Speech & Language Therapist (XR05)

Are you an enthusiastic, flexible, and pro-active Speech and Language Therapist looking for a new challenge in an exciting and fast-moving environment? Leeds Teaching Hospitals Adult Speech and Language Therapy team has the exciting opportunity to recruit new Band 5 Speech & Language Therapists to join our Band 5 Rotation.

You will be supported by senior and specialist speech and language therapists and be welcomed into a friendly and innovative team. Our priority is to ensure that we provide the best patient experience and clinical outcomes possible. Within the team, we are proud to be able to offer a wide and varied career.

You will be supported to develop in a team where there are many opportunities for joint working and skill sharing.

The B5 rotational posts within LTHT Adult SLT Team currently include opportunities to work in Acute inpatients; Neurosurgery; Neurological rehabilitation; Stroke (acute and rehab) and outpatient services. The rotation cycle aims to occur every 9 months but can depend on training requirements or the stage in which you join a rotation.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for HCPC and RCSLT registered Speech and Language Therapists or a graduate with registration imminent or applied for, with an interest in working with adults with acquired neurological and related conditions in hospital environments.

Please note if you have not yet qualified, we are unable to accept applications from you at this time.

We are searching for a motivated individual to play a supportive role across adult pathways working in partnership with a wide range of healthcare professionals. A dysphagia qualification and experience of working in the acute environment assessing and treating adults in the above areas is highly desirable.

These posts provide excellent opportunities to learn and develop skills as a core member of well-established MDTs working alongside physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietetics, nurses, and assistants.

You will be able to demonstrate skills in assessment, treatment, and management of communication and swallowing difficulties in conjunction with excellent inter-personal communication, organisational, and team working skills. You will have experience of multidisciplinary working and be able to show evidence of continued professional development.

About us

The post holders will join a highly supportive and innovative Speech and Language Therapy Service comprising 40 wte SLTs serving ENT/Maxillofacial/Head and Neck, Neurosciences, Acute Medicine including complex airways and Outpatients. The Department offers comprehensive supervision in conjunction with a well-established Continuing Professional Development program and access to regular staff meetings.

You will be working with one of the most forward-thinking, pioneering, and well-respected Trusts in the UK. With St James's University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary being two of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe, our reputation for excellence has seen us train thousands of medical specialists who now practice all over the world.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay, or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

1. To assess, diagnose, plan and deliver speech and language therapy treatment programmes to patients with communication and swallowing impairments in their care.
2. To carry and prioritise their own clinical caseload as an autonomous practitioner.
3. To be responsible for their own continuing professional and personal development.
4. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive speech and language therapy treatment notes/records for each patient.

JOB DIMENSIONS

1. The post holder will rotate around various clinical areas.
2. They will be responsible for their own variable caseload within their specialty area. Access to advice and support from a senior speech and language therapist is available if required; clinical work is routinely evaluated.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1. Qualifications: Degree or equivalent.
2. Experience: A variety of clinical areas experienced through student placements or previous employment.
3. Skills: Competent written and verbal skills; Ability to organise and prioritise own workload.
4. Knowledge: Sound theoretical knowledge of speech and language therapy practice; Awareness of current issues in healthcare; Standards of professional practice.
5. Personal Attributes: Enthusiastic and self-motivated; Flexible and adaptable; Good interpersonal skills; Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

1. Accountable
2. Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values. Additionally, the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

1. Committed to the development of speech and language therapy within the clinical setting.
2. Committed to maintaining high standards of speech and language therapy clinical practice in accordance with relevant guidelines and policies.
3. Committed to own development.

CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

1. Organisational skills
2. Professional

CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

1. An understanding of the principles of patient centred care.
2. To have a working knowledge of Professional Standards set by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Health Care Professions Council.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. Clinical
2. Education and Training
3. Professional and Managerial
4. Organisational

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

1. Internal
2. External

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

PHYSICAL EFFORT: Frequently throughout the day there will be a requirement to undertake moderate physical activity lasting approximately 30-60 minutes e.g. treatment sessions involving transferring, manoeuvring, and mobilising of patients. Therapeutic treatment sessions may require this post holder to undertake moving and handling tasks with patients where mechanical aids are not practical or appropriate. There may be the requirement for the post holder to travel between sites within Leeds Health Economy in order to best meet the needs of the service.

MENTAL EFFORT: Intense concentration required for patient assessment and treatment.

EMOTIONAL EFFORT: Occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

WORKING CONDITIONS: This job involves exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a weekly basis including direct contact with bodily fluids.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) in Speech Therapy / Clinical Language Sciences or equivalent
• Health Professions Council Registration

Experience

• Varied clinical placements with Communication and Swallowing caseloads

Skills & behaviours

• Professional, hard working and flexible with a positive attitude
• Able to work in a team, demonstrate time management skills and initiative
• Able to prioritise and organise and delegate as necessary own workload
• Ability to cope working in a stressful environment including the ability to impart information, on a daily basis regarding poor prognosis for rehabilitation. Able to deal with emotional or aggressive patients.

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.