Highly Specialist Speech Language Therapist

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced paediatric Speech Language Therapist with an interest in acute communication needs and dysphagia, including videofluoroscopy.

The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic, innovative, diverse and friendly team. We promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, everyone is welcomed. The Acute Speech and Language Therapy service supports patients across the age range, on the wards and in specialist tertiary outpatient clinics. Our aim is to assess and manage the dysphagia and communication needs of the patients we work with. This role requires knowledge and skills in paediatric dysphagia/ feeding, complex communication disorders and alternative and augmentative communication. When in post you will be supported to develop your knowledge and skills using competency frameworks e.g. infant feeding, videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy. You will be required to work with acute inpatients and in tertiary outpatient clinics across both hospital sites.

Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital Acute Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Services are now integrated. We are one service across two sites, with most services based at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Both hospitals sit within Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust.

We are currently advertising a number of Band 7 posts in our Acute Paediatric SLT team, both permanent and fixed term. Please complete an application for each individual post that you would like to apply for.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be part of a highly specialised paediatric service, with the majority of the caseload in dysphagia. We have outlined some main responsibilities below. These are further detailed in the job description and personal specifications.

• Maintain a good standard of clinical work related to paediatric dysphagia and communication.
• Provide assessment and treatment service for infants and children with complex communication, swallowing and feeding issues within the paediatric settings including a range of different children’s wards, paediatric intensive care, high dependence unit, wards, and outpatient clinics.
• Provide comprehensive evaluation of swallowing including participation in videofluoroscopy clinics.
• To actively participate in cross sight peer supervision and line management.
• To be flexible to the needs of the whole Speech and Language Therapy service and demonstrate ability to work in other clinical areas as directed by lead clinicians and/or relevant Trust leadership.
• To support both SLT students and students from across the wider MDT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see full job description document for more details

Clinical

To accept high level of clinical responsibility for a paediatric caseload with feeding, swallowing and communication needs across the age range (i.e., infants, children and young people).

To assess, differentially diagnose, interpret results, treat, manage and measure outcomes in children in the context of a variety of settings e.g. ward rounds and case meetings.

To provide high-level specialist knowledge in the selection, application and interpretation of formal and objective investigations and assessments.

To participate in videofluoroscopy swallow study clinics.

To independently use appropriate assessments relevant to managing the feeding/swallowing difficulties associated with complex ENT conditions including tracheostomy.

To independently use assessments relevant to the acquired communication disorders and communication difficulties associated with complex needs, including tracheostomy.

To identify the need for further assessment, opinion and ongoing care e.g. refer to other hospital disciplines, tertiary clinics, and community speech and language therapy services.

To provide high level specialist advice by devising and demonstrating therapy programmes.

To provide advice on Alternative and Augmentative (AAC) options (low and high tech).

To ensure that children and parents/ carers are able to express their views and opinions and are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their child’s care plans wherever possible.

To manage any conflict or distress arising from unwelcome news, discussing these within the clinical supervision systems or with the Clinical Specialist/ Team Lead.

To organise the caseload effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

To counsel and advise children, parents/ caregivers regarding the emotive and ethical impact of their child’s diagnosis and feeding, swallowing and communication difficulties e.g. palliative care, quality of life, poor long term outcomes.

To give specialist clinical advice both within the Trust and to external agencies e.g. community speech and language therapy services, school nurses, health visitors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, play specialists, clinical nurse specialists, psychologists.

To contribute to team working practices.

To provide second onions in specialist field to other speech and language therapists with regard to feeding and communication difficulties.

To develop and maintain links with non –statutory organisations and professional bodies relevant to the clinical specialties of the post. (E.g. Paediatric Dysphagia CEN, Communication Matters, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists).

To collaborate with other professionals and specialist centres.

To take due regard for cultural and linguistic differences in the delivery of care.

To write comprehensive discharge reports to be shared with families and professionals.

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.