Bank Speech and Language Therapist - Band 5 / 6 / 7 | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Work as part of the speech and language therapy team and be responsible for assessment and management of a clinical caseload of patients with speech and language therapy needs.

Undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of patients using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine a diagnosis and to determine a therapy management plan. (With support from senior/experienced SLTs).

Work with the individual and their care team to develop Communication Care plan, Dysphagia care plans and risk assessments within competency level identified within supervision.

Develop communication profiles with individuals and their care teams to support them to improve access to therapy.

Promote health and reduce inequalities for all patients accessing the speech and language therapy service, so that they may be able to maximise their potential in terms of health education and social well-being.

Contribute to training and development programmes as appropriate to the knowledge and skills of the individual, delivering to other professionals and service users.

Be responsible for own continuing professional development and maintaining own professional registration and meet HPC registration requirements, maintain a professional portfolio and demonstrating evidence of reflective practice.

Undertake mandatory training as in line with MCFT policy and attend updates and study days as appropriate to the post.

Bank working allows you to negotiate your working patterns with your employer, ensuring flexibility, especially for those who wish to work reduced hours, those who wish to work term time only, those studying, approaching retirement or travelling. You may wish to pick up bank hours whilst you are undergoing recruitment checks in other organisations, ensuring you can continue to develop your knowledge, skills and experience and have a continued source of income.

Have in depth knowledge of HPC standards and guidance, understand implications for and be able to apply to practice, e.g., HPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/HPC Standards of Proficiency.

Our SALT teams are well-established consisting of skilled and experienced clinicians. We have a senior AHP leadership team visible across all areas and are working collaboratively to develop and invest in SALT services and career opportunities from apprenticeships to advanced clinical practice posts. We also have an established preceptorship programme which is highly valued by our new starters and supervision is available from our highly specialist therapists.

Within Speech and Language Therapy, and other professions, bank staff can help to temporarily fill vacancies whilst permanent recruitment is underway. In some cases, bank staffing may facilitate ongoing service provision when needed and short-term pilot, audit or project opportunities without the commitment to a permanent contract.

To provide evidence-based speech and language therapy assessment, treatment and intervention to service users who have communication and/ or eating and drinking difficulties, as a consequence of a range of physical and mental health conditions such as: Learning Disability, Motor Neuron Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia, Mental illness. To apply competences in core speech and language therapy skills to the role. The caseload may cover the whole spectrum of communication disorders e.g.,

non-verbal communication, dysfluency, high level language/social use of language/mental health and autistic spectrum condition as applicable to the service. The role will be Integrated within the therapy Team and will work with the team to develop person centred care plans.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.