Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist- Stroke

Job overview

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic team leader, with relevant experience, who is keen to use their knowledge and skills in supporting a team of Speech and Language Therapist to deliver rehabiliation to adults with complex communication and swallowing difficulties. As an organisation we pride ourselves on delivering high quality patient centred care. The successful applicant will become an integral part of a dedicated specialist rehab team comprising of speech & language therapists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses, doctors and skilled support staff. You will line manage and provide supervision to a small team of junior speech and language therapists, students and support staff/assistants. Excellent communication skills and flexibility are essential to the role.

This is a fixed term post due to the current post holder taking maternity leave.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will manage a small team of Speech and Language Therapist within a stroke rehabiliation ward and become an integral part of the MDT leadership team.

You must be able to use your skills to independently undertake specialist assessment, and design patient centred rehabilaition programes, for complex communication and swallowing needs for clients within a specialist neurological caseload.

You will be expected to work as an integral part of the stroke rehabilitation MDT to deliver specialist rehabliation programmes including navigating highly complex clinical situations that includes interventions for people with complex eating and drinking problems dealing with issues of mortality, morbidity and ethical dilemmas.

You will use your skills and knowledge to work independently, provide second opinions and support the developement of knowledge and skills of junior colleagues and students.

As part of the leadership role you will be expected to lead on qualitiy improvement initiatives and service development for the service, the trust and the stroke pathway. You will also be expected to deliver training programmes with a specialist content contributing to the development of junior Speech and Language Therapists, Students, AHPs, rehabilitation assistants, rehabilitation nurses and housekeepers.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Undertake differential diagnosis of complex cases within a specialist caseload.
• Assess, develop and implement highly specialised programmes of care and treatment to meet the needs of clients.
• Structure clear therapy plans based on best practice and adapted to individual client needs and priorities.
• Use highly developed analytical and judgemental skills to negotiate with speech & language therapy colleagues, other professionals and carers with reference to management of complex cases.
• Record and maintain up-to-date clinical case notes in line with professional standards and trust policies
• Write reports containing highly complex, confidential and sensitive information, which may be used in a legal context.
• Offer specialist clinical support and provide second opinions to other speech and language therapists within and outside of the department.
• Independently manage a caseload that includes people with complex eating and drinking problems, dealing with issues of mortality, morbidity and ethical dilemmas.
• Manage patients with tracheostomy and supervise less experienced speech and language therapists working in this area.
• Manage risks from bodily fluids and infections in the environment.
• Lead on audit in specialist clinical area.
• Participate or lead on research projects within the neuro-rehabilitation service.
• Undertake frequent reviews of evidence to underpin clinical practice.
• Use Trust information technology systems.
• Lead on inter-agency and multidisciplinary projects regarding service objectives.
• Lead on specific projects within the neuro-rehabilitation service.
• Advise on service delivery, clinical governance, policy development and audit, including proposing changes and developments.
• Identify need, plan, devise, deliver and evaluate training programmes with a specialist content contributing to the development of rehabilitation assistants, rehabilitation nurses and housekeepers.
• Act as clinical educator for speech and language therapy students.
• Offer additional highly specialist experience within the neuro-rehabilitation service and coordinate observation sessions for other professionals.
• Share highly specialist knowledge at local, regional and national level.
• Participate and lead in the appraisal system for speech and language therapy.
• Identify and engage in professional development activities at least to a level to meet Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Health and Care Professions Council requirements

Management and Leadership Responsibilities

• Develop and empower all members of your team to perform to high standards and innovate.
• Ensure supportive staff management arrangements are in place and carry out personal development reviews for direct reports. Ensure all staff in your team have annual PDRs resulting in specific objectives and effective personal development plans in line with the Knowledge and Skills Outline Framework.
• Develop staff knowledge and skills to promote equality and diversity and address inequalities both in employment and service delivery. Ensure specific equality objective are included in PDRs.
• Develop a culture that ensures that the standards of Improving Working Lives and Investors in People are achieved and maintained for all staff and that staff’s perception about their working lives is measured and improvements made.
• To undertake other duties commensurate with this grade of post in agreement with the relevant line manager.
• To minimise the Trust’s environmental impact wherever possible, including recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel. Where the role includes the ordering and use of supplies or equipment the post holder will consider the environmental impact of purchases.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.