Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust's common purpose:
We will support you and your community to live well.
Our values:
CompassionSupportive and caring, listening to others.
OpenCommunicating openly, honestly and sharing ideas.
TrustTrusted to deliver, feeling valued and safe.
Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust provides high quality community health and care services which are responsive to the needs of our local population. Services are delivered by our dedicated and innovative multi disciplinary professionals and supported by equally committed staff behind the scenes.We strive to continue developing and improving our services by working with and listening to our populations, partners, commissioners and staff.
WCHC offers you a great opportunity to be a part of a talented, passionate and committed team delivering excellent community based services across Cheshire and Merseyside.
We are proud to support our Armed Forces Community as a Veteran Aware NHS Trust and are pleased to share that we recently achieved Bronze Award accreditation, in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We support the armed forces as an employer; recognising the experiences and skills ex-military personnel have gained through their service.
Job overview
To hold a clinical caseload in a specialist area such as DLD, speech disorder and/or pre-school complex needs.
To lead in service development work for specific areas of the Children's Speech and Language Therapy service.
To take a lead in clinical supervision, providing support in specialist clinical area.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a dynamic Speech and Language Therapist with excellent communication skills to join our Children's Community Speech and Language Therapy team, to lead in a specialist clinical area. The role will involve holding a caseload, leading on service developments in this clinical area and supervising other members of the team.
The post holder will work closely with all other members of the team, including more junior employees, where they will be expected to manage, supervise and delegate. The post holder will have experience of working with children and young people within their specialist area.The post holder will also have some experience of leading quality improvement projects.
You must have a Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification, be registered with the HCPC, be a member of the RCSLT, and have relevant experience. The ability to drive and have access to a car is essential.
This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a proactive, friendly Speech and Language Therapy service with regular clinical team meetings and personal development planning to meet CPD needs, and with regular access to supervision. This is a forward thinking, driven team who are always looking for ways to improve the service and think creatively about intervention and different ways of working.
Working for our organisation
HOW WE WILL SUPPORT YOU:
- We have a strong support network for both clinical work and wellbeing. Wellbeing is a strong focus within our team and organisation, and we strive to support each other at all times.
- We will provide opportunities to learn from highly experienced team members, including regular meetings and CPD sessions.
- We will provide both clinical and management supervision.
- We will provide opportunities for you to develop skills across a range of areas.
- We have opportunities to access external training if relevant to your role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Professional
Maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration, working to their standards of proficiency, conduct, performance and ethics.
Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to National, RCSLT and local clinical guidelines.
Be accountable for own professional actions and recognise professional boundaries seeking advice and support when necessary.
Obtain informed consent at each stage of care pathway from client/carer/relatives.
Maintain confidentiality.
Promote the department in a positive and professional manner.
Manage own time and prioritise tasks with minimal support.
Delegate to others, only those tasks that are within their known competencies.
Undertake training as necessary in line with the development needs of the post and as agreed with line manager as part of the personal development planning process.
Attend all mandatory training.
Participate in the department’s appraisal system.
Access the department’s supervision scheme, thereby reflecting on own practice with peers.
Contributes to the teaching of other SLT’s and other professional/lay groups.
Contribute to student placements as appropriate.
Patient Related
Manage a defined general and specialist caseload independently, following departmental guidelines with regard to the organisation of caseloads and standards. The therapist will monitor their own performance against these guidelines and standards, alerting the appropriate line manager when there are difficulties achieving them.The therapist will plan and prioritise his/her own patient workload
Provide a highly specialist second opinion service.
Provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to patients at a variety of locations.
Undertake assessments, and use highly specialist knowledge to inform clinical judgements/decisions for case management and structure clear care plans based on best practice for service users with communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
Communicate complex information from assessment to client/carers/relatives in a format that will enable them to fully understand the implications and actively participate in the care programme.
Negotiate confidently with client/carers/relatives around individual case management, recognising potential breakdown/conflict and using strategies to manage this before accessing advice.
Demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures as agreed within the department.
Demonstrate empathy with client/carers/relatives, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, even where there are barriers to understanding.
Adapt practice to meet individual patient’s circumstances, including due regard for culture and linguistic differences.
Where interpreters are required, the therapist will follow the departmental policy for accessing these services.
Work closely with client/carers/relatives and multi-disciplinary team members ensuring whenever possible a care package agreed by all
Refer on to other services, when appropriate, ensuring that consent is obtained from client/carers/relatives.
Deliver and lead complex care pathways.
Follow complaints policy, striving to resolve conflicts/disagreements at therapist and client level. Alert Team Leader as soon as difficulties appear unresolved.
Be aware of safeguarding policies and follow procedures.
Deliver the service from a variety of settings.
Resources used in assessment and treatment should be safe and appropriate for the age, ability and interests of client. They should meet the standards of infection control and safety. This includes equipment loaned to clients.
Ensure that accommodation is safe and appropriate, before undertaking any session. Problems, accidents etc should be reported following the incident/accident guidelines.
Be responsible for the security of and equipment in the clinical areas used by Speech and Language Therapy.
Management
Provide some operational line management duties which may include: return to work meetings, including referral to Occupational Health where appropriate; assisting in performance management; carrying out induction of new members of staff.
Formulate team and training plans for the specialist area, in liaison with the Team Leader, ensuring that the team provides evidenced based care and advice to clients.
Involvement in the recruitment and selection process for the team.
Contribute to developing the workplace as a learning environment.
Advise team leader/service lead on all issues of service delivery within specialist area.
Contribute to the interpretation and implementation of national and local policies relevant to specialist area.
Supervise staff within specialist area.
Information Governance
Maintain up to date and accurate manual and computer records in line with professional standards and local Trust policies.
Gather activity data accurately and regularly and ensure provision of such information promptly and with local Trust guidelines.
Provide minimum data for patients and record as required by each Trust.
Produce letters and reports as required and within stated time scales.
To be aware of and act in accordance with Wirral Community NHS Trust policies and procedures and code of conduct and professional practice.
Confidentiality to abide by the Data Protection Act 1998, by ensuring that all computerised information related to patients and other members of staff to which he/she has access in the course of employment, is regarded as strictly confidential.This rule applies to written information.
Research and Development
Participate in and conduct Clinical Governance/Audit projects within local service
Contribute to others’ research by providing data.
Contribute to departmental audit/research design and implementation.
This is not intended to be exhaustive and may be reviewed periodically with the post holder to ensure that the job relatesto the job being performed.
Person specification
Qualifications and professional training
Essential criteria- SLT degree or recognised equivalent
- Registered member of RCSLT
- Registered member of HCPC
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses
- Evidence of postgraduate study.
Experience and knowledge
Essential criteria- Minimum of 3 years qualified with relevant specialist experience
- Experience of supervising / mentoring junior staff / students
- Experience of training others in specialist area
- Can manage own caseload of complex problems independently
- Knowledge of current trends in the management of specialist area
- Experience of project management
Skills and attributes
Essential criteria- Can use a variety of assessment techniques
- Demonstrate analytical and reflection skills
- Understands and can use the principals of prioritisation
- Knowledge and experience of clinical governance/audit
- Experience in supporting staff and their development
- Competent computer skills and ability to utilise Information Technology
- Can demonstrate continuing professional development
- Demonstrates good auditory discrimination and ability to transcribe speech
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy
- Can convey ideas and information in a confident and easily understood manner, both written and verbal
- Adaptable to a varied and frequently changing work environment
- Able to work in difficult, distracting environments, with challenging clients and where intense levels of concentration are required
- Demonstrate ability to be a good team member
- Developed skills in negotiation and problem solving.
- Able to relate the values of the organisation to everyday practice
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Ability to motivate and inspire others
- Access to a car for work purposes
Important Information
By applying for this post you are agreeing to Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record system.
For further information explaining how we use your information in line with GDPR please see our ‘Guidance for applicants’ document under the section 'Additional documentation'.
We are a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer. WCHC is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce and we welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of disability, age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, maternity/pregnancy, marriage/civil partnership or transgender status.We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We actively encourage BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled applicants and value the positive impact that difference has on our teams. We are committed to equality and diversity within our workforce and are keen to support reasonable adjustments to support our new and existing staff.
We are proud to support our Armed Forces Community as a Veteran Aware NHS Trust and are pleased to share that we recently achieved Bronze Award accreditation, in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We support the armed forces as an employer; recognising the experiences and skills ex-military personnel have gained through their service.
Further Information:
Closing Dates: Candidates are advised to apply early. The Trust reserves the right to close a vacancy prior to the closing date if a high number of applications are received.
Reference Information: Please ensure your application is submitted with referees who can verify your employment/ education history over the last three years and include valid business email addresses for them. The Trust will not accept personal references from friends or family.
Salary Expectations: The Trust pays staff in line with national NHS Terms and Conditions. Relevant experience may be considered when salary offers are made. For all part-time positions, salaries are pro-rata.
Restricted Applications: Staff on the Trust's Redeployment Register will be given priority access to vacancies at their substantive band.
Flexible Working: Flexible working is very important to the Trust in both the provision of this to staff and also in staff supporting the provision of our services.
Student Visas: Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment.
Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust is committed to discharging its statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults and will support staff to fulfil this duty.