This is a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy post in the stroke service at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, covering the Hyperacute Stroke Unit and Stroke Unit. The work centres on advanced assessment and management of swallowing, language, speech and cognitive-communication problems after stroke, including instrumental swallowing assessments and safe discharge planning. It also carries clinical leadership for the stroke SLT service, with supervision of staff and students, audit and service development in a university teaching trust. Fit depends on HCPC registration and substantial post-registration stroke and complex dysphagia experience.
What the job involves
- Provide a highly specialist SLT service for adults with communication and swallowing disorders following stroke across the Hyperacute Stroke Unit and Stroke Unit
- Carry out advanced assessment and management of dysphagia, aphasia, dysarthria and cognitive-communication disorders
- Contribute to instrumental swallowing assessments
- Lead complex multidisciplinary decision-making
- Support safe discharge planning
- Provide clinical leadership for the stroke SLT service
- Supervise staff and students
- Lead service development, audit and quality improvement
- Deliver training and implement evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes and meet national stroke standards
What’s required
Qualifications
- Degree or postgraduate qualification in Speech and Language Therapy recognised by the RCSLT
- Evidence of postgraduate learning and CPD in adult acquired communication and dysphagia
Registration & licences
- Current HCPC registration
Experience
- Significant post-registration experience in adult acquired disorders, including substantial stroke and complex dysphagia
- Advanced clinical reasoning and independent decisions on a complex caseload where information is incomplete or conflicting
- Assessment and rehabilitation of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia of speech and cognitive-communication disorder
- Instrumental swallowing assessment and management planning within competence
- Multidisciplinary working, goal setting, discharge planning and risk management
- Supervising, teaching or supporting the development of staff and/or students
Skills & knowledge
- Knowledge of current evidence, national stroke guidance, clinical governance, safeguarding, consent, capacity and equality duties
- Communicating complex, sensitive information and adapting to significant communication impairment
- Leadership, negotiation, teaching, supervision and teamworking, prioritising competing demands under pressure
- Analysing service and outcome data, undertaking audit and implementing evidence-based change
Other
- Working autonomously and recognising limits of competence
- Accurate written communication, digital literacy and effective use of electronic health records
- Commitment to inclusive, person-centred practice and Trust HEART values
Nice to have
- Relevant postgraduate qualification or accredited advanced clinical training
- Recognised training in FEES, videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy management, leadership, supervision or quality improvement
- Experience of tracheostomy and critical care-related assessment and management
- Experience of line management, recruitment, performance management, audit, research or leading service improvement
- Evidence of presenting service developments, audit or research to professional audiences
- Participation in regional or national professional networks
What’s offered
- High Cost Area Supplement included in pay
- Access to specialist dysphagia approaches, including videofluoroscopy and FEES
- Learning from specialist SLT teams across head and neck cancer, stroke, critical care, acute medicine and outpatients
- Supervision, mentorship and peer support
- Support for quality improvement, research, service development and leadership
- Joint working and shared learning
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
