Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
NHS Jobs Plymouth
Key responsibilities - Please see full JD and person spec in attachments section Clinical To be responsible for triaging referrals to the Speech and Language Therapy Community Adult service alongside SLT colleagues. To independently manage a caseload of community patients with highly complex speech, language, communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties with reference to theory, published research and evidence, and agreed best practice.
To make judgements about when to refer patients for videofluoroscopy (X ray) examination taking into account the risks and benefits of the procedure. To participate in the examination with radiology colleagues and to jointly interpret results in order to plan appropriate SLT treatment.
To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret highly complex case related information and data from patients, carers and other relevant sources in order to reach an accurate diagnosis. To reach differential diagnoses on the basis of assimilated evidence from formal and informal assessments including psychological and social factors (some of which may be conflicting) and with reference to normal and abnormal functioning and research evidence.
To prioritise and decide on appropriate highly specialised treatment programmes individual or group, matched to individual patient/family need and to adapt and modify management options based on extended and developing clinical expertise whilst ensuring patient/carers/multi-disciplinary team are fully involved in the decision making process.
To assess the need for alternative and augmentative means of communication and to create personalised low- tech communication systems such as communication booklets and charts, and train and support patients and carers in their effective use.
To identify where high -tech electronic communication systems are required to meet patient needs including assessment, and identification and selection of appropriate aid, sourcing and identifying funding. Training of patients, carers, other members of MDT in the effective use of the highly complex equipment.
To make referrals for specialist AAC assessment as appropriate. To provide expert advice to enable professionals and carers to provide clear explanations when the patients levels of understanding and ability to communicate their wishes are severely affected e.g. supporting patients to give informed consent for complex procedures and life choices and power of attorney.
To contribute to clinical teams, both multi- and uni-disciplinary, by discussing and negotiating own and others input around patients needs, ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan and pathway. And ensure patients and families are aware of voluntary and support agencies.
To be responsible for updating notes within the patient's care setting, departmental notes, and a range of report writing including for legal purposes, and dissemination of findings to appropriate professionals and relevant others. To have autonomy for prioritisation, management and discharge of patients in relation to highly complex caseload.
To use highly developed communication and counselling skills such as reflective listening, open questioning, empathy, and reassurance when explaining highly complex and sensitive information to the full range of levels in understanding of patients and carers, where anxiety frequently acts as a barrier and co-operation is not guaranteed.
To demonstrate empathy and reassurance when providing patients and carers with unwelcome information that has long-term implications for lifestyle and employment e.g. when communication skills will not be recovered and/or oral feeding is no longer an option.
To provide counselling and support before onward referral for more formal consultations if judged necessary. To monitor, recognise, assess and evaluate subtle changes in patients conditions and adapt assessment and treatment programmes accordingly based on extended clinical experience, including in palliative care.
To assess the risk to, and vulnerability of, patients and families in relation to timing and manner of treatment and amount of information provided, i.e. where inappropriate intervention could have a negative effect e.g. inappropriate introduction of a communication aid, or introduction of fluids when this would put the patient at serious risk.
To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training when necessary with in an individual performance review framework. With the Team Leader SLT, to maintain and develop professional and service standards and policies with adherence to local and national guidelines and clinical governance, including confidentiality.
To record and update personally generated clinical observations, assessment results, treatment and advice details in patient medical and departmental case notes. To participate in Annual Appraisal Process and to act as an appraiser of junior staff.
To follow and implement local and national policies with elements of independent professional judgement and make recommendations for change for own specialism through the clinical governance process. To be responsible for maintaining equipment records and the safe use and security of clinical equipment.
To identify and request therapy equipment to meet caseload demands. To provide clinical activity data, and routine recording of CPD, travel, and other related activity, observing data protection guidelines To contribute to the formal clinical and professional training and assessment of less experienced SLTs, SLT students and other AHP students and graduates as required.
To supervise and provide advice, training and support to less experienced speech and language therapists, assistants and volunteers. With the Team Leader SLT to take part in and initiate research and clinical audit, undertaking action research with the rehabilitation caseload and contribute to others research by providing data.
To prioritise and respond to referrals, allocating to less experienced colleagues and exercising professional judgement based on extended clinical experience. To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret highly complex case related information and data from medical notes, patients, carers and other relevant sources To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments, including risk analysis of swallowing, understanding and use of voice, grammar, vocabulary, speech sounds, fluency, social use of language, patient/carer interaction and non-verbal communication, and make judgements from these concerning prioritisation and future management.
To be responsible for ensuring patients safety with regard to eating and drinking by assessing, monitoring and updating, and communicating details of safe practice to the patient, medical and ward staff, and carers, ensuring that recommendations are clearly documented.To make judgements about when to refer patients for videofluoroscopy (X ray) examination taking into account the risks and benefits of the procedure. To participate in the examination with radiology colleagues and to jointly interpret results in order to plan appropriate SLT treatment.
To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret highly complex case related information and data from patients, carers and other relevant sources in order to reach an accurate diagnosis. To reach differential diagnoses on the basis of assimilated evidence from formal and informal assessments including psychological and social factors (some of which may be conflicting) and with reference to normal and abnormal functioning and research evidence.
To prioritise and decide on appropriate highly specialised treatment programmes individual or group, matched to individual patient/family need and to adapt and modify management options based on extended and developing clinical expertise whilst ensuring patient/carers/multi-disciplinary team are fully involved in the decision making process.
To assess the need for alternative and augmentative means of communication and to create personalised low- tech communication systems such as communication booklets and charts, and train and support patients and carers in their effective use.
To identify where high -tech electronic communication systems are required to meet patient needs including assessment, and identification and selection of appropriate aid, sourcing and identifying funding. Training of patients, carers, other members of MDT in the effective use of the highly complex equipment.
To make referrals for specialist AAC assessment as appropriate. To provide expert advice to enable professionals and carers to provide clear explanations when the patients levels of understanding and ability to communicate their wishes are severely affected e.g. supporting patients to give informed consent for complex procedures and life choices and power of attorney.
To contribute to clinical teams, both multi- and uni-disciplinary, by discussing and negotiating own and others input around patients needs, ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan and pathway. And ensure patients and families are aware of voluntary and support agencies.
To be responsible for updating notes within the patient's care setting, departmental notes, and a range of report writing including for legal purposes, and dissemination of findings to appropriate professionals and relevant others. To have autonomy for prioritisation, management and discharge of patients in relation to highly complex caseload.
To use highly developed communication and counselling skills such as reflective listening, open questioning, empathy, and reassurance when explaining highly complex and sensitive information to the full range of levels in understanding of patients and carers, where anxiety frequently acts as a barrier and co-operation is not guaranteed.
To demonstrate empathy and reassurance when providing patients and carers with unwelcome information that has long-term implications for lifestyle and employment e.g. when communication skills will not be recovered and/or oral feeding is no longer an option.
To provide counselling and support before onward referral for more formal consultations if judged necessary. To monitor, recognise, assess and evaluate subtle changes in patients conditions and adapt assessment and treatment programmes accordingly based on extended clinical experience, including in palliative care.
To assess the risk to, and vulnerability of, patients and families in relation to timing and manner of treatment and amount of information provided, i.e. where inappropriate intervention could have a negative effect e.g. inappropriate introduction of a communication aid, or introduction of fluids when this would put the patient at serious risk.
To implement the second opinions process as and when necessary, and refer on for further medical investigations. To negotiate with carers/patients and professionals around individual case diagnosis and management where others have less specialist knowledge and/or experience in relation to SLCD and swallowing disorders (dysphagia), and differences of professional judgement can occur e.g. over or under estimation of patients understanding which would effect goals for treatment and life choices, and/or texture of foods which can be eaten safely.
To reflect on practice both individually and with peers/mentors and to identify personal strengths and development needs in order to raise clinical competence. Professional To maintain registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists To be professionally accountable for independent clinical judgements for prioritisation, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, onward referral and discharge criteria in line with HCPC and RCSLT standards.
To continue to develop deeper and more highly specialist professional expertise and clinical skills across a range of acquired and/or progressive neurological speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD) by working with the Team Leader Therapist, attending Clinical Excellence Networks (RCSLT), specialist courses, self directed study and maintaining personal CPD portfolio.To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training when necessary with in an individual performance review framework. With the Team Leader SLT, to maintain and develop professional and service standards and policies with adherence to local and national guidelines and clinical governance, including confidentiality.
To record and update personally generated clinical observations, assessment results, treatment and advice details in patient medical and departmental case notes. To participate in Annual Appraisal Process and to act as an appraiser of junior staff.
To follow and implement local and national policies with elements of independent professional judgement and make recommendations for change for own specialism through the clinical governance process. To be responsible for maintaining equipment records and the safe use and security of clinical equipment.
To identify and request therapy equipment to meet caseload demands. To provide clinical activity data, and routine recording of CPD, travel, and other related activity, observing data protection guidelines To contribute to the formal clinical and professional training and assessment of less experienced SLTs, SLT students and other AHP students and graduates as required.
To supervise and provide advice, training and support to less experienced speech and language therapists, assistants and volunteers. With the Team Leader SLT to take part in and initiate research and clinical audit, undertaking action research with the rehabilitation caseload and contribute to others research by providing data.
To be able to recognise breakdown/conflict when it occurs and seek to reach resolution with support from Team Leader SLT if required
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation TrustOkehampton, 22 mi from Plymouth
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