Speech and Language Therapist Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Southport Hospital has a band 5 Speech and Language Therapy post which will offer a stimulating and challenging role in the assessment and management of inpatients with communication needs and/or dysphagia who are admitted to the general medical and surgical wards. The successful candidate will join a growing, supportive, and innovative team of Speech and Language Therapists with a diverse set of skills, who take pride in offering the very best care for our patients. The SLT team is comprised of a consultant SLT, Highly Specialised SLTs, Specialised SLTs, Newly Qualified SLTs, and SLT assistants.

As a band 5, the successful applicant will work under the close supervision of a designated clinical supervisor to develop a wide range of skills in the assessment and management of patients with communication needs and/or dysphagia, on the general medical and surgical wards. You will work as an essential and valued member of the Acute General Medical and Surgical Team, with close and regular informal and formal support from Specialised and Highly Specialised Speech and Language Therapists. While consolidating your training and gaining experience, you will have opportunities to develop skills in areas such as frailty/elderly care, emergency medicine, respiratory medicine, and neurological disorders. This role involves close collaborative working with MDT colleagues, and the wider SLT team. This post is a full-time, permanent position.

The post holder will be supervised in providing a comprehensive clinical service specifically to adults admitted to the general medical and surgical wards, who have communication and swallowing disorders. With support, the successful applicant will organise, plan and prioritise their own workload, and develop appropriate strategies for caseload management. There will also be the opportunity to develop skills in training and providing direct and indirect support to other professionals relating to communication and swallowing disorders, and the post holder will be encouraged to contribute to the development and implementation of care pathways, departmental policies, and protocols as appropriate.

At Southport Hospital we hold regular Videofluoroscopy clinics and are implementing the MBSImP protocol. We also have an established FEES service. Continuing Professional Development is essential and actively encouraged, and there are multiple opportunities to develop and acquire new skills in a nurturing and supportive environment, such as:

• Regular close clinical supervision
• Joint working with other SLTs
• Working towards NQP goals
• Training in dysphagia
• AHP preceptorship programme
• Regular in-service training
• Regular SLT team meetings
• Relevant external training
• Attendance at relevant CENs
• Exposure to FEES and VFS where appropriate

KEY DUTIES

• To undertake therapy assessment, clinically diagnose and implement treatment plans if appropriate in a manner that respects people’s privacy, dignity, and individuality.
• To liaise with members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and external agencies to ensure the effective management of patients care, communicating patient information in relation to their care as required.
• Manage a clinical caseload ensuring patients are seen in a timely manner.
• To ensure effective internal and external 2-way communication with patients, carers, and all other Health and Social Care Professionals regarding all aspects of patient care.
• To provide and receive complex information which requires empathy and reassurance. Communicating where there may be barriers to understanding and where skills such as motivational interviewing and counselling are required.
• Able to formulate and implement individualised care plans, reviewing progress and adapting as required.
• To be involved in the production and evaluation of resources produced by the department e.g. information and training packs, advice leaflets etc., providing specialist advice.
• To provide cover for leave and sickness to the clinical service as appropriate.
• To be a member of the multi-disciplinary team and actively participate in M.D.T. meetings.
• To contribute to the development of departmental/organisational procedures and guidelines.
• Ensure the safe use of appropriate medical devices required to carry out treatment in line with departmental procedures.
• To participate in shift patterns to support the delivery of 7-day service as required.
• To provide training sessions for other health care professionals and patient/carer groups.
• To work autonomously but recognise own limitations and when to escalate issues or refer to more senior therapist for advice and support.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To develop and maintain accessible patient information, equipment, and resources to complement Rehabilitation.
• To be responsible for the timely and accurate collection of such statistics/records as are required nationally and departmentally and to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• To develop knowledge and skills in specific therapy practice through a competency-based programme led by the team leader.
• To contribute to the Induction, development and training of therapy assistants, students, and other colleagues as appropriate and as advised by the clinical supervisor.
• To participate in service training, keeping up to date with relevant practice and maintaining CPD portfolio.
• To identify own personal development needs with supervisor through supervision and Personal Development Plans.
• To actively contribute to Trust/Departmental activities in relation to Clinical Governance and audit in service area as requested by clinical supervisor.