Speech and Language Therapist
Job Description
Job summary
Would you like to start your career in a large and supportive team of Speech and Language Therapists? Are you keen to develop a broad base of skills in management of acquired communication and swallowing disorders in a range of adult caseloads?
This vacancy has resulted from internal moves within the team due to maternity leaves and secondments. The successful candidate will start within the stroke team but there may be an opportunity to work in the acute general medical/complex care team, the neurosurgery team and in the outpatients/community team. Inpatient work is based in the state of the art Brunel Building at Southmead Hospital and outpatient/community work is based at Cossham Hospital.
There is a well-established supervision and appraisal structure and opportunities for learning and support from clinical specialists within the SLT team.
We are looking for applicants who have knowledge and under or post graduate experience of working with adults who have communication and swallowing difficulties related to stroke/acquired neurological or medical disorders. Post-basic dysphagia competencies is desirable but in house training can be provided.
Applicants should have excellent communication skills, a keen interest in developing skills with adult acquired disorders and be a collaborative multi-disciplinary team player. An HCPC license to practice is essential.
To understand more about Speech and Language at North Bristol, click here to watch our video.
Main duties of the job
- To provide Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis and treatment to adults with communication difficulties resulting from stroke, acquired neurological, neurosurgical and medical conditions
- To manage own caseload of patients in inpatient, outpatient and community settings
- To provide Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis and treatment to adults with communication difficulties arising from a range of disorders at Southmead and Cossham Hospitals or in the community.
- To develop skills for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment to adults with swallowing difficulties following stroke, other acquired neurological, neurosurgical and medical conditions with clinical supervision, until competencies are developed and demonstrated.
- To liaise about clients communication and swallowing with the multidisciplinary teams and relevant primary care professionals and agencies.
- To work as part of the Speech and Language Therapy and relevant multi-disciplinary teams
- To demonstrate increasing independence and reduction in levels of support as Speech and Language Therapy professional competencies develop.
About us
Do something extraordinary everyday
Joining our team at North Bristol Trust could be one of the best decisions you make. With a wide range of roles to suit different backgrounds and interests, working with us gives you the chance to make a difference every single day.
What is North Bristol NHS Trust?
North Bristol NHS Trust is one of the largest healthcare trusts in the South West of England. We provide hospital and community healthcare to people living in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. We do this across a range of settings, including within our award-winning Brunel building, designed and built for a better patient and staff experience.
Our values
NBT Cares. It's a very simple statement; one which epitomises how everybody across our organisation goes the extra mile to ensure our patients get the best possible care.
Cares stands for Caring, Ambitious, Respectful and Supportive:
- Caring - because it underpins everything we do for our patients and the way we care for one another
- Ambitious - because it signals that we always want to improve what we do on behalf of our patients and one another
- Respectful - because every individual has an important role to play
- Supportive - because we're a team and deliver together
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To have responsibility and accountability for the management of own clinical caseload. Including new referrals to the department, management and discharge decisions of current caseload. This will be done within own level of competency and with support where appropriate.
- To assess and analyse type, severity and impact of communication impairments in a wide range of adult patients, through a variety of formal and informal assessments/information gathering methods. Clinical support will be provided, but this will gradually reduce as experience and competency develops.
- To learn to assess, diagnose and manage swallowing disorders in stroke and other acquired neurological conditions, with clinical supervision and direction. The extent of supervision and direction required will reduce as competencies are demonstrated.
- To identify when to refer for specialist videofluoroscopy and flexible endoscopic assessment of swallowing examinations with supervision.
- To record and interpret personally generated clinical observations and provide feedback for clients/carers/professionals and relevant others.
- To provide differential diagnosis, clinical advice and care plans/therapy to the above client group, which includes analysis of facts and a comparison of a range of options for appropriate intervention.
Education, Research and Development
- To seek advice and support when necessary from more senior colleagues to develop skills in the management of stroke and other acquired neurological conditions.
- To attend regular clinical supervision sessions.
- To attend training and development in order to maintain relevant skills and knowledge (through attendance at Clinical Excellence Networks, relevant courses, peer review clinical shadowing and reading), and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration.
Service Evaluation and Planning
- To participate in service evaluation and development initiatives within the Speech and Language Therapy Team. This may include evaluation of caseload management, models of service delivery, use of volunteers and ensuring effectiveness.
- To attend Departmental meetings and liaise with the Head of Dept on Health & Safety, cover, leave and general issues, so that good communication is maintained.
- To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice.
Person Specification
Education/training/qualification
Essential
- Recognised RCSLT degree level qualification
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Licence to Practise
Desirable
- Completion of recognised dysphagia competencies training
Work Experience
Essential
- Pre or post qualification experience of working with adults with acquired disorders of swallowing and communication
- Experience of working with older adults or adults with a disability in a variety of settings
Desirable
- Evidence of participation in clinical audit or service development initiatives
Knowledge/skills/abilities
Essential
- Able to communicate clearly, concisely and professionally in both spoken and written forms of communication
- Knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders in acquired neurological disorders, underpinned by current evidence-based practice
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to identify own specialist professional development needs and to reflect on own practice
- Demonstrated ability to work with a holistic, patient centred approach
- Demonstrated enthusiasm for clinical development within the field of adult acquired disorders
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. ...
