Speech & Language Therapist

Job overview

Do you have an interest in acute care?

Do you want to join a supportive service committed to staff development?

Due to internal development we are recruiting to a 12 month fixed term contract post to cover a secondment.

Applications will be welcomed from newly-qualified therapists and experienced therapists with an interest in developing specialist skills in acute care.

You will be based full-time in the Adult SLT Service within the University Hospitals of Leicester Trust, providing input to the acute inpatient services at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital as needed. For part of your week, you will be working as part of a growing Acute Medical Wards service led by an Operational Lead, alongside Band 6 and Band 5 colleagues. For the remainder of your week, you will also be involved in the established Band 5 rotation which may include sessions on the Neurorehabilitation Unit, Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, Acute Stroke Unit, Neurology Assessment Unit and/or Intensive Care Units.

In acute care every day is different. You will be supporting individuals with a range of conditions including dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, respiratory conditions, cancer and infectious diseases.

You will have the opportunity to work closely with specialist Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in stroke, neurology, intensive care, respiratory and head and neck cancer. You will also be in regular contact with our Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in Leicestershire Partnership Trust, who provide input to individuals within the community in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Our service offers inpatient and community outpatient videofluoroscopy and inpatient FEES assessments to aid diagnosis and management.

We believe in supporting our team to achieve their goals and are committed to offering:

• Regular 1:1 and peer supervision
• Protected time to complete the UHL Preceptorship Programme
• Annual appraisal
• Opportunities for joint working
• Continuing professional development, both through in-house training and external courses
• Regular protected time to work towards individual objectives Opportunities to spend time in other parts of the service with specialist colleagues

A large part of this role involves supporting individuals with dysphagia. You will be supported to progress through dysphagia competencies during your induction period

Main duties of the job

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To assess the client’s needs (communication and or swallowing) and develop, implement, monitor and review programme of care
• To provide advice/information to others regarding the management of adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
• To advise on the promotion of positive communication environments to meet the needs of clients.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures.
• To produce reports regarding client’s needs and summarising proposed care plans and recommendations.
• To adapt practice to meet the individual client’s circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
• To refer on to other services as appropriate.
• To seek a second opinion where appropriate.
• To ensure that clients are involved in the planning of programmes of care whenever possible.
• To contribute to multidisciplinary, multi-agency and uni-disciplinary teams as appropriate.
• To communicate complex condition related information from assessment/therapy plan to clients, carers, families and members of MDT.
• To work closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the needs of the client.
• To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
• To use appropriate listening and basic counselling skills with clients and carers.
• To develop skills in motivating clients and/or carers to engage in the therapy process.
• To develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
• To deal with initial enquiries/complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• To form positive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
• To employ effective and appropriate communication skills.

Full job description and person specification is available in the attached documents.

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.