Highly Specialist Speech & Lang Therapist (SLT)

Job summary
The Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) post holder will have lead responsibility, where delegated and in consultation with the Principal SLT for Acute SLT Services, for providing a highly specialist speech and language therapy service to Senior Health clinical services at St George's Healthcare NHS Trust. He/She will be flexible with a commitment to new ways of working and have an innovative approach to patient centered care and efficient service delivery.

This service comprises of patients with acute medical, surgical conditions and progressive neurological disorders coming under the care of the Senior Health Consultants. He/she will be responsible for participating in clinical governance and service development for this area of service, in collaboration with line manager.

The Post holder will provide day-to-day management of caseload and that of less experienced staff, ensuring supervision, appraisal and development in conjunction with line manager. The post holder will be an autonomous practitioner providing a highly specialist speech and language therapy service to Senior Health patients in-patients at St George's Hospital. A significant proportion of these clients will have English as an additional language (EAL). He/ she will be expected to manage their own caseload, providing second opinions and specialist advice.

Main duties of the job

• To manage highly complex caseload of patients within Senior Health Services. Independently making differential clinical diagnoses and assessment decisions based on assessment, frequently weighing up complex clinical decisions in the context of conflicting clinical indicators
• To be a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy resource for members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team for Senior Health patients in all aspects of patients' care.
• To carry out videofluoroscopic examinations of swallow as an extended scope practitioner, analyse and report findings to the Multi-Disciplinary Team regarding implications for management plus design specialised therapeutic programmes of care.
• To participate in Fibreoptic Endoscopic Examination of Swallow (FEES) as appropriate
• To liaise with all appropriate agencies pre and post discharge from St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust.
• To take a lead in the organisation of training for MDT staff in Senior Health
• To actively participate in and influence the process of multi-disciplinary goal planning and discharge planning. To develop Speech and Language Therapy care protocols as appropriate

About us
In the SLT department, we are committed to supporting staff development via CPD opportunities and strive to ensure we remain an innovative, forward thinking department. We are keen to support flexible working, where able, and applicants are encouraged to disclose this at interview.

As per trust website:
We are one of the country's largest and busiest acute NHS Trusts, serving a diverse population of more than 3.5 million people across south London and beyond.
Our main hospital site in Tooting and other healthcare locations provide a modern, dynamic, caring environment for excellent clinical care, education and research.
We employ around 10,000 dedicated staff across more than 40 different services and specialties. Every day, more than 2,000 patients attend our sites, mainly for outpatient appointments, elective surgery, and in our Emergency Department, made famous as the home of '24 Hours in A&E'.
You can find opportunities in a wide range of occupations and professions, from front-line doctors and nurses through to other health professionals, and essential support and corporate services - all working together to provide outstanding care every time for patients, and the communities we serve.
Whatever role you work in, we are committed to offering excellent learning and development opportunities and to supporting you in your careers.

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document, which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification.

Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Masters Degree level or equivalent e.g. successful completion of short courses such as Advanced Dysphagia, Counselling and structured self study

Knowledge and skills
Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of current systems and processes in the NHS
• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Developed Negotiation and Problem solving Skills
• Demonstrates excellent concentration, analytical and reflection skills
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent prioritisation skills
• Good auditory discrimination skills
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities when required by Line Manager
• Well established knowledge of a broad range assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
• In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures (relevant to the specialist client group) such as NICE, RCP Guidelines, Disability Discrimination Act
• In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
• In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/ audit
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group)
• Good knowledge of standards of record keeping
• Good written and spoken English

Experience
Essential

• Highly relevant experience at post graduate level
• Experience in conducting VFS or FEES
• Evidence and ability to demonstrate leadership and strategic skills
• Experience in assessment, management and treatment of Senior Health patients
• Experience in training colleagues in specialist areas
• Developing and delivering education and training packages
• Good knowledge of standards of record keeping
• Good written and spoken English

Desirable

• Level 2b FEES and Level 3 VFS
• Experience/ competencies in managing patients with tracheostomies

Other
Essential

• Physically fit to meet requirements of post
• Team player
• Membership of relevant CEN groups

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.