Job summary
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust - Permanent: Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Rotational) We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to work in a rotational role between the community and inpatient teams within Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job
Main Duties This is an excellent role to develop a range of specialist skills in varied clinical settings. The successful candidate will share our commitment to excellence and ensure high standards of evidence based therapy practice. You will have experience of working with adults with acquired disorders and will be able to demonstrate established competence in both dysphagia and communication disorder management. There are four rotations, with each rotation period lasting for 9 months:

• Acute Team (Inpatients - Queen Elizabeth Hospital)
• Lewisham Community Therapies (Community Stroke - Lewisham)
• Acute Team (Inpatients - University Hospital Lewisham)
• Stroke Team (Inpatients - University Hospital Lewisham)

The postholder will initially join the rotation with the Lewisham Community Stroke Team. Competency with the assessment and management of adults with acquired communication and swallowing impairment post stroke is desirable. University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) has a well-established Videofluoroscopy clinic as well as inpatient and outpatient FEES services for your patients where you can develop basic competencies as part of your inpatient rotations. Experience with managing patients with Tracheostomy and competency is also desirable - we have a comprehensive MDT competency programme around critical care and tracheostomy management and you will be supported to achieve competencies.

About us
Please refer to the Applicant Guide via the link below for key information:- Applying to LGT Guide - Key Information for Applicants
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE

• To provide a specialist SLT service within the Band 6 rotation to patients from stroke, acute (medical and surgical) and Critical Care wards at University Hospital Lewisham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and those based in the community.
• To assess, diagnose and manage adult clients with acquired swallowing and\or communication disorders, using sound theoretical knowledge to inform advice, support and therapy.
• To work closely with the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) in the management and discharge planning of these patients in an acute setting
• To assist the Head of Speech and Language Therapy with service evaluation and development

KEY RELATIONSHIPS Site Lead SALT Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Acute Care Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Stroke Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist HEN Team L&G Acute & Stroke Consultants All Therapists/Leads in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Dietetics All L&G Speech and Language Therapy Staff L&G nursing staff Referring Hospitals Social Services Community Services Home Enteral Nutrition Team MDT & Community Head & Neck Team GPs Voluntary Services Academic Institutions Acute & Stroke Specialists external to L&G DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1.0 Clinical 1.1 To use specialist skills to assess, differentially diagnose and manage complex patients with acquired swallowing and communication disorders from the stroke, acute and critical care wards at University Hospital Lewisham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and community services according to the rotation. 1.2 To manage and prioritise patient caseload independently, taking into account a complex range of clinical, practical and contextual factors, such as service availability and the need to carry out additional duties

• To further develop skills in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of patients with tracheostomy who have swallowing and communication impairments and to provide input to these patients for tracheostomy weaning with support from senior colleagues.
• To be highly flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions
• To demonstrate developing clinical skills for interpretative assessment techniques and interventions in the care of patients with tracheostomies, including those requiring ventilation on the Intensive Care Unit.
• To develop and demonstrate specialist clinical skills for interpretative assessment techniques and interventions involving instrumental procedures e.g. videofluoroscopy and FEES.
• To ensure effective joint working with the Multi-Disciplinary Teams in the management and discharge planning of patients within the caseload.
• To negotiate therapy goals with patients, their carers and the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• To provide information, support and training to relatives and patients
• To employ counselling skills with patients and carers with highly complex needs including those related to terminal illness, death and severe disability or disfigurement.
• To participate in MDT decision-making process around consent to treatment (e.g. PEG and non-oral feeding) taking full account of the legal and ethical considerations.
• To write therapy programmes to be carried out by the speech and language therapy assistant.
• To demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of the current rotation, underpinned by current evidenced based practice.
• To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the respective fields. To maintain HPC and RCSLT registration and ensure it is up to date.
• To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in your clinical area.
• To write reports for other professionals reflecting your knowledge of communication and swallowing.
• To communicate complex condition related information from assessment and intervention to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.
• To attend ward rounds, case conferences, rehabilitation meetings and other multidisciplinary meetings. To ensure a two-way exchange of information with these parties to help decide on the best course of intervention for each individual.
• To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
• To provide advice on speech and language therapy to non-specialists and other specialists/professionals within clinical field.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
• To participate in the development and delivery of training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise.
• To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of clients and carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies, lone working and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
• To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate

2.0 Organisational 2.1 To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies. 2.2 To use your specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate 2.3 To attend meetings at the request of the service manager. 2.4. To consult with service users regarding service developments wherever possible, within existing resources. 2.5 To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness within Speech and Language Therapy and the Trust in general. 2.6 To develop care protocols/packages informed by the evidence of your clinical specialism in liaison with your supervisor and/or service manager. 2.7 To develop Clinical Governance/audit projects within the speech and language therapy services. 2.8 To develop local clinical guidelines informed by the evidence of your clinical specialism. 2.9 To demonstrate the ability to reflect on your practice with peers and mentors and identify your own strengths and development needs 2.10 To participate in Personal Development Reviews ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating to the clinical specialty. 2.11 To keep accurate and complete records of the amount of time spent on clinical activities in order to monitor effectiveness and facilitate service delivery. 2.12 To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building 2.13 To assist with the identification of training needs within the team.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Fully registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Registration with HCPC
• Successful completion of post graduate dysphagia training

Experience
Essential

• Relevant experience of working with adult acquired disorders, including independent practice in dysphagia management

Desirable

• Experience of working with patients with tracheostomies in inpatient settings.
• Awareness of and experience with objective assessment methods for dysphagia including Videofluoroscopy and FEES
• Awareness and interest in alternative and augmentative communication

Knowledge
Essential

• Evidence of knowledge of own clinical skills and initiative in continuing development
• Knowledge of evidence base for effective treatment for adults with communication and swallowing disorders
• Knowledge of particular needs of patients in this setting
• Knowledge of national policies and guidelines relevant to setting
• In-depth knowledge of assessment tools relevant to assessment of acquired disorders

Desirable

• Knowledge of recent changes in NHS

Personal Qualities and Skills
Essential

• Ability to learn from clinical experience
• Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical practice
• Presentation skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Basic IT skills
• Ability to understand professional boundaries and seek advice as appropriate

Desirable

• Ability to supervise students and newly qualified Speech and Language Therapists
• Ability to carry out audit

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

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

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.