Rotational Speech & Language Therapist

Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist - Fixed Term Maternity Leave Cover
We have a rare and exciting opportunity for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual to join the band 5 rotations within our diverse, passionate and innovative teams!
This post offers a great opportunity to develop clinical skills and gain broad experience in all aspects of adult speech and language therapy across our teams - The Lewisham Adult Therapy Team covering community based assessment and therapy; The adult Speech & Language Therapy service at Queen Elizabeth Hospital within the acute inpatient service and adult Speech & Language Therapy Service at University Hospital Lewisham within the inpatient stroke unit.
Ideally you will have some experience in working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders, experience of working within an acute and/or community settings and a keen interest to further develop your skills in dysphagia and communication assessment and management .
You will be supported to complete a structured dysphagia competency programme as part of your rotation and will have access to videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics for your patients requiring further assessment. As part of the inpatient rotations you will have the opportunity to assist in the videofluoroscopy clinics at QEH and UHL.
Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust offers first-rate clinical facilities and excellent training including our in-house multidisciplinary preceptorship course for NQTs.
Our teams are located at:
Lewisham Adult Therapy Team: Honor Oak Group Practice, 20 Turnham Road Brockley London SE4 2LA
Adult Speech & Language Therapy (QEH): Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Stadium Road, Woolwich, London SE18 4QH
Adult Speech & Language Therapy (UHL): University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham High Street, Lewisham, London SE13 6LH
Within our supportive and friendly teams you will receive regular clinical supervision with your nominated supervisor, attend regular team meetings and attend and contribute to well-established in-house CPD programmes. In addition to this there will be opportunities for cross site working and peer supervision.
There will also be the chance to contribute towards to supervision of assistants and students and participate in some of the training packages we offer to the wider team.
Please take a look at these You Tube clips for a little window into our organisation and the Therapies team:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQliCbXe2w&pp=ygUnbGV3aXNoYW0gYW5kIGdyZWVud2ljaCB3ZSBhcmUgdGhlcmFwaWVz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVS-EjGWloM&pp=ygUgbGV3aXNoYW0gYW5kIGdyZWVud2ljaCB0aGVyYXBpZXM%3D
JOB TITLE :Speech & Language Therapist
HOURS : 37.5 hours per week
GRADE: Band 5 (Rotational)
REPORTS TO : Band 7 (Team lead) Speech and Language Therapist
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Site Lead Speech & Language Therapist
RESPONSIBLE FOR : Delivery of Speech & Language Therapy service as part of the wider L&G team
JOB PURPOSE
To provide a general speech and language therapy service to adults with communication and swallowing problems across the acute, community and stroke teams, under the supervision of a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.
To be fully involved in the multi-disciplinary process across the respective teams.
To provide training/ supervision for volunteers, assistants and other professions as requested by the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Community Lead SLT
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists
All L&G Speech and Language Therapy Staff
All Therapists/Leads in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Dietetics
Referring teams
Social Services
Community Services
GPs
Voluntary Services
Academic Institutions
Therapy Specialists external to L&G
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1.0 Clinical
1.1 To assess, develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment for patients with communication and swallowing problems.
1.2 To manage and prioritise your caseload and workload independently.
1.3 To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment, seeking advice as appropriate.
1.4 To negotiate therapy goals with patients, their carers and the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
1.5 To provide information, support and training to relatives and patients.
1.6 To employ counselling skills with patients and carers.
1.7 To write therapy programmes to be carried out by the speech and language therapy assistant.
1.8 To demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of the current rotation, underpinned by current evidenced based practice.
1.9 To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the respective fields. To maintain HPC and RCSLT registration and ensure it is up to date.
1.10 To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in your clinical area.
1.11 To write reports for other professionals reflecting your knowledge of communication and swallowing.
1.12 To communicate complex condition related information from assessment and intervention to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.
1.13 To attend ward rounds, case conferences, rehabilitation meetings and other multidisciplinary meetings. To ensure a two-way exchange of information with these parties to help decide on the best course of intervention for each individual.
1.14 To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
1.15 To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
1.16 To provide advice on speech and language therapy to non-specialists and other specialists/professionals within clinical field.
1.17 To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
1.18 To participate in the development and delivery of training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise.
1.19 To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of clients and carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies, lone working and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
1.20 To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate
2.0 Organisational
2.1 To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies.
2.2 To use your specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate
2.3 To attend meetings at the request of the service manager.
2.4. To consult with service users regarding service developments wherever possible, within existing resources.
2.5 To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness within Speech and Language Therapy and the Trust in general.
2.6 To develop care protocols/packages informed by the evidence of your clinical specialism in liaison with your supervisor and/or service manager.
2.7 To develop Clinical Governance/audit projects within the speech and language therapy services.
2.8 To develop local clinical guidelines informed by the evidence of your clinical specialism.
2.9 To demonstrate the ability to reflect on your practice with peers and mentors and identify your own strengths and development needs
2.10 To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building
2.11 To assist with the identification of training needs within the team.
3.0 Professional
3.1 To be accountable for your own professional action and recognise your professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
3.2 To attend and contribute to departmental CPD sessions participating in peer review.
3.3 To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to clients.
3.4 To demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice.
3.5 To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.
3.6 To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
3.7 To collect and provide research data as required.
3.8 To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
3.9 To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible and following the Trust complaints procedure.
3.10 To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
3.11 To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.