Job description

Job responsibilities

• Provide timely and efficient speech and language therapy to patients according to clinical protocols and service priorities underpinned by evidence-based practice to inform autonomous clinical decision making.
• Ensure patients receive a high standard of clinical care and that you meet the standards expected from Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
• Use investigative and analytical skills to undertake a comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of the patient.
• Reflect on complex facts gathered or situations presented and use analysis and judgment skills to consider options for interventions, and outcomes.
• Formulate individual management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills within speech and language therapy care.
• Implement speech and language therapy interventions / care packages in partnership with the service user, with the carer as necessary and in consultation with colleagues.
• Plan and organise to carry out assessment and interventions in the most appropriate setting.
• Monitor and evaluate the outcome of interventions in partnership with the service user if possible, with the carer if necessary and in consultation with colleagues.
• Collaborate with the MDT to improve patient pathways and attend MDT meetings.
• Respond to unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
• Provide advice, teaching and instruction for relatives, carers, and other health professionals to promote understanding of the aims of stroke rehabilitation speech and language therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• Provide specialist advice to therapy and dietetic colleagues working within other clinical areas across the Trust.
• Support the development of assistants and students.
• Use highly developed communication skills to establish good working relationships with colleagues, service users and carers.
• Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills and sensitivity with patients, relatives and carers to overcome barriers to communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, anxiety, tracheotomy, problems with cognition.
• Deal effectively with complex, sensitive or contentious communications with support of a senior therapist.
• To work with adults with Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) needs at a basic level, with guidance from AAC Specialist colleagues.
• To work with adult patients with dysphagia, at a basic level, with appropriate support and guidance from dysphagia trained colleagues.
• To maintain up-to-date patient records in line with departmental standards.
• To provide courtroom ready written reports / advice for relevent agencies as appropriate.
• To flexibly deliver Speech and Language interventions in:
• Acute settings
• Outpatient / community settings
• Across hospital, clinic and local authority settings.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised degree in speech and language therapy
• State registrations with the Health Care Professions Council.
• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Desirable

• Post graduate courses relevant to speech and language therapy.
• Post graduate training in dysphagia or communication
• Member of relevant Professional Clinical Excellence Network.
• Further specialist training in dysphagia or communication.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant and recent undergraduate experience of acquired speech and language and communication disorders, working in a variety of clinical areas and settings.
• Undergraduate experience of multidisciplinary team working and working collaboratively with other professions and agencies
• Experience of working with clients with communication difficulties.

Desirable

• Recent post graduate experience with patients following a stroke.
• Experience of assessing and treating clients with dysphagia independently
• Experience in use of IT applications
• Experience of audit and research
• Experience of service development
• Experience of working with Interpreters.
• Experience of working shifts / weekends

Other

Essential

• Access to a car

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of standardised and non-standardised assessments and treatments relevant to adult speech and language therapy.
• Knowledge of dysphagia at under-graduate level.
• Knowledge of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working
• Knowledge of clinical standards and ability to implement and audit these in the team
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
• Knowledge to promote and support equality and value diversity
• Knowledge of the NHS constitution

Desirable

• Knowledge of relevant national and local legislation relevant to speech and language therapy
• Knowledge of student education and development of self as an educator
• Knowledge of dysphagia at post-graduate level.

Skills

Essential

• Speech and language therapy assessment and treatment skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Clinical reasoning skills
• Excellent communication and counselling skills including observation, listening and empathy
• Skills to empower people to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and well being
• Ability to work well within a team including therapy assistants and assistant practitioners.
• Planning and organisational skills
• Negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Presentation skills, both written and verbal, and ability to adjust style and content as appropriate
• Analytical and reflective skills
• Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment, including emotional or aggressive patients and carers.
• Ability to concentrate and work intensely in a busy environment
• Ability to develop own skills and knowledge to maintain quality of work
• Support senior staff with the organisation of services and projects

Desirable

• Audit and critical appraisal skills
• Ability to facilitate skills in others
• Ability to deliver training.
• Knowledge of SystmOne or similar electronic patient record system

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

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ilkley Coronation Hospital

Springs Lane

Ilkley

LS29 8TH

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