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Location

Epsom, Surrey | United Kingdom

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Job description

A Vacancy at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity for an SLT with experience and special interest in managing voice disorders. This is ideal for a candidate looking to further develop their skills in voice therapy. The role is based at Epsom General hospital.

They will need to assess voice problems, and advise SLTs, other professionals and carers and clients on voice disorders. They will provide specialist training and advice for SLTs and other professionals.

The post holder is able to work independently and manage their own caseload with support from the administration team. They need to be able to ensure highly specialist therapy programs and care plans are in place for the clients under your care.

They will keep up to date with evidence base and develop activities and services related to voice disorders. They will work within a broad remit using RCSLT/HPC and ESTH and departmental policies for guidance. Additionally this role includes developing effective working relationships with members of the ENT / SLT team to provide an efficient SLT service and work closely the administration team. The postholder is also able to work collaboratively with other NHS Trusts and organisations offering voice services.

This post is a part of the wider SLT team and supervision and management support is provided by the clinical lead for SLT. Further opportunities for supervision and peer support are also available with close links with the voice services within the GESH group.

The postholder will:
• be an autonomous practitioner and be expected to independently manage their own caseload, providing clinical supervision, second opinions and specialist advice to less experienced colleagues.
• ensure highly specialist therapy programs and care plans are in place for the clients under their care.
• maintain clinical records and be responsible for participating in clinical governance and service development for this area of service
• Internally the post holder will develop effective working relationships with members of the ENT / SLT team to provide an efficient and effective SLT service and the administration team.

Externally this includes collaboration with other NHS Trusts and organisations offering voice services

Welcome to Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

We are truly an integrated health and care Trust. In simple terms, that means that as well as the services we provide at our acute care hospitals (Epsom in Surrey and St Helier nearby in south west London) we work with local GPs, mental health services, community providers and local authorities, with the joint aim of preventing local people from becoming unwell, and when they do, that they receive the right care, in the right place, with the right support.

We offer an increasing range of services, which include adult community health, sexual health and children's therapies. Many of these community services are run by the partnerships we host, Surrey Downs Health and Care and Sutton Health and Care.

Continuing the partnership theme, we also host and run some exceptional hospital-based services including the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Service – rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – and we also have the largest nephrology (care around kidney disease) service in the UK, that isn't co-located with a transplant service.

We also work as part of the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital and Health Group, with a shared leadership and increasing collaboration to develop stronger clinical and corporate services between two major providers serving Surrey and South West London.

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Manages highly complex Voice caseload independently making differential diagnosis & clinical management decisions on the basis of evidence from assessment, frequently weighing up complex clinical management decisions in the context of conflicting clinical indicators.
• To develop and implement Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Treatment programmes providing thorough evaluation of clinical outcomes.
• To demonstrate skills in motivating patients/clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
• To develop clear unidisciplinary/multidisciplinary clinical protocols based on best practice. To demonstrate high level of clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
• To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in Voice therapy.
• To maintain specialist clinical / technical skills for interpretive assessment techniques and interventions, with demonstrated highly developed auditory, perceptual and physical skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients.
• To help establish and participate in the Voice Clinic for patients referred to the Trust.
• To provide highly specialist advice & second opinions to more junior colleagues/others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with clinical voice disorder.
• To advise more junior colleagues on a range of clinical issues and facilitate their own problem solving skills assisting with negotiation of case management in complex cases.
• To be responsible for the delivery of core and specialist training on a range of subjects relating to clinical specialism within both uni/multi-disciplinary teaching programmes. Explaining the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
• To maintain up to date and accurate clinical records and write and submit unidisciplinary and multidisciplinary reports, reflecting specialist knowledge in keeping with RCSLT, Trust, and SLT service standards, and share information with others, observing data protection Act and Confidentiality principles.
• To negotiate and advocate where appropriate, with colleagues around case management in complex cases and ensuring clear care plans based on best practice.
• To ensure that patients/clients and carers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible including highly complex cases. To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
• To refer patients/clients for further investigation or second opinion as required.
• To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
• To adapt practice to meet individual patients’ circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
• To manage and prioritise complex and specialist caseload independently.
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
• To sensitively communicate complex condition related information regarding assessment/ management to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/ other professions
• To employ counselling and listening skills when discussing clinical and emotional aspects of client care and form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging behaviour
• To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist, particularly where comprehension difficulties or communication disorders exist.
• To reflect on all aspects of client’s communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.
• To employ excellent communication skills, both verbal face to face & over the telephone as well as skills with a range of software packages for the production of professionally written reports
• To gather and update activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.
• To liaise with neighbouring Health Authorities/Trusts regarding onward referral of patients following own package of care.
• To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
• To demonstrate skills in engaging and motivating patients/clients and /or carers in the therapeutic process.
• To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in SLT’s involved in ENT.
• To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
• To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs, and seek advice and support to resolve

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
• To manage and prioritise own highly specialist caseload/workload & specialism/ team goals independently producing work within self-defined time frames
• To complete and where appropriate delegate administration tasks essential for running the service.
• To provide voice related clinical and professional advice, support and supervision to less experienced Speech & Language Therapists on the Adult Speech & Language Therapy Team.
• To provide mentoring, advice and support to more junior SLT’s, assistants and volunteers
• To triage and direct SLT community/outpatient referrals to the appropriate sources
• To advise line manager of issues of service shortfall or pressure
• To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as required
• To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of SLT equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
• To work independently accessing annual appraisal at pre-determined intervals ensuring that the specific objectives set relate to the clinical specialism.
• To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives relating to clinical specialism.
• To take responsibility for self-development and peer review on a regular basis
• To attend highly specialist short courses, advanced training and clinical excellence networks (CEN) in clinical specialist area.
• To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by regular appraisal of current evidence based practice and contributes to professional knowledge base through participation in CEN’s. Maintain awareness of national working parties & RCSLT policy statements.
• To maintain up to date HCPC registration.
• To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional code of conduct as well as National and Local Clinical Guidelines.
• To demonstrate a working knowledge of government initiatives including NICE guidelines.
• To ensure Trust mandatory and statutory training kept up to date.

This advert closes on Friday 23 Feb 2024

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Salary