Speech & Language Therapist Portsmouth

Job summary

NHS Band 6 Salary: £39,959 - £48,117 per annum

Hours Per Week: Full Time, 37.5 hrs (part-time applications considered)

Contract Type: Fixed-Term Maternity Cover

Location Base: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our dynamic Speech and Language Therapy team on a fixed-term maternity cover contract.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 SLT to work across Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, providing specialist assessment and management of adults with communication and swallowing disorders. The successful candidate will work as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, delivering high-quality patient-centred care across a range of acute inpatient and outpatient settings.

Main duties of the job

Job Purpose:

• To work as an autonomous practitioner, assessing diagnosing, and providing timely intervention and management of communication and/or swallowing problems as a member of the Acute SLT team
• To be flexible in providing cover to clinical areas across PHUT depending on skill and service need.
• To collaborate and liaise with MDT colleagues to provide co-ordinated care to patients.
• To provide clinical support, where appropriate to other colleagues, including students.
• To complete competencies in line with RCSLT guidance.
• To contribute to patient information, manage priorities, organise equipment/resources and liaise with community SLTs about continuing care following discharge.
• To contribute to the prioritisation and triage of referrals to ensure that priority , high risk, patients are seen urgently, following locally devised systems / timescales
• To be flexible in providing cover across in patient settings where most needed, as directed by clinical leads.
• To contribute, wherever possible, to the administrative processes that ensure the most efficient service delivery for patients

About us

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans' status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

Job responsibilities

The role will involve assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of adults presenting with dysphagia and communication difficulties resulting from a variety of medical conditions. You will work closely with medical, nursing and allied health professional colleagues to support patient recovery, optimise nutrition and hydration, and promote effective communication.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment and management of adults with dysphagia and communication difficulties.
• Develop and implement evidence‑based treatment plans.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to clinical decision‑making.
• Support safe oral intake recommendations and communication strategies.
• Deliver training and advice to patients, families, carers and healthcare staff.
• Contribute to service development, audit and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support and supervise junior staff and students as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records in line with Trust and professional standards.

About You

We are seeking a clinician who:

• Holds a recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification.
• Is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Registered member of the RCSLT
• Accredited dysphagia post‑graduate qualification or equivalent to level C (RCSLT dysphagia competencies)
• Has experience managing adult patients with complex dysphagia and/or communication difficulties.
• Demonstrates excellent clinical reasoning and problem‑solving skills.
• Works effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Has supervision experience.
• Has strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Is committed to delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred care.
• Demonstrates our trust values: Working Together For Patients with Compassion as One Team Always Improving

What We Offer

• A supportive and experienced Speech and Language Therapy team.
• Regular supervision and opportunities for professional development.
• Access to a wide range of learning and training opportunities.
• Opportunities to work across diverse clinical areas within a large acute teaching Trust.
• Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.

Informal Enquiries

Informal discussions are welcomed and encouraged. We would be pleased to discuss the role and opportunities available within the team.

For full job details and person specification please refer to enclosed Job Description.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member
• Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills
• Sensitivity to a broad range of clients
• Supportive excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Proven skills in prioritising and being flexible and adaptable to meet competing priorities
• Efficient and dependable working practices
• Good organisational skills
• Self‑motivated, assertive, diplomatic and tactful
• Literate and numerate in English
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Negotiation and problem solving skills
• Recognises when change is needed
• Relevant post‑graduate training in areas relevant to caseload
• IT skills.
• Motivating.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered member RCSLT
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• HCPC License to Practice
• Accredited dysphagia post‑graduate qualification or equivalent to level C.

Desirable

• Video fluoroscopy experience and competencies
• Tracheostomy competencies .

Experience

Essential

• Experience of receiving clinical supervision
• Experience of a broad range of adult/acute communication and swallowing impairments/disorders.
• Experience of working in a changing environment
• Experience of integrated working in multi‑disciplinary teams
• Training and presentation experience.

Desirable

• At least 2 to 3 years working as a qualified SLT preferred.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.