Speech and Language Therapist – Upper Airways and Voice inHeadington inHeadington PUBLISHED 1 NOV 2024

Dear prospective candidate,

Thank you for taking the time to review the details of this exciting role.

We are looking forward to welcoming an enthusiastic, hard-working and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to provide maternity leave cover, working in the specialisms of Upper Airways and Voice. This is a great opportunity for those who are already practicing in a Voice speciality, and wishing to expand their skillset into Upper Airways, which is a growing and developing aspect of Speech Therapy practice.

The hours per week and length of contract can be flexible around the needs of the applicant; we can consider up to full time working (for a shorter contract length), or part time working (for longer contract length).

The successful person in post will join the experienced, friendly, and friendly Adult Speech and Language Therapy Team. Collectively, the SLT team works across a broad range of both inpatient and outpatient areas across the Trust sites, including Stroke, Neurosciences, Head and Neck Cancer, General Inpatients, Critical Care, and Voice/ENT workstreams. The Team also works closely with wider SLT services both within the Trust and the wider Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System (BOB ICS).

If you are interested in this role, please take the time to contact me.

With best wishes,

Charlie

Charlie Howland

Service Manager - Adult Speech and Language Therapy

The post holder will be a specialist Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in voice and upper airway disorders. The post holder will work closely with the Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Lead for Voice/ENT to assess, diagnose and manage voice and upper airway disorders for outpatients. They will be an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team, providing delivering a service which demonstrates evidenced based, effective, and efficient clinical care for this caseload. The postholder will work within the SLT team, the Special Airways MDT, ENT team, to deliver this service in the outpatient setting.

The post holder will:

Use highly specialist clinical skills to identify, assess, diagnose and manage a specialist caseload of adults with voice and upper airway disorders including chronic refractory cough and Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction.

Be part of the Speech and Language Therapy Department, and work closely with MDT colleagues in aspects of patient care

Contribute to audit, quality improvement and service development projects in these clinical areas.

Independently support students on placement for clinical teaching and supervision

Provide necessary cover for the caseloads of other Speech and Language Therapists within the Trust during periods of annual / sick leave.

About us

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Patient Care

1. To assess, develop and implement specialist evidence based Speech and Language Therapy interventions. To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessments, including differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment, and to develop care plans based on best practice.
2. To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge.
3. To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes. The post holder will use these specialist skills to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues.
4. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients with voice, communication and swallowing disorders.
5. To work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team to achieve patient centred care.
6. To liaise with a wide range of professionals across a variety of locations and agencies.
7. To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of patients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived needs.

Policy / Service Development / Implementation

1. To represent Speech and Language Therapy at multi-disciplinary team meetings, ensuring delivery of coordinated care.
2. To be aware of, adhere to and implement Service and team plans and policies including:

Providing regular, timely statistical data in keeping with Trust requirements

Maintaining high quality clinical records in accordance with Service and Trust Guidelines and within data protection guidelines

Ensuring understanding and adherence to Trust health and safety requirements, including attendance on mandatory training courses

To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise e.g. exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions encountered on a regular basis

Participation in the Trust incident reporting and risk management procedures

3. To use specialist knowledge to inform Service / policy developments as appropriate and to implement policy within own specialist area.

4. To participate in the implementation of Service / Trust Clinical Governance Plan.

Financial and Physical Resources

1. To monitor stock levels in own area and to request new equipment as required.
2. To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained, including equipment loaned to patients.

Human Resources

1. To supervise and mentor junior Speech and Language Therapists, unregistered staff such as Speech and Language Therapy Support Workers and therapy assistants.
2. To participate in student clinical placements and to assist in the support of students from other professional groups.
3. To be able to clearly explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and other professionals.
4. To participate in ongoing specialist training in area of clinical expertise.
5. To assist in the identification of training needs within the team.