Clinical Lead -Speech & Language Therapist – Adult Learning Disability

Job overview

Are you a Speech and Language Therapist with experience of working in Learning Disability services? Are you able to provide specialist communication and dysphagia services to adults with learning disabilities? We need you! We are looking for a Band 7 Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist within our Shropshire Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT).

You will provide Speech and Language Therapy clinical leadership within the Shropshire CLDT. You will have significant opportunity to contribute to service development and clinical pathway design within this service. We value compassionate person-centred care, innovation, professional growth and offer excellent opportunities for Continuing Professional Development.

You will become part of a friendly and supportive MDT with strong Allied Health Professional (AHP) links connecting you to our valued AHP network of colleagues across the Trust, and you will be well supported by our leadership team through regular supervision and yearly appraisal. We operate blended / hybrid working between base and home, therefore every member of staff receives a laptop, work mobile phone and additional equipment to work from home (chair, large screen, laptop riser for example).

Main duties of the job

To provide clinical leadership and highly specialist speech and language therapy (SLT) services to adults with complex learning disabilities, some of whom have physical disabilities and/or autism.

To provide high quality clinical diagnoses, assessment and interventions for communication and swallowing difficulties using a holistic, person-centred approach.

To be an autonomous practitioner, holding a small mixed clinical caseload of those with dysphagia and communication needs, working without direct supervision within the context of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) supporting various clinical pathways.

To be responsible for the clinical leadership, development, training and supervision of SLT staff and students within the Shropshire CLDT.

To assist and deputise for the Allied Health Professional Lead in relation to Speech and Language Therapy clinical and professional issues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Be professionally accountable for all aspects of own work, including caseload management and direct clinical care. To work within the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and Health and Care Professionals Council’s (HCPC) standards.
• Obtain and record informed consent from clients at each contact in accordance with Trust policy.
• Carry out comprehensive specialist Speech and language therapy assessments for clients with complex learning and physical health needs. Interpret clinical information and data related to clinical parameters along with non-clinical information and use clinical reasoning skills to accurately diagnose and develop specific treatment plans.
• Provide specialist advice to other professionals or single assessments to meet clients’ holistic care needs across various pathways e.g. dysphagia, communication, positive behaviour support, memory service.
• Formulate and deliver individual treatment plans based on specialist knowledge, evidence-based practise, national and local guidelines using profession-specific clinical skills and techniques. (E.g. 1:1 interventions, carer education, patient education).
• Maintain and share up-to-date knowledge of Speech and language therapy assessment and intervention evidence-base developments for this client group.
• Maintain and share up to date knowledge of instrumental assessment available and to be able to signpost to services who assess and provide this and/or assist in accessing and delivery of these services supporting individuals with learning disability.
• Contribute to the multi-disciplinary clinical referrals, assessment and discharge planning process and onward referral as required.
• Prioritise urgent or unexpected or planned referrals, adjusting caseloads and allocations to meet revised needs.
• Undertake other duties when requested by professional or operational managers.
• Maintain a professional portfolio to demonstrate competency to practice and which meets the requirements of professional registration.
• Demonstrate the ability to facilitate team working across organisational boundaries and with healthcare professionals outside of the Trust.

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.