Job summary
This role is for a suitably qualified Speech and Language Therapist to work as part of AAC WEST's experienced multidisciplinary team to provide specialist communication aid assessment services to adults and children within the South West region.
The post is for 33.75 hours per week (0.9 WTE) for a fixed term of 1 year - part time or term time only variations for this post would be considered.
Main duties of the job
As a qualified Speech and Language Therapist within AAC WEST you willhold a mixed caseload of adult and paediatric cases that you will be responsible for assessing and supporting in the implemention of AAC alongside your MDT colleagues. This will involve the following clinical pathway:
Initial Assessment: You will plan for initial assessments assigned to you ensuring all aspects of the patient's clinical presentation are considered. Assessment must be well planned and show no bias towards any suppliers
Equipment Provision session: Competently run appointments to hand over the prescribed equipment to the patient and their local support network. Such sessions will involve setting goals for the loan period and training the patient and their team on the use of the AAC device.Review sessions: Competently run review sessions to ascertain the effectiveness of the AAC device during the loan period. This will involve observing the patient using the loaned device and drawing appropriate conclusions, reviewing the goals and discussing functional use of the device during the loan period with the patient and their team.
Additional key duties will include:- Ongoing CPD to stay up to date with AAC technology- Delivering training sessions for AAC users and their support teams in the south west region- Supervising therapy assistants within the team- To work closely with AAC suppliers- To attend departmental and, if appropriate, national AAC meetings
About us
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To plan and complete thorough assessments of patients AAC needs in conjunction with other members of the multi professional team. Assessment involves
- Identifying patients strengths needs
- Assessing functional communication skills and communicative competence
- Assessing patients competence to use technology
- Assessment of support environment and how this will impact on patients ability to make long term use of communication equipment.
- Identifying appropriate hardware and software to meet patients communication needs.
- Identifying appropriate low tech systems to be developed as required.
- Setting appropriate communication goals for trial of equipment
- Prescription of appropriate communication aids for long term use.
- To manage own clinical caseload to the standards and guidelines set by HCPC and CQC Live.
- To provide specialist assessment, clinical advice and care plans to patients with communication difficulties
- To provide support for people using augmentative and alternative methods of communication, and advice and training to carers and professionals.
- To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence-based practice, clear therapy plans and outcome measures.
- To negotiate with carers/patients/others around individual case management, ensuring patient involvement.
- To recognise potential breakdown/conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve.
- Where appropriate, to refer patients on to other services and agencies, and to liaise with members of voluntary organisations concerned with the patient group.
- To produce complex clinical written reports that present specialist clinical information, which is accessible for carers and/or patients and other professional colleagues, following each assessment
- To attend and actively participate in all departmental team meetings as requested by manager and / or clinical lead.
- To inform other professionals about suitable resources that they may wish to purchase to suit the needs of their client groups.
- To provide remote assistance and advice to other professionals within the region and beyond, by answering telephone, written, e mail and website queries as they arise. Also to remotely access communication aids on loan to troubleshoot software problems if required to do so.
- To contribute to the support of less experienced SLTs, as appropriate
- To participate in the active process of CPD
- To comply with resource management processes
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised RCSLT degree level qualification
- Health Professions Council (HPC) Licence to Practice
Desirable
- Postgraduate Training in AAC
Experience
Essential
- At least 2 years post qualification experience of working with a relevant client group
- Expereince of working in the field of AAC of AT
- Experience of planning and delivering clinical training to professionals both within and outside own organisation
Desirable
- Experience of supervising less experience members of the team
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team
- Sound computer skills and ability to use various AAC computer packages
- Excellent written skills in order to write the complex clinical reports that form the feedback provided to the multi disciplinary team as part of the assessment process for AAC
- Ability to independently adapt practice to meet individual circumstances
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, in order to manage challenging communication difficulties and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team
- Good presentation skills and ability to organise specific training events, ensuring that training is targeted appropriately
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Able to meet the travel requirements of the post
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
North Bristol NHS Trust
Address
AAC WEST
Jupiter Road
Bristol
BS34 5BW