About this role
Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity to become an assistant practitioner in our friendly, innovative speech and language therapy (SLT) service, based in the community team in East Suffolk.
Community SLT is part of a wider, integrated SLT service in East Suffolk which supports people with communication and swallowing difficulties in their own home, in care homes, in clinic for outpatient appointments, and on the inpatient wards at Ipswich Hospital. You may be asked to work flexibly across these service areas. We are currently enhancing our working with other health workers with our Integrated Neighbourhood Team colleagues.
The service champions innovation and quality improvement, and are committed to developing leadership skills for staff at all levels. We have won awards for our innovation, for example the 'Making Better Use of our Resources' award at the Suffolk and North East Essex Can Do Health and Care awards.
Main duties of the job
This is a varied role and responsibilities will include supporting our speech and language therapists with assessments, delivering therapy plans, leading groups and supporting training for a mixed caseload of people with a range of swallowing and communication difficulties. This could include people who have difficulties communicating after a stroke, or someone who has slurred speech or a quiet voice due to a neurological condition, for example. Our assistants play a vital role in carrying out rehabilitation and therapy exercise plans. The role also involves supporting families and carers.
About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
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.
Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here -www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Job description Job responsibilities
For full details of theresponsibilitiesand duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Qualified Associate Practitioner/ Nursing Associate diploma level or equivalent qualification e.g. NVQ3 plus short courses or relevant experience up to diploma level Evidence of continuing professional development Ability to travel to different places of work/driving licence
Desirable
Competencies at level of Assistant Dysphagia Practitioner, or equivalent Evidence of attendance at relevant specialist courses: (eg via RCSLT Clinical Excellence Networks) Accredited LSVT practitioner System One super user Care certificate
Experience Essential
Experience of working in acute/community health care settings, or equivalent caring experience Experience of liaising with other agencies/other staff groups Experience of working with adults with stroke/acquired neurological conditions Experience of prioritising own work independently and problem solving as appropriate Experience of delivering training to groups Experience in using Microsoft Word, Excel, email and electronic patient recording systems
Desirable
Experience of working with people with acquired communication difficulties Experience of working with people with eating/drinking/swallowing difficulties Experience of working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team Experience of person centred planning/goal setting
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of the wider needs of people with acquired neurological conditions Knowledge of different methods of communication Knowledge of range of communication difficulties experienced by people with a variety of medical reasons, such as stroke, and progressive neurological conditions Knowledge of swallowing difficulties experienced by adults for a variety of medical reasons, such as stroke and cancer
Desirable
Knowledge of alternative/ augmentative communication systems (high and low tech) Use of outcome measures Awareness of change in NHS and current legislation
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.
Employer details Employer name East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Address Ipswich Hospital
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)