Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Adult Community Neuro
Job overview
If you are a highly motivated, enthusiastic and flexible Band 6 or experienced Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in working in Neurology, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join the Community Neuro-Rehabilitation team in the London borough of Greenwich.
This post will enable the successful post-holder to develop their skills across 3 caseloads:
- Neuro Rehabilitation Team
- Early supported discharge for Stroke
- Community SLT (non-neuro)
You will have the opportunity to be involved in appraisal, development and supervision of junior staff and students.
You will have the opportunity to refer, attend and develop competency in videofluoroscopy and FEES. You will also have the opportunity to facilitate communication groups and carry out innovative rehabilitation programmes including ICAP, EMST and sEMG.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide a speech and language therapy service to adults with communication and swallowing difficulties. You will be working as part of a multi-disciplinary team which includes Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Neuropsychologists, Specialist Nursing and Rehabilitation Assistants to manage those with neurological and non-neurological conditions including Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Dementia and COPD.
The team provides a service to the person in the place most suited to their current need (their place of residence, day centre, place of work, clinic). We also offer groups which are held in a clinic setting. You will need to be able to travel around the Borough of Greenwich independently.
We have access to videofluoroscopy and FEES at our local acute hospital, and independently carry out videofluoroscopy. Experience working independently in assessing and treating people with dysphagia is essential for this role. Experience working in the community would be a distinct advantage.
Working for our organisation
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies.Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children’s centres, schools and people’s homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs.We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We’re Kind
- We’re Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
- To provide specialist speech and language therapy input to clients with communication and swallowing impairments due to acquired neurological disorders, as part of the Greenwich Neurorehabilitation Team. This may be Early Supported Discharge, general neurology, or general community SLT input.
- To work as a lone and autonomous practitioner in the community.
- To manage a specialist caseload, including those with complex needs. Duties will include assessment, diagnosis, and therapy, planning therapy programmes and discharging patients.
- To work with specialist nurses and other health and social care practitioners to manage those with long term neurological conditions.
- To supervise therapy assistant practitioners and Speech & Language Therapy students, and if required, band 5 Speech & Language Therapists
Person specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential criteria- Professional Speech and Language Therapy Qualification
- Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registration
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Evidence of commitment to post graduate continuing education
- Qualification in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT)
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience in a Neuro setting which demonstrates the competencies to meet the role requirements outlined in the JD
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary setting
- Experience of participating in videofluoroscopy clinics
- Experience in a community setting
- Experience of supervising SLTs, assistants or students
- Experience organising and delivering therapy in group settings
- Experience providing training on speech and language therapy related topics
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential criteria- Completion of Level B Dysphagia Competencies
- Knowledge of a range of appropriate assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group (communication and swallow)
- Knowledge of evidence base for effective treatment for adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders
- Knowledge of supported communication and AAC systems
- Awareness of impact of communication/swallow impairments on service users/carers
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Good time management skills
- Basic IT skills including email, MS word, excel and PowerPoint
- Evidence of engagement in self-reflection and continuous personal development
Effort and Environment
Essential criteria- Ability to work with service users with complex social, mental and physical health issues in a variety of community locations including service user’s own homes
- Ability to prioritise own caseload with support
- Self-motivated
- Physically fit to meet requirements of post
- Experience of lone-working
Other
Essential criteria- Ability to travel between clinical venues in a timely manner
- Agree to participate in weekend work if required
- Car owner/driver
We would encourage you to be open about your needs so we can work with you to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.
If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.
We encourage applicants to contact the hiring manager before their interview, if they have any questions about the role or the process. This is a great way to get clarity and prepare effectively for the interview.
Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process. We also discourage overuse of AI during the application process because this can negatively impact the quality of your application and may hinder your chances of being shortlisted.Thank you.