Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 7)

Whittington Health; London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 61,000

Job description

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 7)

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area: Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Adult Acute
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 220-WHT-3021

Employer: Whittington Health NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Whittington Hospital
Town: London
Salary: £54,320 - £60,981 per annum including HCAS
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 08/04/2025 23:59

Job overview

This post offers an exciting opportunity for a SLT to provide a service to adult patients with acute medical conditions within the Whittington Hospital, including respiratory conditions. Input into the busy weekly videofluoroscopy clinic and supervision of junior SLTs is included. There are also opportunities to develop skills in FEES and tracheostomy.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is an autonomous practitioner and is responsible for managing and prioritising a caseload of inpatients presenting with a wide range of swallowing and communication disorders, including those resulting from respiratory conditions and a range of medical aetiologies. The post holder will be required to lead on patients with complex respiratory conditions within the hospital, provide senior support for the respiratory caseload as well as contribute to the management of complex patients throughout the hospital.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive and highly specialist service to inpatients throughout the hospital with swallowing and communication disorders. These disorders may arise from a range of aetiologies including physical, psychological, respiratory, surgical (including tracheostomy), neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, mental health problems and learning disability. They will provide assessment, differential diagnosis and programmes of intervention where appropriate. They will have an in-depth knowledge of a range of alternative and augmentative communication systems, and computerised technology for the evaluation of swallow and communication disorders.

The post holder will be required to be the SLT lead for the respiratory ward, as well as contribute to the management of complex patients throughout the hospital. They will have experience in independently conducting complex videofluoroscopy and will share responsibility for conducting the weekly videofluoroscopy clinic. Experience in FEES and tracheostomy is also desirable. They will work closely with colleagues in other specialist hospitals and units in order to ensure that common care pathways are established and that effective transfer of information is maintained.

The post holder will have excellent communication and counselling skills. They will be able to communicate complex information effectively considering the barriers to communication presented by the diverse caseload. They will be skilled in working in and liaising within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment. The clinician’s highly specialist level of expertise in the field will ensure that they can reassure and instil confidence in clients, carers and other professionals. They will demonstrate good negotiation skills in working with other team members, carers or other professionals.

The post holder will lead on the development of a range of protocols, audits, policies, projects and programmes across the service in consultation with the Clinical Lead. They will provide clinical supervision, line management and support to less experienced colleagues both within the team and the wider service. The post holder will be responsible for developing and delivering and evaluating training for professionals and other staff as required. They will also be responsible for the development and delivery of lectures and clinical education for students.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• BSc. Speech Path or Equivalent
• HCPC licence to practise, and Registered member of RCSLT
• Successful completion of advanced practitioner post graduate study relevant to field (i.e dysphagia)
• Successful completion of highly specialist/expert short courses relevant to field (e.g. adult neuro communication and swallow disorders, respiratory dysphagia, videofluoroscopy)
• Successful completion of highly specialist/expert short courses relevant to FEES/tracheostomy management

Skills & Abilities

• Challenging behaviour management and advanced counselling
• Student supervision and training
• Experience working at a highly specialist level with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders across a range of aetiologies
• Experience working at a specialist level in neurorehabilitation, respiratory and general acute settings
• Make accurate differential diagnosis of communication and swallowing disorders in a range of populations
• Experience delivering highly specialist training to a range of audiences
• Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate sensitive information
• Experience carrying out evidence based / research projects

Knowledge & Experience

• The application of highly specialist knowledge of local cultural, linguistic & demographic factors to the management of swallowing and communication disorders across a range of complex presentations
• Detailed knowledge of multi-disciplinary team approaches
• Mentoring, advising, supporting, line managing and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
• Good understanding of clinical governance principles
• Development and implementation of short-term clinically based projects
• Advanced approaches to support clients & carers with challenging behaviour, mental health needs or in high levels of distress

Personal Qualities

• Flexibility
• Ability to reflect on practice
• Understand principles of team working and importance of effective communication

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This will require you to:

• Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
• Participate in required training and supervision.
• Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct.

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Your application form:

• Provide only business email address for your referees – we are unable to request references from Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail accounts.
• Make sure you include all evidence of where you meet the essential requirements on the job description as this forms the base of our shortlisting criteria.

Our processes:

• Closing dates are given as a guide; we reserve the right to close adverts early so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible to avoid delay.
• If you do not hear from us up to 3 weeks after the closing date of the job, unfortunately this means you have not been successfully shortlisted for interview. If you require feedback on your application please contact the appointing manager detailed in the body of the advert.
• Please check your emails regularly as all correspondence from us will be via trac.systems – occasionally these emails will go into your Junk folder.
• Employment at Whittington Health is offered subject to successful completion of a 6 month probationary period for all staff with the exception of GMC Registered Doctors.

Other important information:

• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.
• In submitting an application form, you authorise Whittington Health NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post.

If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a “selfie” using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk.

Please note that during the recruitment process your Identity Documentation (i.e. passport, driving licence, visa, etc.) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, Infrared and Machine Readable Zone security features of the documents provided.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

We would welcome applications from individuals who are from underrepresented groups in the organisation.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name: Annie Byrne-Stevens
Job title: Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Email address: [e-mail]
Telephone number: 02072883547