Highly Specialist SALT in Neurorehabilitation

· To manage a complex caseload independently
· To provide leadership within appropriate specialist area(s)
· To assess, treat and manage caseload of adults with acquired communication and/or swallowing disorders relevant to highly specialist SLT skills. To use specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management

Working for our organisation
St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· To manage a complex caseload independently
· To provide leadership within appropriate specialist area(s)
· To assess, treat and manage caseload of adults with acquired communication and/or swallowing disorders relevant to highly specialist SLT skills. To use specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management
· To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes
· To monitor and evaluate own highly specialist service delivery and provide progress reports
· Maintain adequate records of assessment, management and treatment of patients/clients in keeping with Professional and Trust standards and reflecting highly specialist skills
· To manage and prioritise own caseload and workload independently
· To liaise with other colleagues and professional groups to refer patients/clients for further investigation and/or second opinion as required
· To counsel and advise others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties., · To take delegated lead on the development of team objectives or projects in liaison with peers
· To develop care protocols for specific clinical issues
· To advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
· To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups
· To develop care protocols/packages relating to specialist area in liaison with Team Manager to improve patient care
· To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development
· To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies
· To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate
Human Resources
· To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme, both as appraisee and as an appraiser.
· To attend and be an active participant in departmental staff and peer group meetings.
· To facilitate the development of others problem solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support
· To provide mentoring, advice and support and supervision to more junior Speech and Language Therapists, assistants and volunteers as requested
· To assume delegated responsibility for co-ordinating student placements within own section/team
· Provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate
· To provide second opinions to more junior colleagues
· To co-ordinate support of students from other professional groups as appropriate within section/team
· To identify training needs within section/ team
· To work with Clinical Lead to ensure training and development for all staff
· To attend specialist short courses, CENs and advanced training in clinical specialist area
· To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives relating to clinical specialism
· To participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence for clinical specialism
This job may involve frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions e.g. bodily fluids including sputum, unpleasant smells and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

Experience working in neurology and neurorehabilitation, as part of a team is essential. Experience in working with aphasia, cognitive communication disorder, dysarthria, apraxia and dysphagia is necessary. Experience working with FND or evidence of knowledge and skills relating to this caseload is essential.
The post is suitable for an experienced SLT who is dynamic and flexible with a commitment to new ways of working and has an innovative approach to patient centred care and efficient service delivery.
Excellent communication skills are essential and an interest in the process as well as the outcomes of rehabilitation is desirable., · To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues
· To negotiate with others around case management in complex cases
· To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management
· To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible. To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management
· To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
· To provide observation opportunities for students/other healthcare professionals
· To contribute clinically to both uni and multi disciplinary teams by discussing SLT and other team members input around client centred goals. Maintaining a coordinated management and treatment approach ensuring patients/clients, carers and families are involved in the planning and prioritization of their care plans wherever possible.
· To devise, implement and evaluate individualised treatment programs incorporating group treatment where appropriate
· To develop high level skills in the reflective ability to determine communication disorders through auditory and visual means as well as the knowledge of neurology and muscle function. These communication disorders include: dysarthria, apraxia, aphasia, cognitive communication difficulties.
· To set goals according to best practice
· To reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of client's communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness
· To develop high level skills in dysphagia assessment, treatment and management
· To have a working knowledge of the use of videofluoroscopy to support assessment and management of patients with dysphagia
· 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 work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals
· To demonstrate skills associated with working with people with complex disability and understanding of risk management
· To ensure confidentiality when sharing information with others, observing data protection guidelines
· To have an understanding of the principles of capacity assessment as described in the Mental Capacity Act 2005