Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Are you a Speech and Language Therapist looking for an opportunity to widen your experience and develop a Specialism working with Adults who have Learning Disabilities?

We can offer you the opportunity to develop your skills working within a Multidisciplinary Community Learning Disability Health Team including nurses, psychologists, OTs, Physios and Psychiatrists in the Chorley South Ribble, Greater Preston and West Lancashire areas.

The post holder will work alongside other Speech and Language Therapists and receive clinical supervision from a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to deliver SLT intervention to meet the communication and dysphagia needs of adults who are referred to the team.

The post offers the opportunity to develop specialist skills across a range of clinical areas including dysphagia, AAC, Total Communication and high level language difficulties with clinical supervision from SLTs across the teams. There will be opportunities to develop your leadership skills and take an active role in service development including training, outcome measures and research. The Trust is actively exploring links with HEIs and supporting the development of AHPs into Advanced Clinical Practitioner roles and Masters Programs.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will join a network of SLTs who work in Learning Disability across LSCFT and meet on a monthly basis to provide clinical supervision and develop good practice. The trust recognises and values the role of AHPs and you can follow the active membership on Twitter @LCSFTAHPs.

If you are interested in a post with the CLDHT but would like to work in East Lancashire (Blackburn, Burnley, Ribble Valley) or the Bay localities (Lancaster and Fylde and Wyre) please contact us to discuss as there are other SLT opportunities available in LSCFT. Please note the main base will be Chorley.

Working Pattern (Hours): Full Time

Job responsibilities

• To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the MDT in order to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary and multi-agency service and to facilitate and maintain good working relationships.
• As a member of the team, to establish effective communication networks as appropriate in the wider multi-disciplinary team, social services, third and private sector agency.
• To work closely with Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Operational Leads and Professional Leads to provide efficient and effective SLT service.
• To communicate and facilitate the communication of highly sensitive and distressing information to the individual and their family / carers, regarding the service users complex condition, diagnosis / prognosis and the intervention required.
• Present complex and sensitive clinical information in an informative and professional manner, with other workers involved in a Service Users care and respecting the need for confidentiality.
• Work closely and in partnership with the Service Users / carers and the multidisciplinary team and all agencies involved in the care of the individual negotiating and agreeing decision-making relevant to the service users management to deliver treatment based on and in response to needs.
• To contribute to clinical teams both multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary by discussing own and others input around a service users needs, ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan.
• Articulate the complex ideas regarding speech and language therapy practice and contribute to team discussions regarding service developments.
• To establish and maintain relationships with speech and language therapists and with AHPs across the network.
• Ensure that up-to-date written and electronic records, and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards, and that sensitive information is held securely.
• Provide timely professional reports demonstrating an experienced and informed analysis of specialist assessment findings, plans for interventions, service users progress, and recommendations and/or advice for other workers.
• Contribute as required to reports concerning service delivery/need demonstrating knowledge of available relevant literature/guidance to inform decision making and planning.
• Use effective and professional presentation skills to convey information and lead teaching / training sessions for multi-disciplinary colleagues and other staff as appropriate.
• To monitor and report on progress against set objectives and targets to the Integrated Team Leader/Governance team etc.
• To work with the Highly Specialist SLT to contribute to the regular production, dissemination and utilisation of caseload / population profiling information that will contribute to the wider public health intelligence and influence the appropriate commissioning and provision of service.
• Ensure that clinical supervision, CQC and other quality standards are embedded within practice and support clinical incident reporting/investigation and discussion of significant events within the business unit.
• Promote health education and healthy lifestyles within the scope of practice/caseload setting including use of negotiation skills where appropriate.
• Provide advice and supervision to others across the team to support them in taking up the duty of care.
• To form empathetic and productive relationships with service users who have diagnosed speech, language and communication difficulties, their carers families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved; forming such relationships with others who may be under stress and where there are barriers to understanding and challenging communication difficulties.

Please see full Job Description and Person Specification attached to this vacancy for the full responsibilities of this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications/ Education

• BA/ BSc/ MSc in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registered
• Licence to practice (RCSLT)
• Compliance with regulatory bodies and codes of professional conduct
• Post graduate training or equivalent competency
• Post-graduate training of in clinical areas associated with adults with learning disabilities (including dysphagia)

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current key NHS developments and policies and implications for service delivery
• Knowledge of wide range of clinical assessments
• Knowledge of Intervention/treatment techniques for adults with learning disabilities
• Working knowledge of the Mental capacity Act and implications for professional practice
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including record keeping and confidentiality

Experience

• Evidence of continuing development of professional clinical Knowledge, skills and experience
• Experience working as an independent and autonomous practitioner managing own caseload
• Show initiative, enthusiasm and motivation for excellence and the development of self and others.
• Experience of partnership working across a range of agencies and professional boundaries
• Experience of working with people with complex and multiple needs (e.g. dementia, dysphagia, mental health)
• Experience of working as part of an MDT
• Experience of effectively working with service users and carers
• CPD Folder
• Experience of Stakeholder Engagement
• Experience of managing junior staff/mentoring students
• Experience of developing SLT role within MDT
• Experience of standard setting and participating in clinical audit within learning disability field
• Experience of delivering and developing training

Skills and CPD Portfolio

• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation and listening
• Well-developed presentation skills-written and verbal
• Understanding and experience of managing and mitigating clinical risks
• Relevant training and knowledge associated with unpredictable or challenging behaviour and manage conflict (e.g. conflict resolution, breakaway training)
• Good working knowledge of IT systems
• Excellent prioritisation and time management- ability to carry a complex and demanding workload
• Problem solving /Decision making in relation to clinical practice
• Skills in using digital platforms to deliver assessment/intervention
• Well-developed analytical, reflective and negotiation skills

Work Related Circumstances

• Commitment to person-centred, non-discriminatory practice.
• Ability to work with clients with learning, social and or mental health difficulties who may present with unpredictable or challenging behaviour
• Able to work across the ICP and potentially across the ICS
• Ability to work flexibly in response to service demands

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.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Community Learning Disability Health Team (Central)

Community Learning Disability Health Team (Central)