Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapies to join our team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS foundation trust.
Are you a Band 6 or Band 7 SLT with a passion for stroke and neurology? Are you looking to work within an SLT team that is passionate about patient care and service improvement?
In this role, you will be expected to provide specialist leadership, assessment and treatment within our Speech and Language Therapy service with a specialist focus on Stroke and neurology. You will work closely within the multidisciplinary team on the Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) and contribute to service development, teaching, and clinical supervision within the department and across the hospital.
The post holder will manage the caseload within stroke and neurology, ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care possible.
We are looking for an SLT with:
- Significant post-registration experience in Adult communication and swallowing disorders.
- Experience in acute hospital settings
- Excellent communication and MDT working skills
- Evidence of continuing professional development
In return, we offer excellent professional development opportunities and the chance to work within a supportive specialist team.
Main duties of the job
The Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) provides rehabilitation stroke services to patients following repatriation from a hyper acute stroke unit (HASU). The post holder will develop close working relationships with SLT's at our sister hospital in Luton who provide HASU. You will work as part of this collaborate stroke therapy team striving to achieve the highest standards of stroke care.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
Take a lead role for the Speech and Language Therapy team in Stroke and acute ward activity, providing leadership support to other SLT staff working in this speciality.
Case management and provision of highly specialist Speech & Language Therapy using models of best practice to assess the clients needs, and provide care planning, therapy, advice and support for the patient.
Leadership of the Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) and Neuro caseload alongside leadership within the SLT department- working in close liaison to deliver SLT care within the hospital.
Provide specialist care to patients on site at Bedford Hospitals, and working closely and flexibly with colleagues at Luton and Dunstable Hospital to deliver high quality, efficient care to patients, and clinically excellent training and supervision to staff across the two sites.
Provide support & training to those within the ward based teams and the wider SLT team.
Lead role in the Videofluoroscopy using MBSImP model. Lead in clinic independently and provide training and supervision to others.
Take a significant role in developing highly specialist services on site; SLT led FEES service, tracheostomy, complex airway/dysphagia management on CCU/ITU.
Play a key role in Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) discussions for complex nutrition cases.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oRecognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
- oHealth and Care Professions Council Registration.
- oPost-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent.
- oEvidence of successful completion of specialist short courses in, communication and swallowing disorders in adults with acquired disorders.
- Member of Clinical Excellence Networks.
Desirable
- oRegistered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- oEvidence of leadership training.
- oProject management training
- oEvidence of training as a clinical supervisor.
- oMBSImp Certified
Communications Skills
Essential
- oAbility to give highly specialized advice to the MDT in a range of formats and in such a way that it can be clearly understood by the receiver
- oUse well developed negotiation and motivational communication skills with service users, their relatives/carers as well as colleagues in the MDT
- oAble to adapt communication method depending on the receiver and use appropriate resources to aid delivery of information, e.g. interpreter
Experience
Essential
- oExperience at B6 within acute setting.
- oPrevious leadership experience. E.g. deputising for band 7, supervising less experienced staff.
- oExperience in Videofluroscopy (1- in VFS, 2 for Lead VFS comp)
- oExperience of performance management and staff appraisal ( 1 for each)
Desirable
- oVideo fluoroscopy competencies: independant use and interpretation of VFS examinations using MBSIMP.
- oFEES competencies (1 for ex, 2 for comp)
- oExperience on ITU/ CCU: assess and manage patients with tracheostomy tubes in situ (1 for each)
- oExperience using SSNAP audit program in Stroke for quality improvement or service development.
Knowledge
Essential
- oWell established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication and dysphagia relevant to the specialist area.
- oIn depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group.
Desirable
- oKnowledge of SSNAP audit program in Stroke.
- oClear understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit to monitor and improve service. (1 for und, 2 for +evidence)
Skills
Essential
- oAble to make decisions involving complex facts / situations often under pressure (+1 for evidenced)
- oAbility to cope working in a stressful and unpredictable environment requiring intense periods of concentration and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers. (+1 for evidence)
Desirable
- oData collection & analysis skills (+1 for ev)
- Service improvement skills (+1 for ev)
- oProject management skills (+1 for ev)
Personal Skills
Essential
- oMotivated and Enthusiastic
- oInnovative with good problem solving skills (+1 for ev)
Desirable
- oCoaching, mentoring and counselling skills. (+1 for ev)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bedford Hospital
Bedford
MK429DJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)
This listing was aggregated from publicly-available sources. The employer holds an A-rated sponsor licence at the time of this listing, but sponsorship of this specific role is not guaranteed — the employer's offer and UK Visas and Immigration are the final authority. Details may have changed since our last update — verify with the employer via the Apply link.