Speech And Language Therapist

We are excited to recruit a full time Speech and Language Therapist to work within the acute inpatient team at the John Radcliffe Hospital (JR) in Oxford on a one year fixed term basis. This is a new and exciting role within the team, and an excellent opportunity for an existing Band 5 or Newly Qualified Practitioner to begin their career in the inpatient hospital environment with a supportive and knowledgeable team.
The purpose of this role is to pilot a Rapid Access Speech and Language Therapy service, and aims to serve four primary functions:
(1) Assessment and management of patients in the Hospital’s Front Doors services (e.g. A&E, Emergency Assessment Unit and Acute Assessment Unit)
(2) Input for patients with urgent SLT discharge needs across the hospital to support patient flow
(3) Following up Stroke patients from Front Doors services to the Hospital’s inpatient Stroke Unit
(4) To raise the SLT profile within Front Door services by building strong MDT relationships, contributing to organisational initiatives and promoting SLT successes and achievements.
The role will sit within the Acute SLT services and be supported by more senior members of the SLT team. This team has access to VFS, FEES, and is supportive of ongoing professional development through mechanisms such as protected non-clinical time, regular clinical supervision, and monthly team CPD sessions. This role also is supportive of
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• Provide timely assessment and management of patients with acquired communication and swallowing disorders in the Hospital’s Front Door areas.
• Provide input for patients with urgent SLT discharge needs to support patient flow.
• Follow up Stroke patients from Front Doors services to the inpatient Stroke Unit.
• Be an integral member of the inpatient Speech and Language Therapy team, whose specialisms cover General Medicine, Older Persons Services, Critical Care, Stroke, Cardiac and Respiratory, Major Trauma, and Acute Neurosciences.
• Use specialist clinical skills to identify, assess, diagnose and manage a specified caseload of adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders in a new Rapid Access SLT service. They will work as part of the Speech and Language Therapy team and be supported by more senior acute Speech and Language Therapists and the SLT Service Manager.
• Develop clinical skills and professional knowledge through experience, training and supervision.
• Make independent decisions about caseload management.
• Contribute to audit and service development projects in this clinical area.
• Take part in the supervision of students on placement within the Trust, with support.
• Take part in supervision and support of SLT assistants and volunteers when required.
• To take part in the development and delivery of training to others.
• Provide necessary cover for the caseloads of other Speech and Language Therapists within the Trust during periods of annual / sick leave.

Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world-renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK. We employ approximately 12,500 staff (including over 4,000 nurses and 2,000 doctors and 850 AHP staff). The Trust comprises four main hospital sites: the John Radcliffe Hospital (which includes the Children's Hospital, West Wing, Eye Hospital, Heart Centre and Women's Centre), the Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, all located in Oxford, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, North Oxfordshire.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.
Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
Patient Care1. To assess, develop and implement evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy interventions with experience and training, seeking advice and support from a supervisor as appropriate. To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessments, including differential diagnosis, on the basis of evidence from assessment, and to develop care plans based on best practice.
2. To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge.
3. To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes. The post holder will use these specialist skills to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management, with support as appropriate.
4. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients with communication and swallowing disorders.
5. To work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team to achieve patient centred care.
6. To liaise with a wide range of professionals across a variety of locations and agencies.
7. To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of patients’ communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived needs.
Policy / Service Development / Implementation
1. To represent Speech and Language Therapy at multi-disciplinary team meetings, ensuring delivery of co-ordinated care, with support.
2. To be aware of, adhere to and implement Service and team plans including:
3. Providing regular, timely statistical data in keeping with Trust requirements
4. Maintaining high quality clinical records in accordance with Service and Trust Guidelines and within data protection guidelines
5. Ensuring understanding and adherence to Trust health and safety requirements, including attendance on mandatory training courses
6. To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise, e.g., exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions encountered on a regular basis
7. Participation in the Trust incident reporting and risk management procedures
8. To comment on Service / policy developments as appropriate.
9. To participate in the implementation of Service / Trust Clinical Governance Plan.
Financial and Physical Resources
1. To monitor stock levels in own area and to request new equipment as required.
2. To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained, including equipment loaned to patients.
Human Resources
1. To supervise the work of unregistered, staff such as Speech and Language Therapy Support Workers, and volunteers.
2. To participate in student clinical placements and to assist in the support of students from other professional groups as appropriate and with support.
3. To be able to clearly explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and other professionals.
4. To participate in ongoing development of specialist training in area of clinical expertise.
5. To assist in the identification of training needs within the team.
Information Resources
1. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) professional standards and local policies.
2. To adhere to data protection guidelines when sharing information with others.
3. To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of this information within local Trust guidelines.
Research and Development
1. To participate in the development of innovations in the areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.
2. To undertake Clinical Governance / audit projects within the local service.
3. To participate in developmental research and formal / informal Research and Development and clinical governance / audit projects.
4. To collect and provide research data as required.
Freedom to Act
1. To be accountable for own professional actions and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
2. To work within defined departmental and national protocols / policies and professional code of conduct.
3. To work independently assessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals.
Knowledge and Skills
Communication and Relationship Skills
1. To contribute to clinical teams (both the Speech and Language Therapy team and multi-disciplinary team) to ensure a well-coordinated care plan.
2. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of adults with communication impairments, cognitive difficulties and dysphagia, and their families, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of their difficulties and implications of these.
3. To communicate complex condition-related information in such a manner as to motivate and inform clients, carers and team members, agreeing decision making relevant to patient management.
4. To use excellent interpersonal skills to listen well and counsel patients and carers to provide support and empathy without prejudice.
5. To use negotiation skills to manage conflict as needed across a range of situations.
6. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
7. To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and / or have challenging communication difficulties.
Knowledge, Training and Experience
1. To demonstrate developing knowledge in clinical specialism, underpinned by current evidence-based practice.
2. To identify personal / professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan / Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework.
3. To participate in appraisal ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating to the clinical specialism.
4. To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a Speech and Language Therapist working in this field, keeping up to date with new interventions and developments for the promotion of good Speech and Language Therapy practice, and to maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration.
5. To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to, RCSLT Professional and Clinical National and Local Guidelines.
6. To comment on the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical specialism.
7. To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training (formal and informal) to others in the area of clinical expertise, with and without support.
8. To provide advice to non-specialists / other professionals within the clinical field, with support as required.
9. To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures / statutory requirements including: Valuing People, Working with Vulnerable adults and other legal frameworks.
Analytical and Judgmental Skills
1. To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve it.
2. To use developing knowledge and clinical experience to analyse cases in order to inform sound clinical judgements / decision making for case management, and to design appropriate treatment from a range of options.
3. To actively participate in reflective clinical supervision with peers / clinical supervisor in order to develop and enhance practice.
4. To target formal and informal training appropriately to the needs of the course participants and to reflect on and evaluate the training provided.
Planning and Organisational Skills
1. To manage and prioritise own caseload independently.
2. To manage and prioritise own workload.
Physical Skills
1. To use highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.
2. To demonstrate skills in handling patients with disabilities with support.