Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Neonatal Services

Job overview

Bedfordshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust can offer an exciting opportunity for four AHPs to join our neonatal services.

There is a vacancy to appoint into each of the following; Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Speech & Language Therapy to boost service provision for neonatal care.

These posts will provide advanced therapy assessment and interventions for neonatal babies who are at risk of developmental issues in the future. The post holders will join the wider team who provide inpatient and outpatient therapy and be an integral part of the developmental care team on the neonatal units.

The post holders will be required to work cross-site on both the Level 3 Luton Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the Bedford, Level 1 Special Care baby Unit (SCBU) 1 day per week will be at our Bedford SCBU and the remainder at our Luton NICU.

Applications are welcomed from suitably motivated and innovative individuals to join an energetic and evolving Therapy Team within a reputable Trust. Applicants are required to be enthusiastic and passionate about the field of therapy and able to work flexibly across 7 days if required.

We offer a well-established supervision and appraisal structure.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for delivering specialist speech and language therapy support within the model of Family Integrated Care to infants and families on the neonatal units at Bedfordshire Hospitals Neonatal Services on both Luton and Bedford site.

The role involves the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of early communication and feeding challenges associated with prematurity and health conditions of babies admitted to the neonatal unit.

The post holder will work as an integral member of the neonatal multidisciplinary team, working closely alongside Neonatal Consultants and Nursing Teams, Infant Feeding Team, AHP and Psychology Team and families to provide evidence based care.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

• To identify neonates with feeding difficulties, swallow dysfunction, and dysphagia and develop suitable management plans to reduce their risk of stress, aspiration and feeding aversion.
• Provide autonomous specialist assessment, treatment and advice to patients on the neonatal unit who present with feeding/swallowing difficulties.
• Utilise a range of informal and formal approaches to assess the neonates’ early communication and feeding skills; and to support the MDT in identifying these needs in order to inform optimum care planning and intervention.
• Maintain an in-depth, comprehensive knowledge of neonatal clinical needs and presentations resulting from a range of acquired conditions.
• To communicate effectively and clearly with clinical colleagues regarding assessments and interventions both in spoken and written reports, as well as in day-to day liaison.
• Deliver therapy programmes based on current evidence and clinical knowledge to meet the needs of the infant and family’s profile.

Person specification

Qualifications

• SLT Degree or equivalent
• HCPC registration
• Post qualification training in paediatric dysphagia

• Completion of HEE modules Introduction to Neonatal Care and SLT
• Completion of relevant specialist training courses e.g. FINE, NBO, SOFFI

Experience

• The necessary paeds experience post qualification
• Experience of working with neonates, infants & children with complex needs
• Experience of independently managing feeding and swallowing difficulties associated with neonatal / paeds caseload
• Experience working at paeds dysphagia competency level C

• Experience working at paeds dysphagia competency level D

Knowledge

• Knowledge of processes and policies related to working in a neonatal setting e.g. safeguarding, developmental needs
• knowledge of assessment tools relevant to neonates to assess diagnose and treat neonates / infants

Skills

• excellent interpersonal skills including observation listening and empathy
• Ability to recognise own training and supervision needs
• Ability to interpret and apply evidence based practice

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.