About this role
Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist in the role of Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Site Lead based at Lincoln County Hospital. This is a 9 month fixed term contract to provide maternity leave cover.
The SLT service provides timely assessment and treatment across all general acute wards for patients with swallowing and communication changes, to support with safe management of dysphagia, recommendations for ongoing treatment and supporting hospital discharge.
The specific ICU SLT service was established in 2022 within the multidisciplinary team on the Critical Care units, providing a 6-day service to patients, and regularly working jointly with physiotherapy, dietetic, nursing, and medical colleagues in providing holistic therapeutic assessments & interventions.
For Critical Care, across the 2 sites there is a total of 25 beds. 16 beds at Lincoln County Hospital and 9 beds at Pilgrim Hospital providing patient care at Level 2 and 3 , flexed according to patient demand.
The SLT team input to patients with acquired communication and feeding/ swallowing disorders on the critical care pathway, including patients with a tracheostomy in situ.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be required to oversee the clinical work of SLTs and SLTAs on Acute Wards / Critical Care, by managing, training, and supporting less experienced colleagues as required. They will provide highly specialist SLT input and support to patients and their families as indicated and be a regular and consistent clinical presence, holding their own caseload of inpatients as required by service demand.
The post holder will contribute to the leadership of the wider service through attendance at monthly Leads meetings with SLT Leads from relevant specialties, and to the leadership of Critical Care through shared attendance at monthly Critical Care Clinical Governance meetings and ward management meetings.
Applicants are required to have current/recent (within the last year) experience of working on an inpatient / critical care unit with adults with acquired communication and feeding/ swallowing disorders. Applicants are required to possess competencies in tracheostomy and instrumental dysphagia assessment including videofluroscopy and /or FEES.
There is an opportunity for a Band 6 role if you do not hold/cannot evidence the above competencies.
Part-time hours would be considered for this post if that is your preference.
To discuss the role further or if you have any queries, please liaise with Amy [email protected] (Clinical Services Lead) or Jennifer [email protected] (Adult SLT Operational Lead)
About us
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is in the top 25 per cent of all community trusts for overall staff engagement in the 2021 NHS National Staff Survey.
At LCHS, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in LCHS' workforce.
LCHS recognises the increasing demand for more flexibility in working practices in order to accommodate the personal goals and commitments that employees experience at different stages during their working lives. Flexible working opportunities such as part-time working, compressed hours, job shares, and hybrid working models can help staff to balance their personal and work commitments. Arrangements can be put in place if it can be shown that the needs of the individual can be balanced with those of the service and the impact on other team members, enabling the Trust to recruit and retain skilled staff, raise staff morale, reduce absenteeism and respond to changing service needs more effectively.
We are an ambassador of a learning culture that will support the right individual to progress in their chosen career through an 'earn while you learn' apprenticeship programme. Visit our Learning and Development page to find out more https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/join-us/learning-and-dev
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for full details of main responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualification Essential
Recognised SLT degree Current HCPC registration Evidence of postgraduate training in specialty to masters level or equivalent experience Evidence of skills in the management of complex speech and swallowing conditions Basic IT skills
Desirable
Member of relevant specialist group Registered member of RCSLT
Experience Essential
Experience as a Speech and Language Therapist in critical care Experience of managing highly complex cases. Experience of working in the NHS Experience of independent working and caseload management Evidence of leading in areas of team working and/or development Experience of developing and delivering training in area of clinical expertise. Experience of providing supervision to colleagues and students on placement
Desirable
Evidence of some management experience Experience of working in secondary care.
Skills Essential
Competencies in tracheostomy and instrumental dysphagia including VF and/or FEES Able to lead a team in a defined area Enhanced clinical reasoning and decision-making skills Enhanced diagnostic skills
Desirable
Building partnerships with outside agencies and volunteers
Specific requirements Essential
Able to travel between locations in a timely manner Able to work flexibly
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of clinical governance activities Up-to-date knowledge base relating to specialist area.
Desirable
Ability to critically appraise and evaluate clinical research, reports or papers
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.
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 Lincolnshire Community Health Service NHS Trust
Address Adult Speech and Language Therapy, Lincoln Hospital
Greetwell Road
Lincolnshire
LN2 5QY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)