Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

We are looking for a driven, dynamic and enthusiastic individual who has a passion, and clinical interest, in the specialty of chronic respiratory disease. The successful postholder will work within a small team of highly skilled speech and language therapists, working closely with other allied health professionals to provide highly specialist care to patients.

This is an exciting opportunity to extend skills with tertiary level patients including complex dysphagia and upper airway disorders across the varied field of respiratory medicine, including complex asthma, COPD (including lung volume reduction), neuromuscular disease and ILD. We offer opportunities to participate in regular objective instrumental swallow assessments (FEES and VFS)  – please contact us for more information if you think this could be the role for you.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an integrated member of the multi-professional therapy team, providing therapy to patients with chronic and severe respiratory conditions at Royal Brompton Hospital. They will receive operational and professional management from the Clinical Specialist and Adult Clinical Lead SLTs.

They will lead the assessment, treatment and management of swallowing, voice, and upper airway disorders thrpughout the patient pathway in both outpatient and inpatient settings including in-reach to critical care. significant experience, in-depth knowledge and skills in advanced respiratory disease is essential, including non-invasive (NIV) and invasive ventilation (IV) via a tracheostomy for respiratory muscle weakness.

Completion of competency-based learning and substantial experience with instrumental dysphagia assessments is required (Level 2b FEES practitioner (or equivalent)), and significant experience in video fluoroscopy. Familiarity with using MBSImP in practice is desirable. Experience with inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO) management and laryngoscopy with provocation is also desired.

The post holder will be part of the wider SLT team and be responsible for line management and clinical supervision of the band 5 and 6 Speech Language Therapists in the respiratory SLT service.

They may on occasions be asked to support other services and sites, including Harefield and Guys Hospitals as required by service needs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main tasks and responsibilities

Communication

• To provide highly specialist advice and input for patients with communication and swallowing needs at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals
• To liaise with SLTs, AHPs, medical and nursing teams, and other members of the MDT regarding prioritisation, case management and risk management of patients with communication and swallowing disorders.
• To demonstrate interpersonal skills that grow and maintain positive working relationships with all healthcare professionals involved in patient care.
• To communicate sensitive and complex information and sometimes unwelcome news tactfully and diplomatically to patients, parents and carers, acknowledging this may trigger a range of emotions, and to provide ongoing counselling and support.
• To promote and contribute to multi-professional team building and collaborative practices, e.g. knowledge and skills sharing, joint working.
• To ensure close liaison with SLT colleagues in other trusts including  community teams to ensure adequate handover of individual cases working towards a seamless service.
• To promote the department, the Trust and the profession by participating in joint initiatives with other members of the team as required by the operational and professional leadership team.
• To write comprehensive, clear reports to inform medical, education and social services with regard to current and future needs of the patient.
• To recognise communication breakdown/conflict when it occurs and generate potential solutions.
• To network with other SLTs locally, nationally and internationally.
• To produce information for patients which is accessible and user friendly and in accordance with Trust policy.
• To demonstrate empathy with patients and their carers, particularly in situations where they may be highly stressed or grieving and where barriers to understanding may exist (e.g. linguistic and cultural differences).
• To contribute positively and constructively to staff meetings and in-service trainings.

Please see the job description document for full role responsibilities.