Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Inpatients- older adults complex dementia and mental health, Highbury Hospital, Bulwell, Nottingham and Blossomwood Hospital, Mansfield

We are excited to offer the opportunity for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the older adult inpatient SLT team across specialist dementia and mental health wards. This is a unique opportunity for an SLT who is looking to develop their specialist skills supporting the communication and eating, drinking and swallowing needs of people with complex dementia and eating, drinking and swallowing needs in older adults with mental health conditions. You will be supervised by a Clinicial Specialist SLT and have many opportunities for peer support. You will be joining a forward-thinking and supportive team who work closely with colleagues from a range of disciplines.

You will be joining the team during a period of innovation and growth; whilst we develop the speech, language and communication and dysphagia pathways within ward based and community services.  You will enjoy close links with our wider team and our SLT colleagues within the East Midlands, and benefit from excellent levels of support, supervision, and CPD opportunities.

Main duties of the job

The role requires clinical and professional expertise in order that older adults with mental health conditions and Dementia benefit from a well co-ordinated pro-active, specialist, efficient and effective inpatient Speech and Language Therapy team.

You will be contributing to multi-disciplinary assessments as well as carrying out individual Speech and Language Therapy assessments and interventions, providing a service for individuals, the clinical team and their families. You will be responsible for managing communication and eating,drinking and swallowing needs and working with the team to support these needs. You will support in highlightling communication and eating, drinking and swallowing risks and reasonable adjustments  and contribute to risk management plans as well as providing training and learning to the team.  You will work directly with service users, the MDT and carers to plan a safe discharge from hospital and support individuals to live well in the community.

You will be involved in making the patients’ care and support accessible, to support their engagement in their care, treatment and therapeutic interventions.

You must hold a relevant degree in Speech and Language Therapy and be registered with HCPC and RCSLT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To autonomously undertake specialist speech, language, and communication assessments to identify what reasonable adjustments (Accessible Information Standards) should be in place to support the individual’s communication needs and risks.

To deliver bespoke therapeutic communication and swallowing        interventions working in collaboration with service users, the MDT and carers

To autonomously undertake dysphagia assessments and formulate dysphagia management plans to reduce risk, improve quality of life, and mitigate adverse physical health consequences.

Provide support to junior members of the team/SLT students implement SLT management plans/project work and help deliver supervision opportunities.

• Attendance at ward based MDT meetings to plan for ongoing and accessible care.
• Support with developing and delivering SLT training to the workforce and providing bespoke training around an individual’s communication and/or swallowing needs.
• To be an ambassador for the SLT team, demonstrating the value of inclusive communication environments and reasonable adjustments.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for a detailed overview of the roles and responsibilities of this post.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.