Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) with advanced skills and experience in acute inpatient services and Fiberoptic Endocscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).

You will provide clinical and site expertise to the SLT team working at Newham University Hospital (NUH), supporting in the development of the team in line with service and Trust objectives. You will support in the training and organisation of the FEES service at NUH.

Strong leadership, interpersonal and team-working skills are essential. You will support the clinical lead in providing clinical competency development to staff. You will be expected to lead on service development, quality improvement, devise and implement teaching, training and provide supervision.

You will work alongside the NUH therapies leadership team with service wide responsibility for specified projects so responding to and managing change effectively are essential skills required for this role.

We are looking for the best talent to join our ambitious Leadership team. In return, we provide excellent professional development opportunities in a supportive, nurturing environment.

The Newham therapy team is innovative, creative and friendly and works closely with colleagues from other disciplines to deliver safe, high quality patient care. So while we are improving, you can too. Newham University Hospital is a great place to work.

Main duties of the job
The aim of the role is to provide clinical leadership and expert clinical support to the SLT team working at Newham University Hospital as required. The post holder will lead on the development of the FEES service as well as support with other competency frameworks and improvement projects. The post holder will work as part of the senior SLT team and will be required to take service wide responsibility for specified projects. The job description will be modified on appointment to reflect clinical leadership portfolio depending on experience and service needs.

About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma or Degree in Speech Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Able to lead and develop instrumental swallowing assessment (FEES, VFS)
• DBS clearance
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at post graduate course/training equivalent to or at MSc level and relevant to clinical specialty
• Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) - competent to RCSLT FEES level 3 or above

Desirable

• Videofluoroscopy Competencies - to Greater Glasgow & Clyde Level 3 or above
• Leadership training
• Post graduate formal qualification relevant to clinical specialty
• Supervision training
• Evidence of relevant masters level qualification or equivalent specialist experience
• Member of the Royal College of Speech Language Therapists
• Involvement in relevant professional special interest group
• Competent in management of ventilated and non ventilated tracheostomy

Experience
Essential

• Leadership experience to demonstrate knowledge and skills required for the post including setting priorities, meeting deadlines within a complex and busy caseload and in line managing staff (supervision, appraisal, recruitment)
• Experience of successfully leading and implementing service improvement and change projects.
• Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating training programmes for SLT and MDT staff
• Operational management experience in a complex environment.
• Experience of working autonomously at an expert level with patients presenting with complex dysphagia and communication impairment in the acute setting

Desirable

• Experience of working with a community SALT team
• Experience of managing a budget.

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession.
• Understanding of current NHS guidance, issues, priorities and structure, with evidence of a high degree of knowledge in one or more clinical areas including frailty, critical care or stroke
• Able to demonstrate an in depth knowledge of policies and procedures relevant to acute in patient services.

Desirable

• Understanding of the principles of co-production and the importance of patient and public involvement in service development and evaluation

Skills
Essential

• Fluent in the use of MS Office applications.
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills
• Highly motivated and committed
• Shows a high level of initiative
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates flexibility, reliability and resilience
• Awareness of professional limitations
• Excellent analytical & organisational skills
• Ability to identify and assess the potential risks involved in work

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).