Description
This is a great opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) to join our friendly and supportive Physical Health AHP Team, working across adult and older adult mental health inpatient services.
You will work with a varied and interesting caseload, supporting people with communication and swallowing difficulties, including those with dementia, acquired brain injury, stroke and other complex needs.
Working alongside Dietitians, Physiotherapists and the wider ward multidisciplinary teams, you will help deliver integrated, person-centred physical healthcare.
As a senior SaLT, you will have the opportunity to provide clinical leadership, share your expertise and contribute to the development of the service. You will work alongside experienced Band 7 clinicians, with support from the Team Manager and opportunities for professional development.
Main duties of the job
You will independently manage a varied caseload, providing specialist assessment and management of communication and swallowing difficulties across adult and older adult mental health inpatient wards.
Working closely with junior SaLT's, you will share your expertise, provide clinical supervision and support colleagues in assessing and managing complex clinical presentations. Clinical leadership and supervisory responsibilities will develop as you settle into the role, with support from the Team Manager.
You will contribute to multidisciplinary care planning, clinical decision-making and risk management, working collaboratively with ward teams and Physical Health AHP colleagues.
Alongside clinical work, you will help shape the SaLT service through multidisciplinary training, quality improvement, audit and service development. You will also share responsibility for deputising for the Team Manager with other senior AHP clinicians and within agree responsibilities when required.
Benefits
- Competitive salary: £55,524 to £62,652 a year
- Permanent, full-time position
- Opportunities for professional development
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
- Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Registration with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
- RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Level C/D (2014 framework or equivalent).
Experience
- Substantial post-qualification experience working with adults and older adults
- Independent assessment, management and review of acute and chronic dysphagia, including mealtime management and outcome evaluation.
- Assessment and intervention for speech, language and cognitive-communication needs in adults, including those with complex presentations.
- Experience managing a complex caseload autonomously within community or inpatient clinical settings.
- Effective multidisciplinary working to support patients with dysphagia and communication needs.
- Experience providing clinical supervision to junior SLTs and/or students.
- Experience delivering training or structured groups to service users and/or staff.
Skills
- Clear verbal and written communication with service users, carers and professionals, including high-quality clinical documentation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy, active listening and a collaborative approach.
- Ability to adapt communication to individual, cultural and linguistic needs.
- Sound professional judgement, effective problem-solving skills and confidence in clinical decision-making.
- Strong organisational, prioritisation and time-management skills.
- Ability to practise autonomously and manage competing clinical and non-clinical demands.
- Skills in developing and delivering structured groups