Job summaryThe Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service provides an assessment and management service to patients with communication and swallowing problems in the acute hospital settings (Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary) and the community areas of Calderdale.Patients may have acute neurological conditions, long term neurodegenerative conditions, respiratory and ENT disorders and complex multi-pathology conditions, including patients with dementia.The Adult Acute Team provides the service to the acute wards and stroke unit, and also provides the outpatient Voice Service and Videofluoroscopy Clinic.The post holder will work primarily within the inpatient acute service, with the possibility to rotate between stroke/acute to be discussed at interview providing a comprehensive speech and language therapy service to patients in the acute setting with acquired communication and swallowing disorders. The post holder will also support the Service's Clinical Lead/s in evolving and embedding best practice within the clinical area and playing an active role in the ongoing development of less experienced Speech and Language Therapists, service support staff and the wider multidisciplinary team.Main duties of the jobTo carry out specialist assessment and treatment of adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders.To manage own specialist adult caseload.To work autonomously in line with Trust policies and within the scope of professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up to date records.To independently determine clinical diagnoses for patients of varying levels of complexity and to develop, implement, evaluate and modify individualised treatment programmes for these patients and/or provide specialist advice, ensuring appropriate pathways of care via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.To provide education and training of Speech & Language Therapists and qualified and non-qualified healthcare / social services / education staff including medical staff.To support the Clinical Leads / Team Leader in the day to day running of the Speech & Language Therapy service.To support and advise within the wider MDT on the delivery of the service in consultation with the Clinical Lead/s.To work across a 7 day service including Bank holidays and weekendsAbout usWe employ more than 6,500 staffwho deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals,Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, healthcentres and in patients' homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children's and young people's services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation.Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS- yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boardslisten to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members - patients, staff andthe local community.Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in thechanges to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.Job descriptionJob responsibilitieso work within the Speech & Language Therapy service, developing effective clinical interventions in order to contribute to clinical practice in the team in line with current evidence base.To autonomously manage own clinical caseload of patients at a specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinical records.To have proven specialist skills in acquired swallowing and communication disorders in acute onset and progressive neurological conditions, respiratory conditions and other presenting multifactorial medical conditions.Independently supporting complex decision making (e.g. supported communication in capacity assessments, involvement in decisions regarding feeding at risk)Discharge and transfer of care planningTraining othersWorking autonomously and independently but also demonstrating awareness of when and how to access support from the Clinical Lead/s.Autonomous representation of Speech and Language Therapy in relevant clinical settings e.g. patient case conferences, board rounds and MDTs, discharge planning meetings, best interest meetingsPrioritisation and delegation of day to day workload.To apply evidence based knowledge within the specialist clinical area acquired through experience and academic study to a specialist post graduate level.To act, within the Trust, as a resource and provide advice for Speech & Language Therapists and other professionals and colleagues within the MDT about the assessment, treatment, management and care of adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders.To work collaboratively with health and social care community and acute colleagues.To work with other members of the MDT to ensure effective care pathways and transfer of care / discharges.To proactively and appropriately facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders between care settings.To work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner within the MDT, being able to debate the blurring of boundaries across professions and where competent take on aspects of blurred boundary working, where appropriate.To develop specialist programmes of assessment, treatment and intervention for adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders, particularly following strokeTo manage and prioritise the clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to manage professional time and delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure the effective delivery of the service.To participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis and for students on placement within the team.To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.To provide specialist assessment and advice for the multidisciplinary team and if appropriate actively participate in MDT clinical meetings.Person SpecificationQUALIFICATIONS / TRAININGEssentialRelevant Degree/DiplomaRegistered with HCPC & RCSLTSuccessful completion of post-basic dysphagia course or completed & documented competencies from in-house dysphagia trainingClinical Educator TrainingDesirableStudied at Masters level or equivalentTraining in instrumental assessment (e.g. FEES/Videofluoroscopy/ nasendoscopy)KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISEEssentialRecent significant experience demonstrating ability to assess, treat and evaluate therapy intervention in adults with communication and swallowing disorders.Recent experience of caseload management, including autonomous management of complex casesIndependent working in a hospital setting - including caseload management, prioritisation and problem solving without immediate direct access to senior support.Representation of SALT in specific MDT clinical settings.Evidence of CPD, self directed learning and Reflective PracticeExperience in contributing to service improvements e.g. Audit, patient information etcSupport of, and delegation to, less experienced /non qualified staff.Knowledge of relevant legislation, NSF's and local/National initiativesDesirableExperience in dealing with complaints (e.g. diffusing complaint or investigating complaint)Experience in community settingsExperience of instrumental assessment (e.g. FEES/Videofluoroscopy/ nasendoscopy)Post graduate training in specialist area, e.g. attendance at CENs in dysphagia, motor speech disorders, aphasiaPrevious experience working at Band 6 levelCOMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)EssentialDemonstrates positive attitude and behavioursExcellent Time Management skillsAbility to communicate effectively with people with complex difficulties and in difficult situationsRecognises own limitations and has willingness to share and learn from othersAbility to identify and articulate own training needsSelf motivated with ability to work independently and influence othersProven ability to work well in a teamAbility to make decisions and problem solve when dealing with complex situationsAbility to organise own work and caseloadDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameCalderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation TrustAddressCalderdale & Huddersfield Foundation TrustHalifax/HuddersfieldHX3 0PWEmployer's websitehttps://www.cht.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)