Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Merseywestlancs; Chorley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Chorley is seeking a Speech and Language Therapist to assess and manage patients with dysphagia and communication disorders in an inpatient setting. The successful candidate will join a supportive team and work closely with medical professionals, providing specialized care across various settings, including A&E and inpatient wards. The role requires a degree in Speech and Language Therapy and HCPC registration, along with experience in a healthcare environment. Opportunities for professional development are available.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

Employee of the month recognition

Access to NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Prior demonstrable experience as a Speech and Language Therapist with adults.
• Working knowledge of confidentiality and data protection.
• Awareness of current NHS issues and policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment and management of patients with communication disorders.
• Liaise with the Multi-Disciplinary Team for effective patient care.
• Manage caseload to ensure timely patient assessments.

Skills

Communication skills

Autonomy in clinical practice

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent

HCPC Registered

Job description

Job Overview

Southport Hospital has the exciting opportunity to advertise a Speech and Language Therapy post which will offer a stimulating and challenging role in the assessment and management of inpatients with dysphagia and who are recognised as living with frailty and ageing.

The successful candidate will join a growing, supportive, and innovative team of Speech and Language Therapists with a diverse set of skills, who take pride in offering the very best care for our patients. The SLT team is comprised of a consultant SLT, Highly Specialised SLTs, Specialised SLTs, Newly Qualified SLTs and SLT assistants.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Main Duties of the Job

The successful applicant will provide specialist assessment and management of patients living with frailty and ageing at any stage of their hospital journey, including A&E admission, during their inpatient stay, and assisting safe and timely discharge. This will include working alongside Frailty Practitioners, Medical Registrar and Consultants in Geriatrics.

You will have opportunities to develop skills in areas such as frailty/ elderly care, emergency medicine, respiratory medicine, and progressive neurological disorders, while working closely with SLT and MDT colleagues.

The post holder will independently provide a comprehensive specialist clinical service specifically to adults admitted who are living with frailty and ageing, and who have communication and swallowing disorders. They will provide training, direct, and indirect support to other professionals relating to communication and swallowing disorders and will participate in the development and implementation of care pathways, departmental policies, and protocols. The successful candidate will work across all inpatient wards and contribute to weekend working.

At Southport Hospital we hold regular Video fluoroscopy clinics and have implemented the MBSImP protocol. We also have an established FEES service. For the right candidate, there is potential for development opportunities in these areas.

Working for our Organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

• Acute Care: Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
• Primary Care: Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services: Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
• Specialist Regional Services: We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

• To undertake specialist therapy assessment, clinically diagnose and implement treatment plans for patients with dysphagia and communication disorders in a manner that respects people’s privacy, dignity, and individuality.
• To liaise with members of the Multi‑Disciplinary Team and external agencies to ensure the effective management of patients care, communicating patient information in relation to their care as required.
• Manage a clinical caseload ensuring patients are seen in a timely manner.
• To ensure effective internal and external 2‑way communication with patients, carers and all other Health and Social Care Professionals regarding all aspects of patient care.
• To provide and receive complex information which requires empathy and reassurance. Communicating where there may be barriers to understanding and where skills such as motivational interviewing and counselling are required.
• Able to formulate and implement individualised care plans, reviewing progress and adapting as required.
• To be involved in the production and evaluation of resources produced by the department e.g. information and training packs, advice leaflets etc, providing specialist advice.
• To provide cover for leave and sickness to the clinical service as appropriate.
• To be a member of the multi‑disciplinary team and actively participate in MDT meetings.
• To contribute to the development of departmental/organisational procedures and guidelines.
• Ensure the safe use of appropriate medical devices required to carry out treatment in line with departmental procedures.
• To participate in shift patterns to support the delivery of 6/7 day service as required.
• To provide training sessions for other health care professionals and patient/carer groups.
• To work autonomously but recognise own limitations and when to elevate issues or refer to more senior therapist for advice and support.

Administrative Responsibilities

• To develop and maintain accessible patient information, equipment, and resources to complement Rehabilitation.
• To be responsible for the timely and accurate collection of such statistics/records as are required nationally and departmentally and to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.

Teaching & Training Responsibilities

• To develop knowledge and skills in specific therapy practice through a competency based programme led by the team leader.
• To participate in service training, keeping up to date with relevant practice.
• To identify own personal development needs with supervisor through supervision and Personal Development Plans.
• To actively contribute to Trust/Departmental activities in relation to Clinical Governance and audit in service area as requested by clinical supervisor.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent
• HCPC Registered

Knowledge & Experience

• Previous demonstrable experience of working in a health, social or personal care setting as a Speech and Language Therapist with adults with a range of acquired communication and dysphagia disorders.
• Working knowledge of confidentiality and data protection procedures in relation to the recording of patient information.
• Awareness of current NHS issues, National Policies and relevant frameworks/quality indicators.
• Knowledge of evidence based practice and importance within clinical area.
• Experience of taking an active role within Multidisciplinary Team.
• Demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance, and its application within Therapy.
• Demonstrate commitment to your and others ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and maintenance of professional portfolio.
• Awareness of health and safety issues and reporting mechanisms.
• Basic competency in videofluoroscopic examinations and tracheostomy management.

Skills

• Ability to manage own time and work autonomously within clinical and non-clinical activity and to guide others using problem solving and decision making skills.
• Ability to maintain records, statistical and activity data according to service standards.
• Ability to encourage and motivate others by providing sound practical and realistic advice.
• Ability to demonstrate clinical reasoning and a holistic problem solving approach appropriate to experience within clinical area.
• Ability to manage own stress and awareness of stress in others.
• To demonstrate tact/diplomacy and empathy within clinical settings.
• Good interpersonal skills with effective written and verbal communication.
• Effective teaching and presentation skills.
• Ability to demonstrate assertiveness within clinical settings.
• Ability to positively represent the Therapy Team within the Organisation.
• Ability to demonstrate reflective practice.

Other

• The post includes a combination of complex physical activities with duties being carried out in a variety of settings across the clinical sites.
• The post holder will be required to work across sites including hospital / community settings.
• To be able to carry out moving and handling with patients using equipment e.g. hoists, or use of specialist medical devices related to specialism.
• The post holder will be required to use frequent concentration in assessing patients and devising care plans during the day.
• Conveying complex information in a comprehensible and practical way to clients, families and carers where there may be significant barriers to understanding.
• Prioritising clinical work responding to unpredictable demands on time e.g. responding to bleeps for urgent referrals.
• The post holder will often have to overcome barriers to communication such as illiteracy, learning difficulties, hearing and sight impairment, language and may have to work with interpreters.
• Communication with and have direct contact with a wide variety of people, including health, social care and education professionals, patients, carers, the public.
• Daily involvement with chronically and terminally ill patients and their carers.
• The post holder will be exposed to sensitive, emotional and distressing circumstances, including terminally ill patients and abusive patients/carers.
• The post holder will be exposed to the working conditions associated clinical environment.
• Routinely encounters unpleasant smells and sights, with possible exposure to bodily fluids including blood and sputum.
• Ability to fulfill the travel requirements of the post.

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward‑thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [e-mail]

We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision‑making process.

The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.

eVisa Update

For successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK.

Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account.

Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to:

• Understand how to generate an eVisa share code

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 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.

Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment.

If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

Flexible Working

• All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
• There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
• Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.

At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage.

Working for Team MWL

Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

The Trust is a non‑smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website.

You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.

Additional Information

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here.

An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Heather Woodcock Job title Lead for Acute Medical and Surgical SLT Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01704 704361

We would welcome informal conversations and visits to further discuss this exciting post and the opportunities we can offer as a team. Please contact Heather Woodcock on 01704 704361 for more information.