Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join our team at Danesbury Neurological Rehabilitation Centre on a 6-month fixed-term basis as Clinical Lead.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced clinician to provide clinical leadership within our inpatient neuro-rehabservice, supporting adults with stroke, traumatic brain injury and progressive neurological conditions.

The successful candidate will lead the delivery of a high-quality, evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy service, managing a complex caseload while supporting the development of staff and services. Working as part of a well-established multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to rehabilitation planning, service improvement initiatives and the delivery of person-centred care that maximises independence, participation and quality of life.

You will work closely with colleagues across the wider Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service, including acute, stroke, neuro-rehabilitation and community teams.

The post offers opportunities to develop leadership skills, contribute to quality improvement and support the professional development of others through supervision and mentorship.This role would suit an experienced Speech and Language Therapist with a strong background in neurological rehabilitation, excellent communication skills and a passion for delivering outstanding patient care.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy within the inpatient neuro-rehabilitation service.
• Provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment for adults with complex communication and swallowing disorders following stroke, traumatic brain injury and other neurological conditions.
• Manage a specialist caseload, delivering evidence-based, person-centred interventions to support rehabilitation goals and maximise independence.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary goal setting, rehabilitation planning, patient reviews and discharge planning.
• Lead on dysphagia assessment and management, including implementation of videofluoroscopy recommendations and risk management.
• Provide expert advice and support to patients, carers and multidisciplinary team colleagues.
• Supervise, support and develop staff, students and rehabilitation assistants through teaching and clinical supervision.
• Contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement and clinical governance activities.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and professional standards in line with HCPC, RCSLT and Trust requirements.
• Support the ongoing development and delivery of a high-quality neurological rehabilitation service.

About us
A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff. We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities.

Our staff are proud to be Caring, Pioneering and Inclusive in their work to help achieve the Trust vision . We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages

We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now

You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.

Job responsibilities
The SLT service offers the following:

• Regular whole service and local team meetings
• Multidisciplinary team working
• Regular clinical supervision and annual appraisal
• Access to clinical leads for advice/support ENT/Head and Neck Cancer, Fluency, Dysphagia, Progressive Neurological disorders, Stroke, Dementia.
• In-service training, CPD support and opportunities for development
• Encouragement to participate in service development projects
• Excellent AAC provision and links to regional Hubs
• Use of SystmOne as electronic patient record and mobile working
• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service) plus bank holidays (pro rata where applicable)
• One of the UK's best pension schemes
• Special Leave for family and personal reasons
• NHS Car Lease Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Employee Assistance Programme
• NHS Discounts
• Hertfordshire has good transport links to London and the surrounding areas

We value our staff and see clinical supervision as a priority both through senior supervision and peer support models. Annual appraisal and personal objective setting is a Trust priority.

The post-holders will work closely with the Speech and Language Therapy team and the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team to provide assessment, diagnosis and management of adults with acquired communication and swallowing needs and demonstrating effective clinical practice through continued learning, reflective practice and supervision. The post-holders will also be involved in providing support for more junior members of the team including newly qualified SLTs and SLTAs.

Person Specification
Qualifications/Education
Essential

• An appropriate qualification to practise as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Health and Care Professions Council licence to practise.
• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Dysphagia-trained to an advanced level.
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses and/or relevant experience up to Master's degree equivalent.
• Membership/attendance at relevant Special Interest Groups.

Experience and Knowledge
Essential

• Minimum of 3 years experience in the area of adult work.
• Highly specialist experience of the management of dysphagia in rehabilitation and community settings.
• In depth knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the adult client group including dysphagia/ dysphasia/ dysarthria/dyspraxia/dysphonia/dysfluency/ dysgraphia/dyslexia/dementia.
• In depth knowledge of appropriate therapeutic interventions and an ability to analyse comparative benefits for clients (as above).
• In depth knowledge of the management of people with neurological conditions in rehabilitation and community settings.
• Experience in the provision of training to a wide range of groups/people.
• In depth knowledge of the range and applications of communication aids in rehabilitation and community settings.
• Well-established knowledge of RCSLT standards of practice including record keeping.
• A good understanding of the roles of other professionals in rehabilitation and community settings.
• In depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to adults.
• In depth knowledge of research and audit systems relevant to profession and ability to apply to practice/service.
• In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance.

Desirable

• Experience of running a videofluorscopy clinic

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Able to demonstrate the application of in depth, new and ongoing learning and experience to clinical practice.
• Excellent presentation skills in both verbal and written form.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills.
• Excellent ability to independently integrate complex information to manage individual patients.
• Excellent ability to prioritise and organise own workload and that of others.
• Highly developed hearing, auditory discrimination, concentration and perceptual skills.
• Highly developed skills in transcribing and analysing speech phonetically.
• Highly developed skills in delivering training to others.
• Excellent analytical and reflection skills to problem solve and develop own performance and that of others.
• Excellent ability to demonstrate the application of in depth, new and ongoing learning and experience to clinical practice.

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Proven ability to be an effective team member and assume leadership responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills including observation, listening, empathy and sensitivity.
• Proven ability to manage the emotional consequences of working with patients with distressing conditions.
• Proven ability to self-monitor and seek support/advice as appropriate.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work clinically, professionally and within the organisation.
• Proven ability to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity and tact.

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.