11 Oct
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Northwood
Job description
Job summary
Due to maternity leave we have a great opportunity for someone to join our team for a 1 year fixed term full time post. You will be based at Mount Vernon Hospital and The Warren Health Centre working with people who have voice problems and swallowing due to stroke and other neurological conditions.
The post holder will also work in the community visiting patients in care homes to assess swallowing and acquired disorders of communication.
The successful applicant will be working alongside lead therapists in voice and dysphagia and in the care home support team, which will enable you to develop your skills in SLT with these populations.
We have a good relationship with other organisations providing health care across HIllingdon. You would also be involved in delivering training to care home staff and other health professionals.
Competence in dysphagia is essential, but we would be happy to develop your skills with voice patients.
Although this is a full-time position applicants who wish to work part-time are welcomed and a job share may be considered.
Main duties of the job
The independent management of a caseload of clients with swallowing and communication disorders in particular voice problems in an out-patient setting and in the community particularly those in care homes.
Close working relationships with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and the Care Home Support Team.
The active contribution to service development in SLT service within the areas of voice, dysphagia & older people services
The delivery of training / teaching to carers, other health professionals and students
About us
Hillingdon is an outer borough to the west of London with good access not only to the city centre, but also to the home counties of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Hertfordshire.
Come & join us & be one of the 1500 AHP's in CNWL. We work in many different teams in both physical & mental health, plus specialist areas.
You could have a career for life with us.
CNWL has an established professional structure which includes a Director of Therapies, an AHP associate director and Trust wide heads of Professions.
Personal & professional development is a high priority for SLT to enable us to invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training & providing quality supervision.
This ensures all AHP's reach their full potential at every stage of their career.
Our commitment to research, audit & evidence-based practice is made possible by strong links with local universities & our CNWL AHP Research Network.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion are a priority for us in CNWL we expect staff to be culturally competent, reflective & open to culturally diverse CPD opportunities.
We work hard to support the recruitment & development of staff from all protected characteristics.
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage & support vaccination as this is the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues & of course patients & service users when working in our healthcare settings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide a Specialist Speech & Language Therapy service as an autonomous SLT working with the Care Home Support Team (which includes another SLT), for clients who require domiciliary visits or can attend out-patient appointments.
The post will form part of the voice out-patient service with specialist supervision in these areas in order to develop the relevant clinical competencies.
Provide training for staff in care homes and other health professionals about swallowing difficulties.
Provide student placements and may support more senior colleagues to supervise more junior colleagues.
Person Specification
EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
- Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice
- Recognised qualification in dysphagia or completion of Competencies in this field to RCSLT level C or equivalent
Desirable
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree equivalent
- Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS / ABILITIES
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
- Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills
- Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
- Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
- Excellent organisational skills
- Excellent caseload management skills, including the ability to prioritise caseload and work independently
- Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities
- Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders
- In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to specialist patient group
- In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to communication and dysphagia in specialist patient group and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
- In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance / audit / record keeping
- Knowledge of up-to-date advances in clinical management relevant to specialist patient group and application to own clinical practice
Desirable
Knowledge of high and low technology communication aids and their use with adult neurological patients
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Substantial experience working with adults with acquired and progressive neurological disorders in a variety of settings.
- Relevant highly specialist experience post qualification in assessment and management of acquired communication / swallowing disorders of neurological aetiology
- Involvement in multi-disciplinary working
Desirable
- A significant proportion of post graduate experience should include community setting
- In-depth experience within an appropriate specialist area (adult acquired and progressive neurological disorders, dementia).
- Experience of supervising and appraising more junior therapists
- Experience working with interpreters
- Experience of developing and providing specialist training to nursing home staff, carers, and other members of the MDT
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential
- A commitment to professional development
- Self awareness of developmental needs and identify strategies to meet those needs
- Computer literacy / IT skills and a willingness to update these
Desirable
- Car driver