Rotational Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Speech and Language Therapist to join our exciting Band 6 rotation. We are looking for somebody who is committed to providing a high standard of care to patients within acute, rehab and voice services . The successful candidate will have experience working in dysphagia and communication within an acute setting as well as in stroke and neuro rehabilitation and preferably have worked in community settings and with voice patients.
Rotations include Hyper-Acute/Acute Stroke & Stroke Rehabilitation (based at St Peter's Hospital), Medical, ICU and voice (including clinics and based at St Peter's Hospital) and Neurorehabilitation (based at the Bradley Unit in Woking Community Hospital)
There is access to the SLT-led VF service and FEES service with opportunities to develop competencies in these interventions.
Delivering excellence in patient care and patient experience is our driving force. We are committed to personal development through supervision and appraisal, as well as internal/external training. Staff involvement in research and development is encouraged, with opportunities for service evaluation, audit and quality improvement initiatives.
There is a 7-day service across some teams, and you are expected to participate as per service requirements., The post holder will join our Band 6 rotation and carry out an acute, rehab and outpatient voice mix to their role. In addition the post holder will:
Undertake advanced assessments, clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurological conditions such as stroke and other acquired brain injuries which may be either acute or sub-acute conditions. These patients often have complex and / or chronic presentations.
Work as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant specialist clinical caseload, working without direct supervision.
Take a role in supervision and teaching of Speech and Language Therapists within clinical speciality and participate in multi-disciplinary team teaching.
Demonstrate leadership skills and contribute to service development and monitoring of standards of practice and developing multidisciplinary management of patients.
The Trust is moving towards 7 day working and this post holder will be expected to participate in providing a seven day service as part of their contracted hours on a rota system., To plan effectively the daily management of a caseload of patients by prioritising clinical work, responding to urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns.
To be able to prioritise clinical work and managerial work, and balance other patient related and professional activities as the department requires.
Patient Care Responsibilities
To undertake specialist assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multipathologies and to assess patients jointly with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
To use sound clinical reasoning skills, assessment techniques and diagnostic procedures to assess and develop treatment programmes.
To devise individualized Speech and Language therapy management and / or treatment plans, using a range of treatment/ management options, to include patient education.
To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive, timely discharge plans, liaising with ESD and community rehabilitation teams.
To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
To evaluate the outcomes of your interventions.
Communication / Relationship Skills
To communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a patient's care, both those from within the organisation and those outside, to ensure effective multidisciplinary working. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.
To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news relating to their rehabilitation potential and gaining consent for treatment.
To communicate any changes in care plan or treatment approach to the multi disciplinary team as necessary.
To ensure timely and effective communication with the Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist and senior staff on all professional matters.
To maintain accurate records in line with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy standards and Trust and service standards and policies.
To attend relevant board rounds, meetings and case conferences as appropriate in order to ensure appropriate management and effective and timely discharge of patients.
To attend staff meetings and actively participate ensuring understanding of information imparted.
Assess patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients in order to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This may include patients who will have difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g. patients who may be deaf, blind, or be unable to accept diagnosis or presenting condition or who have cognitive and behavioural problems.
To appreciate cultural differences and take these into account when agreeing treatment plans with patients.
To manage frequently highly stressful conditions
To manage patients who maybe occasionally aggressive or confused.
To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner
Analytical / Judgmental Skills
To undertake comprehensive assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/ multipathologies.
To use investigative and analytical skills to assess complex patients and support other more junior Speech and Language therapy staff with their patients as required.
To devise individualised Speech and Language Therapy management and / or treatment plans, using clinical reasoning skills.
To keep up to date with developments, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes to your clinical practice.
Personal and people development
To work as part of the Speech and Language Therapy team and Multi disciplinary team to provide an efficient and effective service.
To supervise junior Speech and Language Therapy staff where appropriate or therapy assistants.
To evaluate own and other's practice and identify own and other's development needs.
To participate in the appraisal scheme as an appraisee and appraiser.
Participate in the supervision of students.
Deputise for the team leader when required.
To provide training of junior staff, students, or assistants/technicians, other therapists, nursing staff and care workers within the clinical area.
To ensure professional competence is maintained by participating in all CPD opportunities and maintaining a portfolio.
To participate in training sessions as a recipient and facilitator.
To disseminate any training received to other staff and health care professionals.
To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development. This may include active participation in journal clubs, clinical reasoning and joint problem patient sessions.
Health, safety and security
To monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others.
Take responsibility for identifying and assessing potential risks involved in work activities and processes for self and others
To ensure completion of relevant risk assessments and associated documentation.
To take appropriate action, reporting actual or potential problems that may put health and safety and security at risk.
To be aware of risks involved as part of delivering clinical care and manage this within own patients caseload.
To demonstrate a good understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk, actively participating in clinical governance groups.
Policy and Service Improvement/ Development
To implement, within your clinical practice, standards and policies in each specialty and where applicable propose changes to working practice.
To assist the Team Leader and Clinical Lead in setting and monitoring of standards and policies of clinical practice for the team and evaluate outcomes.
Audit/Research & Development
To participate in appropriate work related evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the specialty.
To undertake and present relevant evidence based projects.
To participate in any relevant clinical governance projects and audits.
To evaluate your own clinical effectiveness.
Quality
To maintain the high standards of the service by contributing towards individual, team and service objectives.
To maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence-based practice by keeping up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes in your clinical practice.
To achieve and maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence-based practice, keeping up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research, discussing and implementing changes in your clinical practice and encouraging throughout the team.
Freedom to Act
To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your professional activities working within the codes of practice and professional guidelines.
To work as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant clinical caseload, working without direct supervision. Access to a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist is available if required and clinical work is not routinely evaluated.
Equality, diversity and rights
Responsible for supporting a culture which promotes equality and diversity
Responsibility for financial and other physical resources
Responsible for the safe and effective use of equipment and resources that are used in the course of work.
Responsibilities for information resources
To maintain accurate and timely statistical information as required by senior staff and managers.
To be responsible for the accurate in of clinical information onto the Trust IT system.
Further information and general responsibilities:
To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others at work. This includes being conversant with relevant trust safety policies and procedures. To report incidents and near misses at work; take part in the risk management process; attend all mandatory training courses in the agreed duration as defined by trust policy and carry out tasks and use equipment only when competent to do so.
To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity. To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection act.
To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties as qualified and able.
To comply with the trust's corporate and local policies and procedures on such subjects and clinical management and human resources.
To ensure that patients, clients and members of the public are consulted and involved in decisions about local health service developments. As a trust employee to be mindful of this and do what is appropriate to the role and level meet this duty of responsibility.
To undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time and are consistent with the responsibilities of the role.
To comply with the trust's policies on equal opportunities, the consumption of alcohol and smoking.
To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties as qualified and able.
General responsibilities
To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work.

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.
Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
This is an exciting time to join our Trust, as we work on the expansion of our theatres at Ashford Hospital and move towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures; with care delivered by dedicated, specialist teams in a modern and well-equipped environment.
We hope to use this centre to create an environment of learning and to facilitate training of the next generation of our skilled NHS workforce. Our plans are ambitious - why not, come and be a part of our journey.