Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a current band 7 or experienced band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join the Tower Hamlets Community Neuro Team as lead Speech and Language Therapist. Tower Hamlets Community Neuro Team is a welcoming team, with opportunities for clinical development in specialist areas as well as experience in developing service-delivery. The post-holder will lead the Community Speech and Language Therapy provision and deliver assessment and intervention to a varied and complex caseload of adults referred with swallowing and / or communication difficulties, with neurological and non-neurological diagnoses in the community setting. The caseload will offer a range of clinical experiences and would be ideal for someone interested in consolidating existing skills in managing dysphagia and acquired communication difficulties including the Assessment and provision of assistive and augmentative communication (AAC) aids. Whilst videofluoroscopy competencies are not essential for this role, involvement in videofluoroscopy clinics will be part of the job plan and therefore videofluoroscopy skills/experience is desirable. The post holder will gain the opportunity of developing leadership skills and will supervise up to two band 6 Speech and Language Therapists and influence the operational direction of Speech and Language therapy within THCNT. Main duties of the job The post-holder will be based with the Community Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service within the Tower Hamlets Community Neuro Team (THCNT). The Community Speech and Language Therapy Services provide a domiciliary multi-disciplinary service to the residents of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with neurological and non-neurological diagnoses. The post-holder will provide specialist assessment, treatment and/or advice for patients with disorders of speech, communication, language and/or eating and drinking and will have advanced knowledge in augmentative and alternative communication aids. The post-holder will be available to give advice and provide training for team and external colleagues. The post holder will, under the management of the Allied Health Professional Lead take a lead role in coordinating SLT service development within the THCNT and take a lead role in the day to day management of the SLT's within the team.

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Post-graduate dysphagia training (competencies)
Desirable
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
• Member of relevant Special Interest Groups e.g. Head & Neck SIG, SIG, AAD, SIG Community & Domiciliary
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree equivalent
Experience Essential
• In depth level of post qualification experience working with adults with an acquired neurological disorder in a variety of settings
• Relevant highly specialist post qualification experience of working independently with adults with acquired dysphagia in at least one of the following settings; Community Rehabilitation, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Outpatient rehabilitation
• Experience of relevant SLT approaches in palliative patients with in depth experience of risk feeding principles
• Experience working in a Multicultural setting including use of interpreters
• In depth experience of multidisciplinary working and demonstrates ability to be a good team member
• Experience in participation in research, service evaluation or audit
• Experience of developing and delivering training to other SLTs / Professionals / members of the MDT
• Experience of supervising and appraising junior SLT staff including speech and language therapy students
Desirable
• Independent in video fluoroscopy
• Independent in SLT tracheostomy management in the community setting, Knowledge of relevant SLT approaches in palliative patients with in depth experience of risk feeding principles
• In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the area of neurology, oncology and other relevant areas of community rehab such as healthcare for the elderly
• Knowledge of high and low technology communication aids and their use with a range of adult clients
• In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance /audit
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals in neurology, oncology, community services
• Knowledge of the importance of cultural and linguistic issues for communication and swallowing
• Awareness of current issues, research and theory influencing the rehabilitation of clients in the community, including the social model of disability
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping
Person Specification Qualifications Essential
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Post-graduate dysphagia training (competencies)
Desirable
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
• Member of relevant Special Interest Groups e.g. Head & Neck SIG, SIG, AAD, SIG Community & Domiciliary
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree equivalent
Experience Essential
• In depth level of post qualification experience working with adults with an acquired neurological disorder in a variety of settings
• Relevant highly specialist post qualification experience of working independently with adults with acquired dysphagia in at least one of the following settings; Community Rehabilitation, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Outpatient rehabilitation
• Experience of relevant SLT approaches in palliative patients with in depth experience of risk feeding principles
• Experience working in a Multicultural setting including use of interpreters
• In depth experience of multidisciplinary working and demonstrates ability to be a good team member
• Experience in participation in research, service evaluation or audit
• Experience of developing and delivering training to other SLTs / Professionals / members of the MDT
• Experience of supervising and appraising junior SLT staff including speech and language therapy students
Desirable
• Independent in video fluoroscopy
• Independent in SLT tracheostomy management in the community setting, Knowledge of relevant SLT approaches in palliative patients with in depth experience of risk feeding principles
• In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the area of neurology, oncology and other relevant areas of community rehab such as healthcare for the elderly
• Knowledge of high and low technology communication aids and their use with a range of adult clients
• In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance /audit
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals in neurology, oncology, community services
• Knowledge of the importance of cultural and linguistic issues for communication and swallowing
• Awareness of current issues, research and theory influencing the rehabilitation of clients in the community, including the social model of disability
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping
  
  Tower Hamlets Community Neuro Team including Community Speech and Language Therapy Services (THCNT), Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients. Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together. We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.