Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Community

Job overview

The Adult Community Speech & Language Therapy Team have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and experienced band 6 Therapist to join our friendly and supportive team in a permanent position, based in beautiful South Devon, with easy access to beautiful beaches and moors. The position is up to full-time (37.5 hours/wk) though part-time applications will be considered.

We are an innovative and motivated team within a supportive and collaborative environment that offers:

• An opportunity to work with a varied caseload, including Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, stroke and MND.
• Access to instrumental swallowing assessment  - in particular our well-developed Fees service.
• 1:1 regular management supervision.
• Access to clinical supervision 1:1 and in peer groups.
• Joint working and second opinions with our clinical specialists.
• Regular opportunities for CPD
• A car owner/driver and current driving licence is essential or full access to a car for work purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and 2005).

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible for triaging referrals to the Speech and Language Therapy Community Adult service alongside SLT colleagues
• To independently manage a caseload of community patients with highly complex speech, language, communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties with reference to theory, published research and evidence, and agreed best practice
• To prioritise and respond to referrals, allocating to less experienced colleagues and exercising professional judgement based on extended clinical experience
• Provide a service as appropriate to hospitals, nursing, residential homes and patients own homes, using own car to travel between relevant locations for clinic visits, meetings etc.
• To function as part of a multi-disciplinary team including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social services personnel, social care, and dietitians
• Weekend working and home working may be required in order to provide a service model that meets future requirements

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To independently manage a caseload of community patients with highly complex speech, language, communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties with reference to theory, published research and evidence, and agreed best practice
• To be responsible for triaging referrals to the Speech and Language Therapy Community Adult service alongside SLT colleagues
• To prioritise and respond to referrals, allocating to less experienced colleagues and exercising professional judgement based on extended clinical experience
• To provide appropriate and timely information to all relevant members of the healthcare team regarding patients’ speech and language therapy requirements and changes in progress
• To identify patient priorities and choices and plan intervention to accurately incorporate these wishes
• To explore the use of remote therapy and be able to flex into this form of therapy if service need dictates
• To submit regular data about activity levels as required
• To work in  close collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team through joint working and effective communication regarding treatment aims, progress and discharge planning (providing written reports and referrals as appropriate) Full vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.