Main area Speech & Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract Permanent: Band 6 Rotations
Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (weekend working rota)
Job ref 213-DH-
Employer King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type NHS
Site Denmark Hill
Town London
Salary £44,806 - £53,134 per annum, inc HCA
Salary period Yearly
Closing 12/03/:59
Job overview King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a large and busy teaching hospital across multiple sites, with a unique profile of strong local services and a focused set of specialist services. Based within the Therapies team, the Speech & Language Therapy department has over 40 staff providing inpatient and outpatient services across a wide and diverse range of specialities across our 3 main sites.
We are looking for a suitable candidate to join our highly regarded band 6 rotations. The rotation comprises posts working within the areas of: Neurology, Medicine, Trauma, Neurosurgery, RAAR, Liver and Critical Care. Some rotations require the post-holder to participate in the team 7-day rota.
The Denmark Hill Speech and Language Therapy team works closely with SLTs on all King's sites and the wider multidisciplinary teams. Led by the Head of Speech & Language Therapy and Band 8A Clinical Leads, the service offers an established supervision system, including action learning groups, plus a range of opportunities for learning and participation in both self and service development.
Main duties of the job This Speech and Language Therapy post is a rotational post rotating across the inpatient wards in Medicine, Trauma, Neurosurgery, Neurology, RAAR and Critical Care on the King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill site. The post holder will provide a specialist service to adults who have communication and/or swallowing disorders including those with tracheostomies in situ.
Working for our organisation King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. Our values at King's, are that we're a kind, respectful team;
- Kind: We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work
- Respectful: We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed
- Team: We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional
The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (EDI) at the heart of everything we do. King's is dedicated to embracing the broad diversity of our staff, patients and communities and stand firmly against all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities:- To manage an autonomous caseload on the acute wards, which will include assessment, contribution to differential diagnosis, and specialist SLT management for patients with acute, acquired communication and swallowing disorders, following King's College Hospital (KCH) Speech and Language Therapy evidence based guidelines and abiding by KCH Speech and Language Therapy service standards.
- To assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients with tracheostomies in a critical care setting and on the general wards in accordance with KCH multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Trust Guidelines and provide feedback for the tracheostomy ward round weekly as required.
- To identify barriers to effective communication within the environment and suggest and implement solutions where feasible.
- To introduce low and high tech communication aids as appropriate and train the patient, their family and friends and the staff on using alternative and augmentative communication aid systems or to refer on to the communication aid therapist at Bowley Close.
- To co-ordinate and promote communication developments under the guidance of a senior therapist e.g. mental capacity act issues, developing and delivering training on supporting communication, advising on environmental changes that support those with communication difficulties.
- To co-ordinate with the Therapy Training and development co-ordinator and present, on the annual "SLT as a career" course and liaise with local acute and community services providing a contributory role.
- To maintain and develop the use of AAC techniques and equipment across the team.
- To discuss, advise and plan appropriate patient goals with clients, carers and the multidisciplinary teams.
- To act as a key worker where appropriate.
- To write SLT information in EPIC where appropriate, including assessment conclusions and management plans/recommendations.
- To provide clinical support and advise to junior therapists within the team.
- To provide complex and sensitive clinical information to patients and carers in clear, accessible and empathetic format, both in written and verbal form.
- To work as part of the multidisciplinary team negotiating appropriate therapy packages, length of stay and discharge arrangements.
- To attend ward rounds and MDT meetings as appropriate.
- To liaise on a regular basis with relevant hospital and community therapy teams.
- To liaise with other agencies to ensure appropriate follow up and care arrangements for patients.
- To contribute to the Videofluoroscopy Clinic at King's College Hospital, providing general organisational cover where necessary.
- To develop and deliver training regarding communication and swallowing to carers, relatives and staff.
- To participate in a rolling nurse dysphagia screen training programme run by the SLT department.
- To take part in the clinical training for SLT students as agreed and appropriate including preparation for and participation in practical exams.
- To participate in the SLT Department in service training programme.
- To pursue an active programme of continuing professional development including feedback to the team on any courses or conferences attended.
Education and Training:- To maintain and record an active programme of continuing professional development, including feeding back to colleagues on any courses or conferences attended.
- To make recommendations on service development and governance.
- To be an active member of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks.
- To participate regularly in the evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention and models of service delivery, maintaining up to date knowledge of relevant clinical practice and research.
- To undertake specific departmental audit projects and contribute to departmental research where appropriate.
Governance / Quality Control:- To maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records within EPIC.
- To provide timely and accurate reports including transfer and discharge reports.
- To prepare for and participate in an annual job appraisal which includes a 6 monthly review with the SLT acute clinical lead.
- To maintain clinical equipment in good order and carry out inventory checks as requested.
- To undertake mandatory King's College Hospital training.
- To contribute to the infection control and cleanliness of the hospital by ensuring cleanliness of own equipment, undertaking mandatory training, abiding by the hand washing policy and other policies related to barrier nursing.
- To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data.
- To attend King's College Hospital Speech and Language Therapy team meetings.
Research and Service Development:- To participate in relevant audit activity within King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
- To participate in research initiatives in the relevant area.
- To publish and disseminate information which results from research and audit activity.
- To make recommendations on service development and governance.
Person specification Qualification
- HCPC registered
- Postgraduate training in communication disorders and aphasia therapy
- RCSLT registered
- Supervision Course
Knowledge & Experience
- Established experience with adult acquired and neurological disorders in an acute setting including managing your own caseload and using a range of assessment and therapy techniques.
- Experience of working successfully as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Previous involvement with audit / research.
- Previous experience of videofluoroscopy.
- Experience of working in a rehab setting.
- Active membership of relevant CENs.
- Up to date knowledge of the mental capacity act.
- A specialist interest in AAC.
- Experience of student supervision and training.
- Experience of supervising junior staff.
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills and ability to communicate sensitive and complex information.
- Collaborative and consultative skills within multidisciplinary working. . click apply for full job details
