Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 7)

Job summary

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 videoflouroscopy 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.

About us

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Date posted: 28 March 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £54,320 to £60,981 a year per annum including HCAS

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 220-WHT-3021

Job locations

Whittington Hospital, Magdala Avenue, London, N19 5NF

Job description

Job 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

Essential

• 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)

Desirable

• Successful completion of highly specialist/expert short courses relevant to FEES/tracheostomy management

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• 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 the ability to communicate sensitive information

Desirable

• Basic qualitative / quantitative research methodologies
• Experience carrying out evidence-based / research projects

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• 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

Essential

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

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address: Whittington Hospital, Magdala Avenue, London, N19 5NF

Employer's website: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust