Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Fulfil your potential in hospitals that make history:
Charing Cross, Hammersmith, St Mary’s, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea and Western Eye.
With five world-renowned hospitals, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is full of opportunity if you are looking to develop your healthcare career.
We are an NHS Trust of approximately 14,000 people, providing care for over a million and a half patients from north west London and beyond every year.
We have a rich heritage and an ambitious vision for the future of our patients and local communities.
With our partners, Imperial College London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, we form Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, one of 6 academic health science centres in the UK, working to ensure the rapid translation of research for better patient care and excellence in education.
We are proud of our heritage in innovation and we are early adopters of new insights in technologies, techniques and treatments for improving health.
Job overview
Are you passionate about providing a high quality Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) service to adult inpatients within a critical care setting? Are you looking for the chance to develop your career in a prestigious London Trust with access to highly skilled clinicians and multiple learning opportunities?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced speech & language therapist who exemplifies our Trust values to join our Adult Acute Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) Department on a fixed term contract. The post-holder will provide a highly specialist clinical SLT service to adult inpatients with communication and/or swallowing disorders resulting from acquired neurological/ medical/ surgical conditions of an acute or chronic nature, with a specific remit for patients within the critical care setting, including management of issues relating to tracheostomy and ventilator dependence.The Adult Acute service is provided to patients within the specialisms of Acute and Specialist Medicine, Neurosciences, Surgery, Cancer and Critical Care.
The post holder will work as an integrated member of the multidisciplinary teams providing assessment and management to critical care patients across a range of medical and surgical specialisms on the Charing Cross Hospital (CXH) site, and provide support to units on the St Mary’s (SMH) and Hammersmith Hospital (HH) sites if/as required.
As a senior SLT, you will also play a key role in participating in the development of the SLT service, including audit and research, and delivering teaching programmes to other professions. They will contribute to the development of junior staff, including clinical supervision and appraisal of junior SLTs.
The successful candidate will have completed competencies in tracheostomy management, be Level 2 FEES competent, and have experience of independently managing patients with complex communication and swallowing impairments in level 2 and 3 critical care settings.
Main duties of the job- The post holder may lead a team and be responsible for providing an advanced standard of care to patients at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, which covers a multi-cultural and diverse population.
- The post holder will supervise the work of other more junior staff and support workers.
- The post holder will assist the Clinical Lead in contributing to the planning, coordination, development and evaluation of the service. Together with other senior staff, you will act as a resource of specialist advice to the rest of the therapy service and other professions.
Working for our organisation
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree (or equivalent) in Speech and Language Therapy
- Clinical Experience in relevant clinical area, including implementing evidence based practice
- Advanced knowledge of assessment and treatment approaches for the effective management of relevant conditions
- Significant experience of MDT working
- Management skills or leadership training
- Competency in Videofluoroscopy
- Level 2A or above FEES competency
- Knowledge of recent NHS developments and their impact on service provision
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of implementing training of a range of SLT/MDT members
- Experience of service development and change management
- Knowledge of recent NHS developments and their impact on service provision
Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential criteria- Advanced skills in the appropriate application of a range of techniques and approaches to the management of relevant conditions
- Skills and experience in supervision, mentoring and coaching
- Management skills or leadership training