Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist inColchester inColchester PUBLISHED 21 DEC 2023

Band 6: £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum pro rata PERMANENT

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust rW0iZN1S

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You will join our friendly and dedicated multidisciplinary Older Persons Community and in-patients Mental Health Therapy Service. We have monthly, clinically focused, departmental meetings where cases are discussed and we learn from each other. You will receive regular professional supervision and professional development is positively encouraged. We are supportive of flexible and home working.

Clinical Duties:

To manage complex and specialist caseload independently. To manage and prioritise own workload and caseload independently.
To assess clients referred for specialist Speech and Language Therapy.
To utilise specialist assessments when presented with complex cases.
To undertake treatment planning, communicating and negotiating treatment plans and clinical reasoning for intervention with clients and their carers.
To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
To provide specialist professional advice regarding the management and care of patients with dementia &/or feeding and swallowing difficulties, where appropriate.
To make decisions on the level of treatment intervention required.
To communicate agreed treatment/care plans to multi-disciplinary team colleagues and partnership agencies and liaise with them at formal and informal meetings.
To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to service users, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.
To work closely with service users, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management.
To demonstrate empathy with service users, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
To undertake joint assessments with other professionals within the specialist area of dementia.
To manage a complex caseload.
To regularly review clients progress in order to evaluate and interpret effectiveness of treatment plans, and amend treatment or discharge clients accordingly.
To ensure that the treatment offered is based on the best available evidence.
To keep up to date clinical records in line with professional standards and local record keeping policies. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local Trust policies.
To provide written and verbal reports reflecting specialist knowledge as required at any stage in the treatment process in line with Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Governance Standards.
To advise the line manager on issues of service delivery within own area.
To assume delegated tasks as deemed appropriate by the line manager.
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
To share information with others as and when appropriate, observing data protection guidelines and local Speech and Language Therapy guidelines.

Indirect Clinical Duties:

To attend clinical case discussions at meetings or ward rounds.
To participate in clinical audit, research and evidence based practice.
To undertake day to day clinical prioritisation and work planning for small teams.
To identify clinical service needs and initiate projects, which could be developed in order to meet challenges.
To promote the roles and skills of Speech and Language Therapy to other professionals, students, clients and carers.
To contribute constructively to multi-disciplinary team working.

Profession Specific Duties:

To attend professional Speech and Language Therapy meetings as required.
To take responsibility for developing as a professional.
To maintain a continuing professional development portfolio.
To undertake annual appraisal.
To contribute constructively to the supervision process.
To provide supervision to junior staff and students.
To occasionally represent the Speech and Language Therapy profession at service development forums.
To comply with policies and agreed procedures for annual leave, sickness and time owing.
To complete daily diary sheets for statistical purposes.
To supervise a minimum of one student per year.
To participate in the induction and development of Speech and Language Therapy staff within the Service
To participate in specialist training in area of clinical expertise, specifically in communication and dysphagia.
To assist with the identification of training needs within own area.
To participate in the recruitment and induction of Speech and Language Therapy staff within the service.
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
To attend meetings as required and deemed appropriate by the Head of Service to maintain lines of communication and contribute to the overall purpose e.g. staff meetings, Service Planning days etc.
To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework.
To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the field of adults with dementia and maintain up to date HPC and RCSLT registration.
To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.
To participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical specialism, e.g. dementia protocol.
To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in adults with dementia.
To provide a service to those patients who have specific eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties alongside other Health Professionals e.g. Acute Hospital SLTs, Consultants, Dieticians etc.
To request more expert advice where appropriate and to refer for specialist medical advice/assessment where necessary.
To maintain a high professional standard of practice as designated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Head of Service.
To ensure that relevant issues are discussed at regular clinical and management Supervision sessions and management support is sought where appropriate.

This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside a band 7 Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Lead and Band 5 Speech and language Therapist, as part of our multidisciplinary Older Persons Community and in-patient Mental Health service. You will apply your specialist knowledge and skills in communication disorders and dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing disorder) in the care and management of older people.

The successful applicant will have a passion for promoting the dignity and quality of life of older people, be well organised, and have an understanding of cognitive impairment and dementia. You will receive regular supervision and professional development is positively encouraged.

Manage a complex and specialist caseload independently.
Utilise specialist assessments when presented with complex cases.
Undertake treatment planning, communicating and negotiating treatment plans with clients and their carers.
Provide specialist professional advice regarding the management and care of patients with dementia, feeding and swallowing difficulties.
Communicate agreed treatment/care plans to multi-disciplinary team colleagues and partnership agencies.
Demonstrate empathy with service users, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
Undertake joint assessments with other professionals within the specialist area of dementia.
Provide written and verbal reports reflecting specialist knowledge as required at any stage in the treatment process in line with Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Governance Standards.

Clinical Duties:

To manage complex and specialist caseload independently. To manage and prioritise own workload and caseload independently.
To assess clients referred for specialist Speech and Language Therapy.
To utilise specialist assessments when presented with complex cases.
To undertake treatment planning, communicating and negotiating treatment plans and clinical reasoning for intervention with clients and their carers.
To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
To provide specialist professional advice regarding the management and care of patients with dementia &/or feeding and swallowing difficulties, where appropriate.
To make decisions on the level of treatment intervention required.
To communicate agreed treatment/care plans to multi-disciplinary team colleagues and partnership agencies and liaise with them at formal and informal meetings.
To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to service users, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.
To work closely with service users, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management.
To demonstrate empathy with service users, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
To undertake joint assessments with other professionals within the specialist area of dementia.
To manage a complex caseload.
To regularly review clients progress in order to evaluate and interpret effectiveness of treatment plans, and amend treatment or discharge clients accordingly.
To ensure that the treatment offered is based on the best available evidence.
To keep up to date clinical records in line with professional standards and local record keeping policies. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local Trust policies.
To provide written and verbal reports reflecting specialist knowledge as required at any stage in the treatment process in line with Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Governance Standards.
To advise the line manager on issues of service delivery within own area.
To assume delegated tasks as deemed appropriate by the line manager.
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
To share information with others as and when appropriate, observing data protection guidelines and local Speech and Language Therapy guidelines.

Indirect Clinical Duties:

To attend clinical case discussions at meetings or ward rounds.
To participate in clinical audit, research and evidence based practice.
To undertake day to day clinical prioritisation and work planning for small teams.
To identify clinical service needs and initiate projects, which could be developed in order to meet challenges.
To promote the roles and skills of Speech and Language Therapy to other professionals, students, clients and carers.
To contribute constructively to multi-disciplinary team working.

Profession Specific Duties:

To attend professional Speech and Language Therapy meetings as required.
To take responsibility for developing as a professional.
To maintain a continuing professional development portfolio.
To undertake annual appraisal.
To contribute constructively to the supervision process.
To provide supervision to junior staff and students.
To occasionally represent the Speech and Language Therapy profession at service development forums.
To comply with policies and agreed procedures for annual leave, sickness and time owing.
To complete daily diary sheets for statistical purposes.
To supervise a minimum of one student per year.
To participate in the induction and development of Speech and Language Therapy staff within the Service
To participate in specialist training in area of clinical expertise, specifically in communication and dysphagia.
To assist with the identification of training needs within own area.
To participate in the recruitment and induction of Speech and Language Therapy staff within the service.
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
To attend meetings as required and deemed appropriate by the Head of Service to maintain lines of communication and contribute to the overall purpose e.g. staff meetings, Service Planning days etc.
To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework.
To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the field of adults with dementia and maintain up to date HPC and RCSLT registration.
To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.
To participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical specialism, e.g. dementia protocol.
To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in adults with dementia.
To provide a service to those patients who have specific eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties alongside other Health Professionals e.g. Acute Hospital SLTs, Consultants, Dieticians etc.
To request more expert advice where appropriate and to refer for specialist medical advice/assessment where necessary.
To maintain a high professional standard of practice as designated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Head of Service.
To ensure that relevant issues are discussed at regular clinical and management Supervision sessions and management support is sought where appropriate.

Manage a complex and specialist caseload independently.
Utilise specialist assessments when presented with complex cases.
Undertake treatment planning, communicating and negotiating treatment plans with clients and their carers.
Provide specialist professional advice regarding the management and care of patients with dementia, feeding and swallowing difficulties.
Communicate agreed treatment/care plans to multi-disciplinary team colleagues and partnership agencies.
Demonstrate empathy with service users, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
Undertake joint assessments with other professionals within the specialist area of dementia.
Provide written and verbal reports reflecting specialist knowledge as required at any stage in the treatment process in line with Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Governance Standards.