Acute Lead Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

The Adult SLT team at Darent Valley Hospital have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (0.8wte) to join our team at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. We are looking to recruit a dynamic, innovative and skilled Speech and Language Therapist to co-lead the acute inpatient service managing the caseload of acute inpatients including the hospital’s 10-bedded Intensive Care Unit.

We are situated near South-East London with good transport links, where an additional 5% high cost of living allowance applies. We pride ourselves in being a friendly, proactive and flexible team.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be a senior clinician with specialist experience of acute and critical care work, leading and supporting a team of therapists and therapy assistants to manage the caseload of acute patients. Experience of tracheostomy is essential for this role.  There is access to weekly videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics, and while working knowledge and experience of these assessments are highly desirable for the role, we would be pleased to support attainment of additional competencies as required. The post holder will work together with another B7 Acute Lead SLT to jointly manage the acute team, ensuring ongoing clinical governance and service evaluation and development. They will be supervised by the Band 8 Inpatient Lead SLT. Additionally they will work alongside the Stroke SLT team and there are also well established Outpatient and Macmillan teams, and excellent administrative support.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Established leadership skills are essential for this role. The successful candidate will be an active member of the SLT team and will contribute to service development and training including audit and projects, as well as line management and supervision of colleagues.  Teaching will be a significant part of your role contributing to training of staff on wards and other professional groups across the hospital, as well as supporting junior SLT staff and SLT students.

We offer a friendly and supportive working environment, with peer support and regular clinical and managerial supervision.  There is access to informal and formal training and CPD opportunities, where learning and sharing is strongly encouraged.  We strive for ongoing service development, and participation in projects and audits, and cross-discipline working is highly valued.  We are passionate about our team and profession, and actively raise the profile of Speech and Language Therapy.

Please watch our recruitment video to hear more.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ZCMlSDW0o

We would be very excited to welcome another passionate SLT into our team!

If you are interested in this post and would like any more information, please email [email protected] or telephone 01322 428593 to discuss the post further. You are also very welcome to visit the Department.  We would be very pleased to hear from you.