Job summary
We have a
fantastic opportunity for a 1.0wte B6 Speech and Language Therapist to work
within primarily within our Head and Neck/ENT/Upper Airways service. You will
also have opportunity to work within our in-patient team. You will be part of
our well established, highly regarded,
comprehensive South
Tyneside and Sunderland Adult Speech and Language Therapy Team which also covers
a wide range of in patient acute medical, orthopaedic, critical care, stroke
and rehab wards as well as out-patient clinics and community services for
adults with voice, communication and swallowing disorders.
You will be
interested in developing your therapeutic skills working with a range of swallowing
and communication disorders in Upper Airways/ENT/Head and Neck as part of an
integrated MDT. This will include involvement
in instrumental assessment clinics and multi-disciplinary clinics as you
develop competencies.
We work together to provide the best service we
can whilst striving to develop staff who are our key asset to improve patient
outcomes. You will have excellent support and be encouraged to be innovative
and develop your leadership and research skills too .You will align to our
vision and values as we work together to improve patient care.
Main duties of the job
We provide Speech and Language Therapy for Adults across South Tyneside and Sunderland. We are part of a wider integrated Adults and Childrens SALT team which gives us additional opportunities to develop and grow our staff and service.
We would like you to join us if you want to:
- deliver high quality, evidence based therapy to people with voice/upper airway disorders and head and neck cancer across in and out patient settings
- demonstrate your clinical expertise experience in working with adults with a range of communication and swallowing difficulties and are keen to transfer these skills to working within ENT/Head and Neck
- use research outcomes, innovation and evidence based practice to improve patient care
- have excellent prioritisation, training, presentation, communication and team working skills
- work within a large, forward thinking department which is embedded in a successful Therapy Services Directorate
- have a proactive and flexible approach to team-working, problem solving and caseload management to ensure we take the service forward to support care across acute and community settings
- can meet the travel requirements of this post
- work in a supportive, friendly team who pull together to get through those challenging times
- work in a Trust that cares about you as well as the services we provide
- be part of a team that works hard but has some fun times too!
About us
Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,300 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist service (assessment, diagnosis and implementation of specialist SALT
treatment) to adults in the Adult Service who present with a range of speech, language, voice,
communication and swallowing disorders including those who have complex and/or severe
difficulties.
To supervise the work of more junior SALTs, SALT Assistants/Technical Instructors and students.
To participate in research in specialist area as required.
To work in close collaboration with other professionals to provide an integrated approach to each
clients specific difficulties.
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Membership of Health and Care Professions Council
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree
- qualification.
- Certificate to practice issued by Royal College of Speech and
- Language Therapists
- Fulfilment of RCSLT competency criteria Completion of
- external courses in specialist area.
- Basic Counselling Skills
- Successful completion of specialist post-graduate training e.g.
- RCSLT accredited Dysphagia Management Course or
- equivalent
- Evidence of CPD including attendance of a wide range of short
- courses in specialist clinical area e.g. Aphasia, Dysphagia,
- Motor Speech Disorders
- Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups
- Well-established knowledge of a range of specialist
- assessment tools relevant to a wide range of adult
- communication disorders
- Knowledge of current national policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of trends/best practice across the clinical
- specialisms
- In-depth knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions
- relevant to the client groups and an ability to compare and
- contrast relative benefits of each
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to
- client group
- Knowledge of standards of record-keeping
- Working knowledge of child protection and vulnerable adult
- policies
- Working knowledge of structure, policies and functioning of the
- NHS and Local Authority
Desirable
- Developing skills in
- instrumental
- swallowing
- assessment eg VF,
- FEES
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening
- and empathy skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with Health, Education and
- Social Services professionals, as well as
- parents/families/carers.
- Influencing and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrate excellent analytical, assessment, deduction and
- reflection skills
- Well-developed concentration skills
- Excellent presentation skills - written and oral
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills
- Prioritisation skills
- Innovative thinking skills
- Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume
- supervisory responsibilities of assistants and mentoring
- responsibilities of less experienced therapists
- Independent and autonomous working
- Highly-developed discrimination skills and ability to transcribe
- speech phonetically
Physical Skills
Essential
- To have due regard for own personal safety and that of
- clients/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and
- handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe
- positioning of self and others.
- Lifting and carrying equipment for assessment and treatment on
- a regular basis.
- To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of client
- management for prolonged periods, in particular, to monitor
- auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients
- communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived
- client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.
- To be flexible to the demands of the environment including
- unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent
- interruptions.
- To employ counselling skills with carers and clients (including
- clients with highly complex needs)
- To demonstrate the ability to manage clients with challenging
- behaviours, including the application of appropriate
- management strategies
- To be adaptable to the demands of a variety of working
- conditions and/or a wide range of clients
- To work within infection control and Health & Safety guidelines
- in order to deal with unpleasant conditions relating to client
- contact as they arise, for example exposure to body fluids,
- infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis
- To employ appropriate strategies to manage verbally aggressive
- behaviour within the workplace
- Competent computer skills
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the role
Experience
Essential
- Completed RCSLT Professional Competencies Framework.
- A period of post-qualification experience in communication,
- swallowing and voice disorders
- Good working knowledge of a wide range of developmental and
- acquired speech, language and communication difficulties and their
- treatments.
- Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience liaising with other health, education and social
- professionals.
- Experience of planning and delivery of training for other
- professionals and parents/carers.
- Experience of working alongside highly specialised therapists for
- highly complex cases
- Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups
- Evidence of CPD and attendance at a range of short courses e.g.
- Dementia, Sentence Processing, Social Models of Therapy,
- Videofluoroscopy, Ethical issues, Dyspraxia
Desirable
- Significant specialist experience post qualification across range of clinical
- areas
- Completion of Level 1 Counselling Skills or equivalent
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Kayll Road
Sunderland
SR4 7TP