Speech & Language Therapist (Band 5, Rotational)

Job summary Band 5 SLT - hours per weekCome and join our friendly, supportive team in sunny Devon!Due to additional investment, we have a brand new post within our band 5 rotational Speech andLanguage Therapist (SLT) service.
We are looking for an enthusiastic SLT who would like to work in conjunction with our three other rotational SLTs.
This post provides a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in supporting adult patients with a wide range of conditions.Our rotational post will offer the opportunity to work for one year in each of the following four settings;General Community and outpatients,Community Neuro-rehabilitation,In-patient Stroke rehabilitation unit,Plym Neuro Rehab Unit (our inpatient setting for complex patients with neurological conditions).
The post holder should be keen to working collaboratively within a team, possess excellent communication skills and have a desire to learn and develop.The SLT serviceis committed to CPD, research, audit and practice supervision.
We have a close working relationship with Marjons University and University Hospitals Plymouth.
If you like the sound of this post but would like more information, please feel free to call the team to discuss further.
Main duties of the job The post will involve working with a multi disciplinary team, ensuring that patients receive excellent SLT support in their home, place of residence or ward.
You will be supported by more senior and specialist therapists in the range of settings across the rotation.
You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in a range of areas, including dysphagia, aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, tracheostomy management and supporting patients with persistent disorders of consciousness.This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted.
Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall.
Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration.
We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place.
Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships.
Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities.
If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description Job responsibilities Please see full Job description in attachments section.
Below is a summary:Job OverviewToindependently manage an adult caseload of in-patients or community patients (with access to advice from more experienced and specialist speech & language therapists).To be responsible for assessment, diagnosis and development and implementation of treatment programmes for personal/shared caseload with access to clinical supervision and advice from senior colleagues and relevant others.To monitor non-complex dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) and liaise with more experienced SLT team members re management.
To act as named key-worker and communicate findings of assessments and recommendations to members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and medical staff at ward rounds, and co-ordinate appropriate care plans, goal planning and discharge process To be responsible for training patients, professionals, non-professionals and carers to support speech language and communication difficulties (SLCD) in relation to personal caseload (including raising awareness).
To be responsible for own case notes, and report writing for a range of purposes including legal, and contributing to the multidisciplinary goal planning process.To participate in a rotational pathway with other band 5 SLTs4.
SCOPE AND RANGE To work as a member of the adult SLT service, supporting patients in community and inpatient settings as part of a rotational post.
The post provides an opportunity to work for a year in each of four locations (Community SLT, Community Neuro Rehab, In patient Stroke Rehab and the Plym Neuro Rehab Unit, PNRU) and is part of the Adult Frailty and Specialist Services Directorate.
The role may, on occasion, require the post holder to support other adult SLT services outside of the current rotation setting.
Responsibility for People Management To provide advice, training and support to less experienced speech and language therapists, assistants and volunteers.
To provide support and training in a variety of clinical areas through contributing to CPD sessions, supervision and other types of formal and informal training To contribute to and participate in Practice Supervision sessions To promote the SLT role within the wider MDT and Livewell framework To be able to recognise breakdown/conflict when it occurs and seek to reach resolution with support from line manager or Team Leader SLT if required.
To reflect on practice both individually and with peers/mentors and to identify personal strengths and development needs in order to raise clinical competence.
Responsibility for financial and/or physical resourcesTo be responsible for notifying senior staff of need to update equipment to meet caseload demands (according to service guidelines) To be responsible for maintaining equipment records and the safe use and security of clinical equipment.
To provide clinical activity data and routine recording of CPD, travel, and other related activity, observing data protection guidelines To ensure any day to day financial matters (eg dealing with petty cash/ expenses etc) are documented and processed correctly according to departmental policy.
To ensure clinical equipment is used correctly in accordance with Livewells safety and GDPR policies.
To identify where high -tech electronic communication systems are required to meet patient needs including assessment.
With support from more experienced colleagues, provide onward referral to AAC West or investigate identification and selection of appropriate aid, including potential funding sources.
With support, provide training for patients, carers, and other members of MDT in the effective use of communication equipment.
Responsibility for administration To ensure that all clinical records comply with professional registration and Livewell Southwest policies.
To ensure that all adaptations to communication and media comply with Accessible Information Standards.
To support general day to day admin and running of the department including taking telephone calls, and dealing with clinical and non clinical administration as required by the service.
Responsibility for people who use our services To independently manage personal caseload with reference to theory, published research and evidence and agreed best practice.
To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret case related information and data from patients, carers and other relevant sources.
To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments as indicated by the presenting SLCD and/or dysphagia.
To reach differential diagnoses on the basis of evidence gathered from assessments and other sources and with reference to theory.
To assess, manage and advise patients with dysphagia and their families with support from more experienced Speech and Language Therapists when required.
To attend ward rounds and MDT hand over meetings to update the MDT on individual patient goals and specialised care plans.
To develop patient-centred treatment/management plans ensuring patient/carers are fully involved in the decision making process.
To be responsible for the writing and dissemination of clinical reports based on assessment and treatment findings to appropriate professionals and relevant others.
To be responsible for triage, management and discharge of patients in relation to personal caseload without direct supervision.
To communicate complex information to patients whose ability to understand and co-operate is the primary difficulty and where a range of means and levels of communication are required.
To appropriately explain complex and sensitive case related information to patients and their carers.
To demonstrate empathy and reassurance when providing patients and carers with unwelcome information that has long-term implications where the communication difficulties are not likely to resolve.
To monitor, recognise and evaluate changes in the patients condition and adapt the assessment and treatment programme accordingly.
To identify, and communicate risk factors for impaired swallow and communication difficulties.
To recognise the need for onward referral for more specialist SLT intervention, further assessment or multidisciplinary advice.
To negotiate with carers/patients and professionals around individual case diagnosis and management where others have less specialist knowledge and/or experience in relation to speech, language, communication, and dysphagia and differences of professional judgement can occur.
To pass on skills to inform and enable other professionals and carers to agree and carry out individualised treatment programmes and advice clarifying individual patients levels of understanding thereby helping them give informed consent for complex procedures/life choices.
To be responsible for training and advising patients, carers, professionals, and non-professionals how to support speech, language, communication and dysphagia.
To contribute to clinical teams, both multi and uni-disciplinary, by discussing and negotiating own and others input around patients needs, ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan based on best practice, evidence and care pathways.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential Degree or equivalent in speech and language therapy HPC Registration RCSLT Registration RCSLT Level C dysphagia competencies (completed) Evidence of on-going education and professional development Computer literate Recognized qualification in written and spoken English if this is not first language Desirable Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Network RCSLT accredited post-graduate dysphagia training or a willingness to undertake Experience Essential Autonomous practitioner with experience of managing a caseload Experience in communication assessment and treatment planning Experience in dysphagia assessment and management Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team in a rehabilitation setting Evidence of CPD Desirable Experience of working with staff from other agencies Experience of teaching/ training Experience of working with Long term conditions and patients with neurological impairments Placement experience in a relevant setting Knowledge and Skills Essential Excellent knowledge of SLCD differential diagnosis in adult neuro client group.
Demonstrate an understanding of multi-disciplinary team working and individual roles Knowledge of outcome measures within adult neuro client group.
Knowledge and understanding of Clinical Governance Good skills in clinical assessment, intervention and evaluation Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken Excellent time management and organizational skills Ability to work in teams Excellent IT skills Knowledge of computer assisted therapy and AAC devices Ability to access/travel to patient homes across the Plymouth area Desirable Skills in clinical assessment, intervention and evaluation.
Evidence of special knowledge/interest in aphasia and/or motor speech disorders.
Innovative.
Flexible and able to cope with changes in setting as part of rotational post.
Able to cope with emotionally challenging situations (with support from senior staff).
Experience with computer assisted therapy and AAC.