Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to come and join our Critical Care Speech and Language Therapy team working across General Critical Care and Cardio-thoracic Critical Care. We are a newly established dedicated and well respected service who provide input to patients with a tracheostomy, dysphagia and communication needs. We have regular access to both FEES and VF and work closely with our critical care MDT colleagues but are also part of a wider SLT team who regularly meet for CPD and supervision.
We work with patients with a range of conditions including those with spinal injuries, major trauma, neurology and neurosurgery and respiratory.
Main duties of the job
Provide a specialist, high standard Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service to patients admitted to General Critical Care (GCC) and Cardio-Thoracic Critical Care (CTCC) within Coventry and Warwickshire, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. This includes patients admitted under major trauma, spinal injuries, respiratory, neurology and surgical.
The post holder will advise patients regarding care & treatment, within a defined patient group. They will liaise with the Lead in Critical Care to ensure an integrated & successful therapy service is provided for these service areas.
To provide SLT student placements and provide supervision for students and others e.g. assistants as appropriate.
To provide clinical expertise and participate in videofluoroscopy and FEES with appropriate training and support where necessary.
About us
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.
We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.
Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.
We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)
By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.
The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Maintain a clean safe environment ensuring adherence to Trust standards of cleanliness hygiene & infection control at all times.
Be professionally & legally responsible & accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in own care. Ensure a high standard of clinical care for patients under own management & support more junior staff to do likewise.
Carry out a range of formal and informal assessments to form an accurate diagnosis & prognosis with patients admitted to Critical Care.
Develop and carry out robust treatment and management plans individually or in a group setting, evaluating the outcomes as appropriate.
Follow appropriate discharge criteria, discussing and agreeing this with the patient and carers as appropriate. Liaise with the acute/stroke/Head and neck cancer SLT team when patients leave Critical Care and refer onwards as appropriate.
Offer advice and support to patients, carers and significant others about individual clients and demonstrate practical procedures where appropriate.
Supervise, mentor & performance manage SLT students including the use of formal appraisal documentation.
Act as a resource for staff to provide specialist advice to SLT colleagues working within other clinical areas & other health professionals within the Trust & externally as required.
Provide specialist advice, teaching & training to other members of the MDT regarding the SLT management of patients admitted to Critical care.
To work as an integral part of the Critical Care multi-disciplinary team.
Specialist Clinical Duties
To work with Critical Care patients with dysphagia and communication difficulties as an independent practitioner including the use and assessment of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
To work with patients who may have an altered airway i.e. be intubated or have a tracheostomy or laryngectomy, some of which on Critical care may be on a ventilator (training can be provided for this). This will include cuff deflation, assessment of Passy Muir valve use and work as part of the MDT to create weaning plans.
To develop a high level of clinical knowledge in the specialist field of critical care providing advice, second opinions and joint management with colleagues in the Trust. The postholder will be willing to develop a specialist knowledge of dysphagia rehabilitation with this client group.
To develop a high level of knowledge in the field of voice disorders and structural dysphagia providing advice and second opinions to colleagues within the trust; this may be as a result of intubation or critical care stay.
To implement training related to specialist area to colleagues in the department/hospital/other Trusts.
To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of national policies, documents and trends related to this client group.
To review literature and disseminate relevant information.
To collaborate in research projects relevant to this client group as and when required.
For further details of the job role please see attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualification /Training
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
Desirable
Skills & Abilities
Essential
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Address
UHCW NHS Trust
Clifford Bridge Road
Coventry
CV2 2DX