Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Adult Stroke - Torquay, Devon, United Kingdom - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Description

We are looking to recruit a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to our stroke in-patient team in Torbay. You will be supported by our specialists in stroke care. Are you dynamic, self-motivated and innovative in your approach to speech and language therapy?

We need a positive and compassionate therapist with excellent clinical skills, who enjoys working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. We want someone who is ready to be developing their Specialist skills in stroke and neuro rehab and is confident and organised, who will work with colleagues from across the organisation.

As a member of our Hospital's team you will receive professional support from Band 7 leads in Dysphagia, stroke and AAC. You will be supported to develop competencies within the specialties. The ideal candidate will have a track record of clinical experience in the management of stroke and neuro patients with communication and swallowing disorders in an acute setting and experience of working as part of an MDT.

Main duties of the job To independently manage a caseload of acute patients on the stroke wards and on the general wards with highly complex speech, language, communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties with reference to theory, published research and evidence, and agreed best practice

To prioritise and respond to referrals, allocating to less experienced colleagues and exercising professional judgement based on extended clinical experience About us Why Work With Us

• We work as part of an integrated care organisation, the first in the UK, serving rural and urban communities in South Devon. The demography has a high elderly population
• We provide well led acute, community and specialist services, to people from the local area, and were one of the first to run therapist led FEES clinics in the UK
• Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education and support for our clinicians

Job description Job responsibilities Communication and working relationships

• Maintain close collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team

through joint working and effective communication regarding treatment aims,

progress and discharge planning (providing written reports and referrals as

appropriate)

• Provide appropriate and timely information to all relevant members of the

healthcare team regarding patients rehabilitative requirements and changes in

progress and communicate complex condition-related information to clients,

carers, families and members of the MDT in a way that is accessible and

easily understood. This will include the use of facilitative strategies for people

with communication and/or cognitive disorders and other barriers to

understanding

• To provide expert advice to enable professionals and carers to provide clear

explanations when the patients levels of understanding and ability to

communicate their wishes are severely affected e.g. supporting patients to

give informed consent for complex procedures and life choices and power of

attorney

• To be responsible for updating notes within the patients care setting,

departmental notes, and a range of report writing including for legal purposes,

and dissemination of findings to appropriate professionals and relevant others

• To contribute to clinical teams, both multi- and uni-disciplinary, by discussing

and negotiating own and others input around patients needs, ensuring a well co-

ordinated care plan and pathway. To ensure patients and families are

aware of voluntary and support agencies

• To negotiate with carers/patients and professionals around individual case

diagnosis and management where others have less specialist knowledge

and/or experience in relation to SLCD and swallowing disorders (dysphagia),

and differences of professional judgement can occur e.g. over or under

estimation of patients understanding which would affect goals for treatment

and life choices, and/or texture of foods which can be eaten safely

• Liaise with the Head of Speech and Language Therapy Service and Adult

Service Clinical Manager of Torbay and South Devon Healthcare NHS

Foundation Trust (TSDHFT) regarding the provision of Speech and Language

Therapy services

• Communicate with relevant others.

Planning and organisation

• To independently manage a caseload of in-patients with highly complex

speech, language, communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties with

reference to theory, published research and evidence, and agreed best

practice

• To be responsible for triaging referrals to the Speech and Language Therapy

service alongside SLT colleagues

• To prioritise and respond to referrals, allocating to less experienced colleagues

and exercising professional judgement based on extended clinical experience

• Provide appropriate and timely information to all relevant members of the

healthcare team regarding patients speech and language therapy

requirements and changes in progress

• Identify patient priorities and choices and plan intervention to accurately

incorporate these wishes

• Explore the use of remote therapy and be able to flex into this form of therapy

if service need dictates

• Submit regular data about activity levels as required

Analytical and judgement

• To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret highly complex case related

information and data from medical notes, patients, carers and other relevant

sources in order to reach a differential diagnoses on the basis of assimilated evidence from

formal and informal assessments including psychological and social factors.

** see full JD & PS for further details.

Clinical Governance and Risk Management

• The Trust believes everyone has a role to play in improving and contributing to

the quality of care provided to our clients. You are expected to take a proactive

role in supporting the Trusts clinical governance agenda by:

o Taking part in activities for improving quality such as Valuing Everyones

Experience training or (for staff working within clinical specialties) clinical

audit.

** see full JD & PS for further details.

Responsibility for patients and client care

• To be responsible for ensuring patients safety with regard to eating and

drinking by assessing, monitoring and updating, and communicating details of

safe practice to the patient, medical and ward staff, and carers, ensuring that

recommendations are clearly documented

• To provide appropriate specialist stroke intervention and evaluate outcomes
• To make judgements about when to refer patients for video fluoroscopy (X ray)

examination considering the risks and benefits of the procedure. To participate

in clinical discussion with the Clinical Lead for Dysphagia and to jointly

interpret results in order to plan appropriate SLT treatment

• To prioritise and decide on appropriate highly specialised treatment

programmes individual or group, matched to individual patient/family need and

to adapt and modify management options based on extended and developing

clinical expertise whilst ensuring patient/carers/multi-disciplinary team are fully

involved in the decision-making process

** see full JD & PS for further details.

Policy and service responsibility

- Contribute to the development of care guidelines, protocols and evidence-base

in order to inform practice.

** see full JD & PS for further details.

Responsibility for finance, equipment and other resources

** see full JD & PS for further details.

Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management

Take responsibility for own on-going clinical professional development

(including attendance at post-registration courses - internal and external)

• Take part in regular performance appraisal (Achievement Review) and to act

as an appraiser of junior staff

• Take part in line management of junior staff
• Undertake any training required in order to maintain competency including

mandatory training, e.g. Fire, Manual Handling, Infection Control

objectives

• To maintain registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and the

Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

** see full JD & PS for further details.

Information technology and administrative duties

- To record and update personally generated clinical observations, assessment

results, treatment and advice details in patient medical and departmental case

notes

** see full JD & PS for further details.

Responsibility for research and development

• To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality

standards setting and clinical effectiveness.

** see full JD & PS for further details. Person Specification Interview and form Essential

• Dysphagia Qualified to Level C (RCSLT Dysphagia competency framework)
• 2 years + experience working in acute stroke

Desirable

• Experience of working in acute SMT

Employer details Employer name Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Address Torbay Hospital

Cadewell Lane

Torquay

TQ2 7AA Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply AHP #J-18808-Ljbffr