Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist - Frailty & Elderly Care in Haverfordwest

We are looking for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to manage and deliver Speech and Language Therapy services within the acute hospital setting, while also providing Health Board wide specialist leadership for frailty and elderly care pathways. The role includes contributing to county wide and wider Health Board service development.

The successful post-holder will work as part of the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service and will have regular access to senior colleagues. We are a friendly and dynamic team who offer Continuing Professional Development, clinical and managerial supervision, and encourage staff to actively engage with service development and improvement. There is a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary team working throughout the Health Board and the Speech and Language Therapy Department has close support networks with other hospital teams and Community based services.

Applicants must have current HPC and RCSLT registration and be able to show evidence of CPD.

The successful applicant will provide highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention for adults with complex communication and/or dysphagia needs, primarily within acute frailty and elderly care services.

• Deliver clinical and professional leadership across a three-county remit, supporting consistent, high-quality Speech and Language Therapy practice within frailty and elderly care pathways.
• Lead the operational delivery and ongoing development of Speech and Language Therapy services within the acute setting, working with service leads to manage priorities, pressures and change.
• Act as a source of expert clinical advice across hospital sites, supporting multidisciplinary teams in managing complex communication and swallowing needs.
• Lead the development, implementation and review of clinical pathways, protocols and standards, ensuring alignment with evidence-based practice, clinical governance and national guidance.
• Support clinical governance activities, including audit, service evaluation and risk management.
• Lead and contribute to training, education and workforce development across the three counties, including staff supervision, student education and delivery of specialist training.

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties. We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services. We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Completion of training/specialist courses relevant to area of clinical expertise, up to Master's Degree level, or has equivalent level of knowledge/experience with a commitment to complete postgraduate training to a Master's level
• Accredited post-basic dysphagia training with extensive experience of managing complex cases
• HCPC registration
• RCSLT Membership
• Member of Relevant CEN/SIG/PPG
• Knowledge and experience of working with patients who have complex communication and/or dysphagia needs to a highly specialist level including a wide range of specialist assessment tools and procedures and therapeutic interventions, as well as key policies, documents, guidelines and legislation relevant to the role.
• Basic knowledge of instrumental assessment including VFSS and FEES
• Training and experience in instrumental swallowing assessments, eg, FEES, VF
• Knowledge of a range of research approaches
• Understanding of principles of change management

• Extensive post registration clinical experience relevant to the post including proven caseload management, time management skills and management of change
• Experience of audit / service evaluation
• Delivering highly specialist training to a range of audiences
• Supporting less experienced staff, including SLT Associate Practitioners, and SLT Student placements, inclusive of assessment, and experience of providing second opinions to SLTs and other professionals
• Demonstrable leadership experience
• Delivering therapy through the medium of Welsh
• Supervision/line management of SLTs

• Able to work in a variety of sites based upon service need
• Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner
• Flexible approach to service needs and in responding to work pressures
• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

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.