Specialist Speech and Language Therapist: Neurosurgery

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced Speech & Language Therapist who exemplifies our Trust values to help launch an awake craniotomy service within our Adult Acute Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Department. This post will work with the neurosurgeons and the integrated multi-disciplinary team to design and develop a high quality, evidence-based service to provide pre, intra and post-operative assessment and care.

The postholder will be the team lead for neurosurgery, with a specific remit for patients presenting with communication and swallowing needs within our neurosurgery ward. Alongside this, they will work flexibly within the Adult Acute Team to provide assessment, diagnosis and management to the patients across the wide range of Charing Cross Hospital specialisms. These include acute and specialist medicine, cancer, surgery, neurology, private patients and critical care.

As a senior SLT, they will also play a key role in participating in the development of the SLT service, including audit and research, and delivering teaching programmes to other professions.  They will contribute to the development of junior staff, including clinical supervision and appraisal, and join the Acute leadership team.

Main duties of the job

• To provide comprehensive and specialist therapy assessment and diagnosis for patients with a range of highly complex presentations, by utilising advanced clinical reasoning, evidence-based knowledge, investigate and 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 advanced knowledge of evidence-based practice, advanced clinical reasoning skills and a wide 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, including identifying appropriate patients, under-taking joint assessments, analysis, reporting and feedback.
• To work in collaboration with other members of 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.

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.