Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated speech and language therapist to join our Community SLT (Speech and Language Therapy) service within the Ealing borough of London, as a Band 7.

We are looking for an enthusiastic SLT with proven experience of working with adults with neurological conditions and within the community. You will join our dynamic & friendly team working with a Band 8a SLT, other B7 SLT's, B6 & B5 SLT's and SLT Assistant's to assess, manage and treat patients in the borough of Ealing who have either swallowing or communication difficulties.

This post offers you the opportunity to develop your leadership and supervision skills. You must have experience in assessment and management of swallowing and communication disorders in adults with acquired neurological conditions including Stroke, Head Injury; progressive neurological conditions; frailty; dementia & general medical conditions. This must include highly specialist skills in dysphagia management with relevant post graduate qualifications. The Speech and Language Therapy team are part of a larger MDT (ENable Team) specialist neurological team including OT, PT, Rehab Assistants, Nursing and Specialist MS/PD Nurses. There are great opportunities for joint working, joint goal setting and regular in-service training.

Main duties of the job

This post is within the Ealing Community Adult SLT Team, where the Community SLT team are based across two work bases including Ealing Day Treatment Centre (EDTC SLT clinic site) and Clayponds Hospital (O/P SLT clinic site). The Ealing Adult SLT offer a service encompassing Clayponds Rehabilitation Hospital, Enable Long Term Conditions Team, Community Stroke Team, Nursing Home Service and Outpatient SLT. There is close working with SLT colleagues across all our teams and with members of the wider MDT (including a GP led Care home service MDT for EDwAR patient discussion) and partnership organisations, ensuring the seamless transfer of care for our patients and adherence to excellent care pathways. The post-holder will be well supported & clinically supervised and supported by the 8a Community Adult SLT Team Leader. Peer supervision will take place with the other Community Band 7 SLT lead. Whether you are a B7 therapist wishing to consolidate or broaden your skills base or, a B6 therapist looking for their first B7 post you will be nurtured, facilitated and empowered to achieve your full potential in this role. The successful candidate will have knowledge, skills and experience working with both dysphagia and communication patients, in an outpatients/community clinical setting. The Ealing Adult SLT Team form part of the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust portfolio of services and we work closely with our colleagues within West London NHS Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To demonstrate specialist knowledge within this clinical specialism, underpinned by current evidence based practice.
• To manage a complex and specialist caseload independently demonstrating evidence of sound clinical judgment and outcome measures.
• To reflect on practice with peers and identify strengths and needs.
• To provide specialist second opinions and advice to more junior colleagues and other professionals in the field.
• To write appropriate reports and case notes, reflecting specialist knowledge.
• To communicate verbally and in writing with client/carer, assessment findings, diagnosis and therapy intervention plan reflecting specialist knowledge. This will include breaking bad news in a sensitive manner e.g. explaining to a stroke patient why they may not ever be able to eat or drink again.
• To negotiate with clients/other professionals around case management and to recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and resolve.
• To employ negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• To employ excellent communication and advocacy skills to enable clients/carers to access statutory agencies and exercise statutory rights e.g. enabling patient and solicitor to understand each other.
• To attend and contribute to relevant Speech and Language Therapy Team meetings and lead in small team projects.
• To take a proactive role in team-building within multidisciplinary teams.
• To supervise and plan time-table and work for assistants and volunteers.
• To take responsibility for day-to-day operational management of staff groups.
• To take the lead on inter-agency team-working.
• To represent the SLT department in meetings with other agencies e.g. Stroke services, as requested.
• To contribute to the induction and support system for new staff.
• To mentor, supervise and provide leadership to junior Speech and Language Therapists.
• To provide full student Speech and Language Therapy placement.
• To advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
• To discuss with line manager options for caseload management.
• To monitor stock levels in specialist service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
• To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to clients.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
• To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines.
• To work independently within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
• To monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of client’s communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness. This may require intense periods of concentration.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

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.