Job summary
To provide highly specialist, client-centred Speech and Language Therapy assessment, intervention, and advice to adults with acquired brain injuries within a community setting. The post holder will primarily work with individuals in their own home and local community environments, supporting individuals with a wide range of communication and swallowing difficulties as a result of an acquired brain injury.

Main duties of the job
To work as an integral member of the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Interdisciplinary Team, contributing Speech and Language Therapy expertise to develop shared rehabilitation goals that incorporate Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Psychology.

To provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy advice, training and support to carers, family members.

To collaborate, provide advice and training to other SALT's within NCIC.

To act as a specialist resource within North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust by providing expert opinion and highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy advice to ABI inter-disciplinary team members, patients, family members, care workers, a wide range of professionals, and to other Speech and Language Therapists working within the trust.

About us
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:
Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information. This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

Registered Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals returning to practice, moving into new roles or changing clinical environments, may access an agreed preceptorship period.

Disclosure and Barring Service:
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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:
Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

• 27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• Flexible working Scheme
• NHS Discounts*
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
• Excellent opportunities for development*
• Competitive NHS Pension scheme
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information:
Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Evidence of relevant post postgraduate training in ABI, dysphasia, or cognitive-communication disorders

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Post registration experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Experience of managing a specialist caseload, including clients with communication and/or swallowing disorders.
• Experience of contributing to multidisciplinary / interdisciplinary therapy programmes.
• Experience working with patients with acquired brain injury
• Experience of supporting patients with complex communication needs and/ or AAC systems.
• Specialist knowledge of: Speech, language and communications disorders. Cognitive-communication impairments. Dysphagia assessment and management
• Knowledge of current evidence paste practice relevant to SLT
• Understanding of clinical governance, risk management, and safeguarding.
• Awareness of the impact of physical, cognitive, emotional, social and cultural factors on communication.
• Knowledge of ABI rehabilitation approaches

Desirable

• Experience of contributing to service development or clinical pathways.

Skills and Aptitudes
Essential

• Ability to undertake and interpret specialist assessments using appropriate clinical reasoning.
• Ability to contribute to differential diagnosis within scope of practice.
• Ability develop and implement individualised therapy programmes.
• Ability to monitor, evaluate and adjust treatment plans based on client progress.
• Ability to identify and manage clinical risk, particularly in swallowing disorders, seeing support where required.
• Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to: Convey complex ad sensitive information clearly.
• Adapt communication for patients with communication and cognitive impairments.
• Supporting patients and carers in understanding diagnosis and therapy plans.
• Skills in managing challenging conversations and emotionally sensitive situations.
• Ability to prioritise a defined caseload independently.
• Ability to plan and organise assessment, therapy, and discharge processes.
• Ability to delegate tasks appropriately to support staff.
• To provide support and training to professionals, family members and carers on how best to support a patient with an ABI and who has Speech and Language needs

Other Requirement
Essential

• Ability to work independently within clinical guidelines, seeking support for highly complex or high risk cases.
• Ability to contribute to clinical decision making within scope of practice.
• Ability to maintain accurate and timely clinical records and reports.
• Understanding of own professional limits and when to escalate or seek advice.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Must be a travel independently across Cumbria.

Desirable

• Experience of supervising students

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.