Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist- Part Rotational

Job summary

Due to internal movement, our supportive, innovative and forward-thinking SLT team at QEHB has the opportunity to welcome a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist- for a fixed term period of 12 months.

This role will be partially rotational in nature and will benefit from static days within the medicine or healthcare for older people's team plus rotational days across many specialities including stroke, head and neck cancer, critical care, voice and respiratory care.

You will benefit from a robust supervision structure alongside innovation, participation in research and clinical/professional development being encouraged. You would be part of a well-established team which also benefits from SLT led Videofluoroscopy and FEES services so opportunities to access these instrumental assessments to help to shape your clinical practice would also be available.

QEHB benefits from one of the largest acute SLT teams in the country with more than 30 team members and our Trust is one of the largest teaching hospital Trusts in England serving a national and international population, treating over 2.8 million people every year.

The team offers:

• *SLT led FEES and videofluoroscopy
• *A full induction programme, robust supervision, regular team meetings & peer support
• *A wide range of opportunities for career development
• *Access to videofluoroscopy & FEES

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will have a clear passion in assessing and managing dysphagia and communication difficulties within a varied, acute setting.

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• *assessing and managing patients with swallowing and communication disorders
• *service development and audit.
• *working closely with the MDT
• *training of junior colleagues and students
• *working towards utilising specialist assessments such as FEES and videofluoroscopy
• *working flexibly and thriving in a fast-paced environment

We have a large team who share a caseload of diverse patient cohorts so being a team player is essential. We would welcome a candidate who is has experience working with patients in the specialist area, but our supportive team will be willing to support your development in these areas.

We would welcome interested candidates to get in touch for an informal discussion. Please contact Molly Metcalf (Inpatient clinical lead SLT) via [email protected] or 0121 371 3483.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Job responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc or recognised MSc degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Membership of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
• Current registration with HCPC.
• Completed RCSLT Level C/ EDS Level 5 dysphagia competencies (or above).
• Completed RCSLT NQP competencies.

Desirable

• Advanced competencies such as SVR, tracheostomy, FEES or videofluoroscopy.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within an adult inpatient setting.
• Experience of working independently with adult dysphagia caseload.
• Experience of working successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of assessment and management of dysphagia, dysarthria, dyspraxia, dysphonia, and dysphasia.
• Experience working with the speciality caseload.
• Experience of holding own clinical caseload.

Desirable

• Membership of a relevant Clinical Excellence Network (CEN).
• Experience supervising or training junior colleagues.
• Experience of working within the NHS.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of dysphagia, dysarthria, dyspraxia and dysphonia and dysphasia.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of treatment and management of patients with a range of acute and/or long-term progressive conditions.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information effectively.
• An awareness of the appropriate use of counselling skills.
• Excellent skills of persuasion, motivation, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills with people who have significant and complex communication and or swallowing difficulties.
• Systematic and organised.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability and passion to be involved with service development.
• Ability and passion to support and supervise junior members of the team.
• Keen to embrace change and work flexibly to support the patient caseload and wider team.
• Punctual and reliable.
• Ability to use required IT systems effectively.
• Ability to work weekends as part of a 7 day working pattern (when appropriate service delivery allows and commences).

Desirable

• Ability to communicate in more than one language (e.g. bilingual)