Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

Why not consider a specialist SLT role in Sheffield – the wonderful Outdoor City?

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our highly specialist Community Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team.

You will work collaboratively within a supportive, established interdisciplinary team including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Clinical Psychologists, Therapy Assistants and Case Managers, delivering person-centred rehabilitation focused on maximising independence, participation and quality of life.

You will be experienced in assessment and management of communication needs and dysphagia in adults with acquired brain injury. This role requires strong clinical reasoning and a passion for neurorehabilitation.

You will join a knowledgeable and supportive team with a strong culture of supervision, shared learning, and clinical excellence.

Our service offers:

• Highly specialist neurorehabilitation environment • Regular supervision and in-service training • Opportunities for service development and quality improvement • Protected CPD time and AHP funding • Flexible working and commitment to staff wellbeing

Main duties of the job

To manage a caseload of community based clients with complex needs, resulting from congenital or acquired – progressive or traumatic neurological disorders using highly specialist skills and evidence based /client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To provide leadership for inexperienced junior staff, through supervision and appraisal.

To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of services within a designated area/team, holding responsibility for defined projects.

To contribute to the maintenance and development of the discipline specific for SHSC and to provide highly specialist advice for the specialist client group both within LTNC and across Sheffield.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

General Requirements

To contribute towards and promote the coordination of relevant statutory and non-statutory health and social care services in order to optimise patient benefits and adhere to local and national guidelines and legislation

To work as an autonomous practitioner and as a lone worker in the community.

To exercise a high degree of professional autonomy and make critical judgements to satisfy the expectations and demands of the role and to practice within agreed protocols to support the client group to provide a single accessible service.

To undertake any other duties, which may be allocated by the  Team Manager within the general scope of the post, and appropriate to the grade, after negotiation, adequate training and appropriate supervision (e.g. lead projects to review and improve service delivery, attendance at Directorate meetings)

Principal Duties

Clinical

• To accept clinical responsibility for clients with varied challenges requiring advanced clinical reasoning and specialist therapeutic intervention and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To independently manage and accept clinical responsibility for a designated specialist caseload of adult clients with complex presentation, prioritising need and acting as a lead within the team as required. To demonstrate an advanced level of clinical expertise in approach to Assessment, Treatment planning, Intervention and Clinical reasoning To undertake comprehensive and highly specialist assessments of clients using investigative and analytical skills in order to make a differential diagnosis and to formulate individualised treatment plans To contribute to the decision making about the treatment, planning and long term management of individual clients as an integral member of the team as well as highlighting ongoing risk and recommendations for future care. To plan, organise and deliver group therapeutic activities where appropriate, co-ordinated with other members of the team, taking into account clients physical cognitive and psychological capabilities.
• To monitor, modify and evaluate treatment in order to measure outcomes and ensure effectiveness of intervention To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date clinical and non-clinical documentation e.g. written and electronic records and activity data in line professional, service and Trust standards To provide highly specialist reports and ‘care plans’ to the client, relatives, statutory and non-statutory services which reflect detailed specialist knowledge and accurate communication of complex condition-related information in multi-agency settings relevant to the practice area. To complete risk assessments and plans in order to identify and manage risk and respond appropriately, such that the risk is reduced e.g. suicide, criminal proceedings and substance misuse issues. To undertake appropriate therapeutic handling and moving within clinical and non-clinical settings. This may involve bending, kneeling or frequent repetitive activities often in confined and restrictive spaces. To work with clients, carers and relatives who may have distressing social/clinical circumstances, often imparting complex or difficult information. To provide therapy services in working conditions which may be hazardous e.g. exposure to body fluids, aggressive persons, visits to high risk areas and associated travel risks. To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of work in all community settings and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of the work area, including prompt recording and reporting of incidents and accidents to senior staff, completing risk assessments and ensuring that equipment use is safe.

To be responsible for equipment used in clinical duties and to adhere to departmental policy, including competent use of equipment, safe use of equipment and teaching, training or supervision of practice with clients, carers or other services

• To assess capacity gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To demonstrate skills in receiving and communicating complex, sensitive or contentious information to clients and carers, who may have barriers to understanding in order to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of conditions. To provide spontaneous and planned advice, education and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals and external agencies to promote understanding of the aims of the rehabilitation package to ensure a consistent approach to client care and treatment e.g. moving and handling and management of risks. To deal with initial verbal complaints sensitively avoiding escalation where possible. For clients under the care of SCBIRT to undertake the highly specialised Key Worker role for identified clients. To take responsibility for monitoring and progressing the formulation and rehabilitation programme through chairing and coordinating regular interdisciplinary case discussions and client reviews. To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills necessary in the management of clients with speech and language difficulties. To provide highly specialist assessment and management of clients in the community with eating and drinking difficulties, working at level 5 or higher in the Sheffield Dysphagia Competency Scale. To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of communication /swallowing disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the client’s social and physical environment where applicable.

Leadership

To be responsible for the overall planning, co-ordination and allocation of work for your discipline and taking responsibility for this for the team as required. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the clients under your management and support more junior staff to do likewise.

To provide effective leadership, performance management, supervision guidance and appraisal for junior staff.

To delegate clinical duties to therapists and or assistants ensuring that they have appropriate knowledge, understanding and are competent to work autonomously within the community.

Service Development

To lead and manage designated projects in relation to operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within LTNC services.

To undertake research and audit projects relevant to LTNC services. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date data and statistics for the use of the department

To comply with the requirements of SHSC in relation to policy, governance and legislation and to review and update policy and procedure as appropriate

To ensure client confidentiality when dealing with complex cases, multiple agencies and the community setting.

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of work including confidentiality, note writing and in line with professional codes of conduct.

To promote awareness of the role of your profession within the team, trust, locally and nationally.

To train, supervise and assess students from Higher Education institutions and work collaboratively towards standards of clinical and professional tutoring.

To comply with the requirements of HCPC and relevant professional body – RCSLT.

To participate in and lead as appropriate the staff appraisal scheme, Personal Development Plan (PDP), induction, provide clinical and professional supervision to junior staff and provide ongoing training programmes for staff.

To comply with requirements for Clinical supervision and professionally reflect on ethical issues through evidence collected in relevant professional portfolio.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

To contribute to Profession specific leadership groups as appropriate