Job summary
Due to a side step within our SLT team, we have another exciting opportunity in Acute Medicine & Surgery!

We are seeking an enthusiastic clinical lead speech and language therapist with a passion for improving care and leading change within both the acute and outpatient services.

As a large teaching hospital and tertiary centre, we offer a diverse caseload across acute, emergency, critical care, surgical, frailty, admission avoidance and instrumental assessment services. The post holder will jointly lead the service across two sites with an established Band 7 Clinical Lead, reviewing service models, streamlining pathways, strengthening MDT working, and delivering education to improve care for patients with swallowing and communication needs.

This person will understand acute care and be motivated to deliver a high-quality service with a vision on how to improve patient outcomes and flow with the opportunity to work across the inpatient and outpatient pathway and in FEES and videofluoroscopy clinics.

The service supports evidence-based practice and CPD, offering opportunities to develop your clinical portfolio. Part-time and flexible working may be considered, with potential for Band 6-7 development for the right candidate.

Main duties of the job

• To lead and provide operational management of the Speech & Language therapy service to acute medicine and surgery.
• To lead service developments and support staff working.
• To use advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose and independently manage complex dysphagia and disorders of communication respectively.
• To represent speech and language therapy in multidisciplinary team settings and contribute highly specialist expertise for the management of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• To integrate with the multidisciplinary teams and contribute to training and education and quality improvement projects as appropriate.
• To demonstrate skills in motivating patients to engage in therapeutic process.
• To use excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and a flexible approach to work practice.
• To participate in instrumental assessment using videofluoroscopy and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
• To participate in appropriate trust level service developments which impact on the care delivered to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties.
• To maintain clinical professional development and be up to date with research and advancements within this clinical area.

About us
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust is a large acute organisation, delivering specialist services both locally and regionally. The Speech Therapy Department is situated at the Royal Preston Hospital site; however, we also deliver services to Chorley District Hospital (District Hospital).

We are a dedicated SLT service with excellent patient care at the core of our values, and our varied caseload provides complex presentations across dysphagia, communication and voice respectively. We have established VFS and FEES clinics, with in-service training to provide sustainability. We strive to continuously improve our SLT services through service development and innovation and are keen that audit / research are part of our clinical roles. We have strong clinical leadership within the department and structured clinical supervision and CPD is promoted.

You will join a large friendly team of speech and language therapists covering a range of specialist services. The department is rated 'GOLD' on the STAR quality assurance framework, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. CPD and training are well supported.

To find out more about us, look at our Twitter @SLT_LTHTR or Bluesky page @LTHTR-SLT

Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

• To communicate and collaborate with all SLT Stakeholders.
• To provide leadership and highly specialist clinical skills within acute medicine and surgery.
• To support personal and people development.
• To ensure the health, safety and security of self and colleagues.
• To support service development and planning.
• To support the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda within SLT.
• To support equality of opportunity and access withing SLT for both staff and patients.
• To directly support delivery of therapy to patients.
• To provide leadership and management support.

Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential

• HCPC registration
• RCSLT registration
• Graduate or post-graduate qualification in Speech and Language Pathology
• Post graduate courses in relevant clinical area of Speech and Language Therapy
• Evidence of CPD in relevant areas working towards master's level

Desirable

• Masters qualification or modules

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Highly specialised knowledge in clinical area
• Assess, diagnose and manage complex dysphagia
• Assess, diagnose and manage complex communication disorders
• Awareness of emerging assessment and treatment developments and able to critically appraise the evidence base
• Excellent MDT working skills.
• Experience of planning and delivering training/education to MDT

Desirable

• Trained in instrumental dysphagia assessment , VFS and FEES
• Experience undertaking local research projects
• Experience of working with an out-patient case load

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).