Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Current vacancies Specialist Speech and Language Therapist NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area: Speech and Language Therapy
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 309-UCLH-5884

Site: University College London Hospital
Town: London
Salary: £44,806 - £53,134 per annum inclusive of HCAS
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 02/03/:59

Job overview

We would like to hear from you if you are a well-motivated and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist, who wants to work with adults in a dynamic and thoughtful inpatient acute hospital setting. You will have experience in working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders, and preferably, you will have previous acute hospital experience.

The post is based within the Adult Acute Team at University College London Hospital (UCH). The successful applicant will be responsible for delivering a Specialist SLT service across many different specialties, including Medicine for the Elderly, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Acute Medicine, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases, Oncology, and Haematology. You will work flexibly across the various specialties, as assigned by a senior SLT or the Team Lead. The SLT service offers an established supervision system and a range of opportunities for learning and participation in self and service development.

UCH is a national tertiary referral centre for a range of specialties, including haematological disorders. We have strong links with our Paediatric and Head and Neck SLT teams, as well as the teams at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and The Royal National Ear Nose and Throat Hospital.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for delivering a comprehensive and specialist service to patients presenting with speech, language, swallow, and voice disorders due to a variety of aetiologies. Primary duties include:

• Assessment and management of patients with dysphagia.
• Assessment and management of patients with communication impairments.
• Development of rehabilitation plans for speech, language, swallow, and voice.
• Use of instrumental assessment to guide dysphagia management, including videofluoroscopy competencies highly desired.
• Delivering a high quality specialist SLT service with adult acute inpatients.
• Supervising junior staff, as required and designated by the Team Lead.
• Participating in CPD and helping to organise as required.
• Developing and carrying out service development projects as agreed with their line manager.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

Person specification Knowledge and Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy (or equivalent)
• HCPC License to Practice in the area of Speech and Language Therapy
• Demonstration of knowledge of assessing communication (e.g., aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria) and swallowing disorders at a specialist level
• Basic counselling skills or courses
• Evidence of working within the NHS
• Successful completion of specialist training in tracheostomy assessment and management (including use of speaking valves for patients on ventilators)
• Training in SLT student clinical supervision
• Level 2 competencies in videofluoroscopy

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years experience of working with acquired dysphagia in adults
• Proven experience of assessing swallowing and speech & language skills in an adult population
• Proven experience of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to adults with acute and chronic dysphagia, and demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches
• Detailed knowledge of multi-disciplinary team approaches
• Good understanding of the clinical governance principles (e.g. audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management, patient and public involvement)
• Of delivering and evaluating training to a range of audiences
• Of supervising junior staff

Values

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates knowledge of RCSLT and HPCs code of ethics and professional conduct
• Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to national and local clinical guidelines with reference to adult acute caseload e.g. National Service Frameworks/ NICE Guidelines
• Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate legislation affecting working practice e.g. Working with Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act, Safeguarding Children
• Effective time management and the ability to prioritise own workload
• Demonstration of effective management of change skills including the flexibility in approach to changes in patient and service needs

Communication

• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Advanced approaches to support clients & carers with challenging behaviour, mental health needs or those in high levels of distress

Personal and People Development

• Experience of approaches to mentoring, advising, supporting and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
• The ability to reflect on practice and implement feedback given by senior colleagues

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Demonstrates understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

• Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
• Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control.
• Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.