Specialist Speech and Language Therapist: Critical Care

Job summary
Are you passionate about providing a high-quality Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) service to adult inpatients within a critical care setting? Are you looking for the chance to develop your career in a prestigious London Trust with access to highly skilled clinicians and multiple learning opportunities?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced speech & language therapist who exemplifies our Trust values to join our Adult Acute Speech & Language Therapy (SLT). The post-holder will provide a specialist service to adult inpatients with communication and/or swallowing disorders resulting from acquired neurological/ medical/ surgical conditions, with a specific remit for patients within the critical care setting, including management of issues relating to tracheostomy and ventilator dependence. The Adult Acute service is provided to patients within the specialisms of Acute and Specialist Medicine, Neurosciences, Surgery, Cancer and Critical Care.

The post holder will work as an integrated member of the multidisciplinary teams providing assessment and management to critical care patients across a range of medical and surgical specialisms on the Charing Cross Hospital (CXH) site and provide support to units on the St Mary's (SMH) and Hammersmith Hospital (HH) sites if/as required.

Main duties of the job

• To provide comprehensive and specialist therapy assessment and diagnosis for patients with a range of highly complex presentations, by utilising advanced clinical reasoning, evidence-based knowledge, investigate and analytical skills and specialist assessment techniques.
• To work both independently and within a team structure, demonstrating leadership to manage own and team caseload. To efficiently manage a caseload and organise this effectively regarding clinical priorities and use of time.
• To formulate and deliver an individualised and specialist care plan / therapy management programme based on advanced knowledge of evidence-based practice, advanced clinical reasoning skills and a wide range of specialist treatment options. As a specialist clinician to provide a second opinion where required.
• To support the provision of instrumental assessments on site as clinically appropriate and as required by the service, including identifying appropriate patients, under-taking joint assessments, analysis, reporting and feedback.
• To work in collaboration with other members of the MDT to provide an integrated service for patients, participating in joint clinics, ward rounds, multi-disciplinary assessment/treatment, family/ carer support and education, attending regular meetings and case conferences as appropriate.
• To help lead and participate in quality improvement, clinical governance projects, audit and research as required by the Clinical Service Lead for Adult SLT.

About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Environmental sustainabilityClimate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment

Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews, please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) in Speech and Language Therapy
• State registration with the Health Professions Council
• Evidence of CPD through maintenance of a portfolio, especially in the relevant clinical area

Desirable

• Membership of the Professional Organisation
• Membership of Professional special interest groups relevant to speciality
• Relevant Postgraduate clinical qualification
• Management skills or leadership training
• Clinical Educators course or equivalent

Experience
Essential

• Significant recent clinical experience in relevant clinical area
• Evidence of a broad base of clinical experience at Band 6 level or equivalent
• Significant experience of working as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team and inter agency working
• Experience of multidisciplinary goal planning, development of care pathways and using outcome measures
• Experience of organising and implementing training programmes for therapists, MDT members, support workers, students and apprentices
• Experience of service development/change management
• Experience in implementing evidence based practice in speciality

Desirable

• Previous Band 7 or equivalent experience in relevant post
• Leadership of a therapy team
• Recent, relevant work in an NHS environment
• Experience of using clinical governance framework to monitor and improve quality of patient care
• Clinical research experience
• Experience of planning and managing service improvement activities

Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential

• Competence in managing tracheostomised patients within a critical care setting
• Advanced knowledge of assessment and treatment approaches for the effective management of relevant conditions
• Advanced skills in the appropriate application of a range of techniques and approaches to the management of relevant conditions
• Advanced clinical reasoning and problem solving skills
• Advanced knowledge of relevant conditions
• Advanced knowledge of the evidence base of the relevant therapy area
• Knowledge of the influence of psychosocial and cultural factors health/illness behaviours
• Ability to remain updated with professional practice and research and integrate this into daily patient management
• Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate as appropriate and manage time effectively
• Able to make sound judgments and reliable decisions in a variety of demanding situations
• Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
• Understanding of clinical governance and the implications for therapy services including experience of quality issues and audit
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet differing patient needs
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships
• Ability to pass on knowledge and skills to others in both formal and informal environments

Desirable

• Level 2A or above FEES competency
• Competency in Videofluoroscopy
• Management of ventilator-dependent patients
• Knowledge of recent NHS developments and their impact on service provision
• Advanced computer skills for presentation and data analysis
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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