Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Job overview
Are you looking to expand your expertise as a highly specialist speech and language therapist?
We have a rare opportunity for a Band 7 clinician to join our team at The Hollies, which specialises in providing care for adults with learning disabilities. The Hollies is currently a 10-bedded unit, transitioning to a 6-bedded unit with 2 single service units in the near future.It is based at the Cavell Centre on the Peterborough City Hospital campus, where free on-site parking is available. Flexible working options are also offered.
You will be joining the multidisciplinary team (MDT) at The Hollies, who are dedicated to ensuring each patient’s journey is the best it can be. Your clinical speech therapy work will include advanced communication and dysphagia, working closely with patients and their carers.
As the clinical lead for The Hollies, you will advise on best practices and have the opportunity to shape the future of speech and language therapy (SLT) care. You will receive peer clinical supervision support from speech and language therapists within learning disabilities services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
If you are ready to make a real difference to patient care, we want to hear from you. Informal discussions are welcomed.
Main duties of the job
The individual in this role will autonomously assess and manage a caseload of adults with a learning disability, which is highly specialised and complex. You will oversee the delivery of a specialist learning disability Speech and Language Therapy intervention.Additionally, the post holder will manage all referrals related to communication and/or swallowing difficulties (Dysphagia) within the Adult Learning Disability Inpatient Services.
The Hollies is currently a 6-bedded unit, transitioning to a 6-bedded unit with 2 additional flats in the future. We specialize in providing inpatient services to adults with learning disabilities within the CPFT catchment area.
Working for our organisation
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.- To manage all referrals related to communication and/or swallowing difficulties (Dysphagia) within the Adult Learning Disability Inpatient Services.
- To provide professional leadership to Speech and Language Therapy staff (and students), including recruitment, clinical supervision, and collaboration with ward manager within appraisal, and professional development.
- To offer highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy input into planning, development, and evaluation of learning disability intervention, holding responsibility for defined projects as delegated by the Hollies management team.
- As an autonomous practitioner, to be responsible for and manage a highly complex caseload of adults with learning disabilities (including those with challenging behaviour, mental health, and forensic needs).
- Managing such a caseload will involve planning and implementing appropriate clinical interventions based on the referral, evaluation, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of individuals' identified needs.
- To take the lead in multidisciplinary/multi-agency working within the Hollies and with key partners.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
- Current HCPC and RCSLT registrations
- Evidence of ongoing attendance of short study days, conferences, and extended self-study
- Recognised Post qualification training in Dysphagia management (Specialist Level).
- HR Skills qualifications (e.g., sickness/absence, Employee Relations, performance Management etc).
Experience
Essential criteria- Demonstrable post qualification experience working to meet the communication and dysphagia needs of adults with learning disability
- Must demonstrate evidence of highly developed clinical leadership skills
- Experience of developing and delivering training packages to adults.
- Experience of managing a complex caseload.
- Experience of working effectively within a community MD Team.
- Experience of developing service user and carer involvement
- Experience of recruitment and selection
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria- Ability to provide services in a variety of environments to meet the needs of the service user
- Ability to prioritise your own work and the work of those you supervise
- Ability to work under pressure and manage stress
- Counselling Skills and Coaching skills
Knowledge/Understanding
Essential criteria- Must be able to communicate information that is highly complex and contentious to clients, staff, senior managers and other agencies / professional groups, for example explaining implications of shortfall in service.
- Must demonstrate highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations and ability to facilitate these skills in others.
- Must demonstrate established conflict management skills in a variety of environments e.g., one-to-one or groups where responses may be unpredictable.
- Ability to generate and participate in research and Audit
Other
Essential criteria- Ability to Travel within geographic location of Trust
Here at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) we are dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion. We deliver many of the NHS services that are provided outside of hospital and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services.
We are a health and social care organisation, offering a wide range of services, including:
- Integrated physical and mental health services for adults and older people;
- Specialist mental health and learning disability services;
- Children and young people’s mental health services;
- Children’s community services in Peterborough;
- Social care;
- Ground-breaking research
We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities. For further information about our positive equality, diversity and Inclusion work, please visit https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/equalityanddiversity.
CPFT is looking to build upon its pool of temporary workers with Temporary Staffing Services (TSS). You will be asked at interview if you would be willing to register with TSS. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to take on additional hours that are flexible around your personal circumstances.
Please be advised that in line with the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, 2020 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust currently are unable to accept applications from overseas candidates whose country of residence is classed as a ‘Red List’ country.
Applicants who require entry into the UK will be required to provide a valid police certificate from the relevant authority from each country (except the UK) where the applicant has been present for 12 months or more, 10 years before the date of visa application, while aged 18 or over.
If you are successful at interview you will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a DBS (if appropriate), references and Occupational Health. To ensure a smooth process please bring all identity documents to your interview. A list of required identity documents will be attached to your interview invitation.
All communications will be sent to you via TRAC Systems. By applying for this post you are agreeing to CPFT transferring the information contained in this application to TRAC. If you are made an offer, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.