Specialist Speech and Language Therapist: Acute, Surgery and Trauma

Job overview

Are you passionate about providing high-quality Speech and Language Therapy services to adults in a fast-paced hospital environment? At St Mary's Hospital, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, you'll work with a varied and complex caseload, collaborate with expert SLT colleagues and multidisciplinary teams, and benefit from excellent development opportunities.

We have an exciting opportunity to provide specialist assessment and management of patients with complex communication and/or swallowing disorders resulting from acquired neurological, medical and surgical conditions. The post holder will be expected to provide a service to all the acute wards, with a specific remit for the general surgical and Neurosurgical wards, and patients admitted via the North West London (NWL) major trauma pathway. The caseload includes patients with tracheostomy and disorders of consciousness. Clinical support to patients in critical care, and cross-site support to Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals, may also be required according to service need.

The post holder will support the provision of instrumental swallow assessment and will be expected to provide leadership to the acute team, support the development of junior staff, participate in the development of the SLT service, including audit and research, and deliver teaching to other professions as an integrated member of the MDT.

Main duties of the job

• To provide comprehensive and specialist assessment and diagnosis for patients with a range of complex presentations, by utilising advanced clinical reasoning, evidence-based knowledge, analytical skills and specialist assessment techniques.
• To work both independently and within a team structure, demonstrating leadership to manage own and team caseload. To efficiently manage a caseload and organise this effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• To formulate and deliver an individualised and specialist care plan / therapy management programme based on evidence-based practice, advanced clinical reasoning skills and a range of specialist treatment options. As a specialist clinician to provide a second opinion where required.
• To support the provision of instrumental assessments on site as clinically appropriate and as required by the service, triaging appropriate patients, under-taking joint assessments, analysis, reporting and feedback.
• To work in collaboration with the MDT to provide an integrated service for patients, participating in joint clinics, ward rounds, multi-disciplinary assessment/treatment, family/ carer support and education, attending regular meetings and case conferences as appropriate.
• To help lead and participate in quality improvement, clinical governance projects, audit and research as required by the Clinical Service Lead.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews, please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

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.