Service Manager for Acute Speech and Language Therapy

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Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and dynamic Band 8a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to join our acute Speech and Language Therapy team working across both hospital sites. This is a time of change for our provision as our community service moves to another organisation and therefore a time of opportunity to establish this now solely acute service.

You will be the most senior SLT working at HHFT and be part of the Therapies Leadership Team. You will lead on both clinical leadership and operational management of the SLT service.

This role is based at Basingstoke and north Hampshire Hospital, where you will be a clinical team member, but will have cross site working to Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. Instrumental assessments (both FEES and VFSS) are provided on both sites, for inpatients and community outpatients, and you will be leading on the governance and overall provision of these services.

Main duties of the job

For full details, please see the job description document.
• To manage the defined clinical service providing oversight, decision making and accountability and responsibility for delivery of those services.
• Demonstrate effective performance management so that impact on/ completion of department, divisional and trust objectives can be shown
• Be instrumental as part of the Therapy Senior Management Team in developing the service annual plans (e.g. Operational, capacity and activity) that achieve access and quality targets.
• To be responsible for Datix - incidents, PALS concerns or complaints and risks relating to the defined clinical service / services
• Line management, including supervision and appraisal of band 7s within the service as well as supporting team members to develop these skills
• Provision of clinical leadership in the acute setting at HHFT for people with communication and EDS needs
• To work as a clinical specialist in dysphagia, providing highly specialist assessment and advice across the Trust and have responsibility for auditing and maintaining the safe governance of swallow screening and assessment across the Trust
• To conduct Videofluroscopy and Fibreoptic endoscopic Examinations of Swallow (FEES) and ensure safe running of these clinics including competency development/ management and service review for governance
• To have skills in management of patients with tracheostomy

Working for our organisation

Our vision is to provide outstanding care for every patient. Patient care is at the heart of what we do at our three sites: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides medical and surgical services to a population of approximately 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire.

Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.

We provide specialist services to people across the UK and internationally. We are one of only two centres in the UK treating pseudomyxoma peritonei (a rare form of abdominal cancer) and we are leaders in the field of tertiary liver cancer and colorectal cancer.

The trust employs more than 9,000 staff and has a turnover of over £500 million a year. As a Foundation Trust, we are directly accountable to our members through the governors. The Council of Governors represent the interests of their constituencies and influence the future plans of the Foundation Trust.

Your Next Career Move Made Easier - Accommodation May Be Offered

We understand relocating can be a big step. Hampshire Hospitals may be able to provide accommodation options for successful candidates, depending on availability. If this something you would like to explore please contact Southern Housing on 02080 360017

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached document for a detailed job description and person specification. Any further questions, do contact as below.

Person specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Current HCPC registration
• Member of the RCSLT
• Appropriate qualification to practice SLT
• post registration qualifications in dysphagia and communication
• NHS leadership/ management experience
• Evidence of training in Videofluroscopy and FEES
• Evidence of training in tracheostomy management

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of managerial and leadership courses
• Degree at masters level

Other

Essential criteria

• Able to recognise own stress and act on it appropriately
• Self motivated
• committed to maintaining standards and improving services
• ability to travel between both sites
• good problem solver
• flexible

experience and knowledge

Essential criteria

• Experience of service management in NHS
• Experience of managing budget and meeting financial plans
• Expert FEES/ VFSS competency
• Competency in working with tracheostomy
• understand clinical governance and its implications
• supervision and appraisal of staff

Desirable criteria

• Experience of quality improvement methodology
• understanding of relevant policy for line management
• general management experience
• Experience of teaching/ supporting staff to develop competency in VFSS and FEES

Skills and ability

Essential criteria

• Advanced communication skills
• Ability to present at a high level
• Competent IT skills
• Advanced analytical judgement

Desirable criteria

• Skills in service development
• Ability to run courses

Our commitment to you:

We are committed to equality and diversity in both the provision of our services and how we recruit and manage our staff. Applications are encouraged from everyone with the necessary attributes for the job, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.

Happy to Talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible and part time working will be considered.

The paperwork:

• HHFT is committed to putting the safety and care of our patients first - as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues. Therefore, we would recommend that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and that you understand that we are treating COVID-19 positive patients within our services.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted at least 5 working days before the scheduled interview date. Applications will be submitted directly into our preferred third party recruitment system (Trac). All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs via email - please ensure to check your junk/spam folders.
• All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.
• In compliance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed as part of the selection process.
• This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. If you intend to apply you are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
• We believe that using technology wisely reflects strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, it's essential to personalise your recruitment application to showcase your unique skills and experiences. Over-reliance on generic, AI-generated content may result in rejection if multiple candidates submit applications with similar language or structure. In such cases, recruiting managers may reach out for further clarity where applications appear consistent with others, to better understand your individual strengths.

Tackling Climate Change: Hampshire Hospitals aims to embed sustainability and net zero carbon principles into the delivery of care across all its services. To find out more, search HHFT Climate Action or contactclimateaction@hhft.nhs.uk.

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

• Band 8a Speech therapy service manager (PDF, 820.9KB)
• Pledge (PDF, 205.7KB)
• HHFT Employee Rewards & Benefits (PDF, 723.8KB)
• Tackling Climate Change at Hampshire Hospitals (PDF, 4.9MB)