to undertake CPD to validate Health and Care Professions Council annual re-registration in order to practise in the NHS
• CPD portfolio contains evidence of relevant training to develop skills and knowledge, and keep up to date with new techniques to promote and maintain good practice through reading, attendance at courses, meetings and special interest groups
• Has dysphagia training and experience relevant to the post
• Has knowledge of assessment and therapeutic tools relevant to patient group
• Is aware of and complies with national policies and procedures
• Is aware of the principles of audit
• Awareness of the roles of other professional relevant to the patient group
• Demonstrates evidence of annual programme of mandatory training e.g. CPR, Moving and Handling, Fire Safety Training
• Develops coping skills and strategies.

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

Work-life balance

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as "various", we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

Equality and diversity

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.