Band 7 Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist- Stroke

Job overview

12 month fixed term contract or secondment

Stepping Hill Hospital is one of three Primary Stroke Centres across Greater Manchester, boasting a hyper acute stroke unit (HASU), thrombolysis service and a team of specialist staff. The service has frequent access to both a videofluoroscopy and FEES clinic. Stockport NHSFT is looking for an enthusiastic, innovative, experienced Speech and Language Therapist to fill a maternity leave funded post as part of the Integrated Therapy Team.

The post holder will work as part of a very supportive MDT delivering a service on the hyper acute, acute and rehabilitation stroke wards. We also work collaboratively with the Nutrition MDT for holistic management of patients.

The successful applicant will have established skills in stroke rehabilitation and dysphagia.  Skills and experience in videofluoroscopy, and knowledge of tracheostomy patients and FEES are desirable but not essential. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills and be able to demonstrate an adaptable approach whilst meeting guidelines and standards.

You will receive supervision with a senior SLT.  You will also be responsible for supervising junior SLTs and SLT Assistants.  There will be the opportunity to contribute towards and receive regular in-service training and CPD opportunities.

This post will include a maximum of 5 working days, flexible over a 7 day working rota. Where weekend working is involved an enhanced rate of pay is received.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a safe, effective and consistently high quality Speech and Language Therapy service at Stockport Foundation Trust.

• To act as a clinical expert and autonomous practitioner in specialist clinical area to provide highly specialist care to Speech and Language Therapy patients with complex swallowing and communication needs. Manage a delegated caseload within specialist area. To assess, plan and implement patient centred, evidence–based interventions.
• To provide evidence-based care, education and information to patients,             carers and health care professionals in an in-patient setting.
• Provide line management and supervision to Band 6 and Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists. Contribute to the training and development of Speech and Language Therapy students and Speech and Language Therapy assistants.
• To lead and develop the stroke Speech and Language Therapy service.
• To support the Speech and Language Therapy Team Lead and Nutrition and Dietetic Service Lead with operational and strategic planning, deputising, as required.
• The work is based at Stepping Hill Hospital on the hyper-acute, acute and rehabilitation stroke wards and includes weekend working on a rota as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To be the named SLT lead for stroke speech and language therapy service and devise and implement appropriate clinical guidelines and patient pathways associated with this area.
• Provide a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service to the stroke wards using evidence based patient centred principles to assess, implement and evaluate interventions.
• To perform advanced therapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations including head and neck cancer and complex communication and swallowing problems.  This includes instrumental assessment such as FEES and videofluoroscopy, providing a diagnosis and developing and delivering an individualised treatment programme.
• Act as an independent practitioner and be professionally accountable and responsible for aspects of own work. Decide priorities for own work, balance patient related and professional demands in consultation with other Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Leads and Service Lead.
• To be responsible for planning and service development within specialist area.
• To identify service needs and maximise the efficiency of the team within the resource available.
• To work alongside Service Lead and Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Leads to integrate service and pathways and implement any changes within the team.
• To provide line management for specialist team including recruitment and selection, induction, monitoring sickness and absence, performance and development reviews, one to one meetings and clinical supervision.
• To be a source of clinical expertise for the team providing supervision and mentorship.
• To work alongside consultants, specialist nurses and ward staff to provide specialist Speech and Language therapy treatment plans as part of holistic patient care.
• Provision of expert advice on the management of patients referred to the stroke Speech and Language Therapy team due to additional complex clinical needs.
• To attend ward rounds, MDT meetings and best interest meetings as needed, promoting an understanding of the role of Speech and Language Therapy in achieving the best outcome for each patient.
• Supervise, educate and assess the performance of students (this would be to a graduate standard and involve working with universities to ensure the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification).

• Provide relevant training to other healthcare professionals.
• Develop and implement pathways, resources and teaching materials for use by the speech and language therapy team and other professions.
• Collect all data necessary to meet local requirements for service monitoring.
• Work in conjunction with colleagues on development and implementation of local policies based on national guidance.
• To identify and undertake clinical audit.
• Maintain professional competence and expertise, keeping up-to-date with current research, working practices and models of working. Comply with professional guidelines and Code of Practice.
• Participate in personal and professional development through objective setting and regular job review.
• Work as a committed and effective member of the Speech and Language Therapy Team wider MDT Team in order to maximise the potential of the service and profession.
• Support other specialist Speech and Language Therapists with caseloads in their absence. As required to offer support to other clinical areas to ensure all patients are seen in a timely manner

• To provide training, support and supervision to Speech and Language Therapy colleagues.

Please see the job description for further details.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £54.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.