Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - NHS

Job overview

People with intellectual disabilities and autistic people with intellectual disabilities disproportionally experience communication barriers when accessing health care.

We are excited to be advertise this full time (permanent) band 6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist role to work with the Acute Liaison Team in acute and inpatient settings across Nottinghamshire for 3 days a week. For the remaining 2 days, the successful candidate will work within our Community Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities teams to act as the link between inpatient and community Speech & Language Therapy teams.

You will be well supported by senior colleagues, with many opportunities for peer support. The role involves close work with colleagues from a range of disciplines and the post is supported by an assistant SLT.

You will enjoy close links with our team and our SLT colleagues within the East Midlands, and benefit from excellent levels of support, supervision, IT and CPD opportunities.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Main duties of the job

You will be contributing to a multi-disciplinary service supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to access acute health care in hospital settings across Nottinghamshire.

You will liaise and advice with families, carers, and health care colleagues in how to support adults with lifelong communication needs during their inpatient care.

In the community you will be involved in making planned health appointments accessible by being a link between community and inpatient services.

In addition, you will be working in Community Intellectual Disabilities Teams supporting with communication (from a health and mental perspective) as wells as carrying a small dysphagia caseload.

Working for our organisation

Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Specialist speech, language, and communication assessments focusing on functional communication and what reasonable adjustments (Accessible Information Standards) should be in place to support the person’s needs.

You will be responsible for contributing to the identification of speech, language and communication needs, through understanding neurodevelopmental communication differences, and highlighting communication risks and reasonable adjustments when formulating as team and considering risk management.

In the community, you will be involved in the assessment, formulation, and recommendations to support the individual’s eating, drinking, and swallowing needs.

The role requires a high level of clinical and professional expertise in order that adults with speech, language and communication needs can benefit from a well co-ordinated pro-active, specialist, efficient and effective speech and language therapy service within the designated setting.

Co-working with your MDT colleagues, families, and carers to enable their inclusive communication practices in their relationships, care, and interactions with the individual.

Attendance at meetings with and on behalf of Acute Liaison Service, Community Intellectual & Development Teams, and the patients you are supporting.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Recognised SLT Degree/diploma NQ competencies completed RCLST Registered HPCP Registered / applied for

training

• Evidence of relevant post qualification CPD
• Post basic dysphagia training or completed competencies

• Portfolio of relevant post qualification CPD

experience

• Working experience of assessing and managing caseloads within clinical area
• Experience of effective multi-disciplinary/agency working and established interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Experience of enabling different staff groups to understand issues around communication and/or dysphagia

• Experience of delivering a variety of approaches to SLT service delivery
• Experience in developing evaluation / audit tools and resources as part of SLT team
• Experience of delivering Learning and development opportunities for others

Knowledge

• knowledge of SLT delivery including the use of different approaches and multi-disciplinary working, across different contexts and environments.
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group)
• Knowledge of different assessments and interventions to working with adults with health care needs

Skills

• Empathetic and psychologically minded
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, well organised, and good reasoning skills
• Motivated and a motivator, team builder and team member, and a reflective practitioner Ability to manage own well-being with access to supervision to sustain this.

Values and Behaviours

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust’s expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

• We reserve the right to close the post early once we have received a sufficient number of applicants.
• The Trust believes in treating everyone with dignity and respect and encourages applications from all sectors of the community. We guarantee an interview to candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum essential criteria.
• In submitting an application form, you authorise Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you. This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post. Should you require any further information please refer our Privacy Policy shown on the Trust website, please click here for more information.
• For eligible posts, DBS disclosures are mandatory before commencement of employment. If you are in a position that is deemed a regulated adult and/or child care role, you will not be able to start your employment until we have received a satisfactory DBS Disclosure. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Convictions which would otherwise be considered as 'spent' will also be checked as part of an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.