Senior Speech and Language Therapist

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Job overview

Do you have an interest in neurorehabilitation and brain injury rehabilitation?

Do you want to join a supportive service committed to achieving functional patient outcomes?

Due to internal development we are in the position to offer the opportunity for the right candidate to join us full-time as a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist across our Neurorehabilitation Unit (NRU) and Brain Injury Unit (BIU).

You will be based in the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service within the University Hospitals of Leicester, providing input to the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit (NRU) and Brain Injury Unit (BIU) at the Leicester General Hospital. You will be working as part of an experienced Speech and Language Therapy team which includes a Band 7 Clinical Specialist, Band 6 and Band 5 rotational colleagues and a Band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. You will also be part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team which includes Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics and Clinical Neuropsychology. Options for flexible working will be considered.

Main duties of the job

Working independently with adults with a range of acquired and often complex communication and swallowing disorders, their carers and the multi-disciplinary team.
• Contributing to UK ROC data collection.
• Contributing to regular team meetings and in-service training.
• Providing clinical supervision, mentoring and training opportunities for junior members of staff.
• Facilitating student placements.
• Supporting the wider service to provide a community videofluoroscopy clinic (on rota) when competencies gained.

Working for our organisation

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacanc...

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

NRU is a 16-bedded unit providing specialist rehabilitation for adults who have a neurological condition or injury, for example a brain injury or stroke. Patients are offered regular care plan meetings during their admission to discuss their progress before being discharged home, into residential / nursing care or to slow stream rehabilitation.

BIU is a 9-bedded unit providing specialist rehabilitation for people aged 16-65 who have had a brain injury, the cause of which could include trauma, lack of oxygen to the brain or a brain tumour. This unit supports patients with highly complex needs including those in prolonged disorders of consciousness and with tracheostomy. Patients are offered a family meeting to discuss their progress, goals and next steps in treatment, before being discharged to the NRU, another community hospital, a specialist rehabilitation centre outside UHL, a specialist nursing home or home.

Applications will be welcomed from experienced therapists with an interest in developing specialist skills in acute care and also from Band 5 therapists who are able to work independently with both dysphagia and communication. You will be expected to demonstrate completion of Level B of the RCSLT Dysphagia Training and Competency Framework as part of the application process. Ideally, the successful applicant will also have completed or be working towards competencies in videofluoroscopy and/or tracheostomy management.

Person specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Recognised SLT Degree qualification or equivalent
• HCPC registration
• RCSLT registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development within the last 12 months

Mobility

Essential criteria

• You must demonstrate how you would meet the stated mobility requirement.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• Assessment tools relevant to client group
• A range of therapeutic interventions relevant to client group
• Understanding of principles of clinical governance.
• Able to prioritise caseload
• Organisational/time management skills
• Analytical & Reflection skills
• Excellent written communication skills
• Developing clinical/technical skills for interpretive assessment techniques e.g. video fluoroscopy, tracheostomy, cervical auscultation as appropriate to role.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Post graduate clinical experience with relevant client groups for post, e.g. Stroke/Neurology/Voice/Critical Care/Head and Neck Cancer/Dementia/Dysfluency
• Evidence of dysphagia competence as appropriate to role
• Post graduate training relevant to role e.g. completion of specialist short courses
• Experience of audit
• Delivering Training

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

• Positive team working skills: a good team member.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet needs of job
• Able to work independently as appropriate.
• Caring and empathic
• Strong self-motivation
• Ability to motivate others
• Emotional resilience

Standard Requirements

Essential criteria

• Commitment to Equality & Valuing Diversity Principles.
• Understanding of Confidentiality & Data Protection.
• Understanding of the service users of the Trust (which could include lived experience of conditions the Trust deals with or of receiving services relevant to those the Trust provides)

Additional Information

Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

• JD Senior Speech and Language Therapist (PDF, 562.5KB)
• Understanding your right to work in the UK (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Employee Benefits (PDF, 578.5KB)