Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Are you looking for band 6 experience across a range of caseloads as part of a well-established, supportive and high-profile team? This post will initially be in the acute neurosurgery team but there would be an opportunity to gain experience across a variety of caseloads including stroke, medicine, critical care and potentially outpatients to allow you to acquire specialist skills in a broad range of clinical pathways. The post would also offer the chance to train to level 3 in videofluoroscopy and level 2 in FEES once you have gained sufficient experience across pathways. Tracheostomy training could also be provided within the team.

The Speech and Language Therapy Team at North Bristol Trust covers both inpatient and outpatient/community caseloads with approximately 35 clinical team members plus admin support. We seek to provide a high quality, responsive and evidenced based service and we actively encourage personal development of clinical, analytical and research skills.

Main duties of the job

To provide specialist speech and language therapy (SLT) assessment, diagnosis and treatment to adults with communication and swallowing difficulties following stroke, neurosurgical, acquired neurological and medical disorders. This post may potentially cover inpatient specialities of stroke, medicine/complex care, neurosurgery, critical care and outpatients. You would be supported to acquire a broad range of specialist skills, knowledge and experience.

About us

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• To have responsibility and accountability for the management of own clinical caseload, including referrals, management and discharge decisions, within own level of competence and with appropriate clinical support
• To assess and analyse type, severity and impact of all conditions of speech, language and communication impairments in a wide range of adult patients, through a variety of formal and informal assessments/information gathering methods
• To record and interpret personally generated clinical observations and provide feedback for clients/carers/professionals and relevant others
• To provide differential diagnosis, clinical advice and care plans/therapy to clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties, which includes analysis of facts and a comparison of a range of options for appropriate intervention
• To represent SLT as part of the multidisciplinary team relevant to the clinical specialty

Education, Research and Development

• To seek advice and support when necessary from more senior colleagues, further developing skills in the management of stroke, medical disorders, especially elderly care, neurological diseases and neurosurgical conditions
• To participate in the development and delivery of patient/carer education programmes, as needed.
• To participate in local clinical governance/audit/research projects by providing data as required and being part of relevant working groups as appropriate.

Person Specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Licence to Practise
• Completion of post-basic dysphagia training and aphasia training

Work Experience

• Relevant post qualification experience in working with adults who have communication and swallowing difficulties related to stroke, acquired neurological disease and injury, medical disorders and elderly care
• Experience of an adult acute/inpatient caseload

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders in stroke, acquired neurology, medical conditions and elderly care underpinned by current evidence-based practice
• Ability to work as a member of multi / interdisciplinary teams including interdisciplinary goal setting
• Ability to independently manage and prioritise a caseload, with appropriate support
• Ability to identify own specialist professional development needs and portfolio within the appraisal framework and reflect on practice
• Ability to structure clear care plans based on best practice and integrating psychosocial, physical, emotional and environmental factors within a holistic patient centred approach
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

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.

SLT Pathway Lead in Neurosurgery and Critical Care