Speech and Language Therapist | Cambridgeshire and NHS Foundation Trust

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 5 speech and language therapist to join the team of therapists in Cambridgeshire. The post will be based in the North of the County. This post would suit either a newly qualified therapist who is interested in working with adults or an experienced band 5 therapist who would like to develop their skills further, seeing patients in the community setting.

Work will involve seeing patients with both communication and swallowing difficulties for assessment and therapy/support. The post holder will receive regular supervision and will work towards the newly qualified practitioner competencies (if newly qualified) and also have access to the preceptorship programme within the Trust. The team holds regular meetings, both within the locality and Countywide, and there is access to weekly drop-in clinical supervision sessions for further support as needed.

There may be an opportunity for the post holder to gain certification in the LSVT programme and to then participate in the delivery of this evidence-based therapy programme to relevant patients. There will also be opportunities to shadow therapists working on specialist pathways including stroke and voice and to see patients from these waiting lists with access to specialist support and supervision from senior therapists.

The post holder will be supported and funded to attend a post-registration dysphagia course and will then work through the competency programme to build up to working independently with patients with dysphagia. Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence.

• The post holder will work independently, providing speech and language therapy input to patients on an outpatient and domiciliary basis and input to the community hospital wards, providing a high standard of quality clinical care. The post will involve working with patients with communication impairment, dysphagia and could also include some voice work.
• To independently assess, differentially diagnose and develop and implement programmes of care for patients with speech, language and/or swallowing needs.
• To make onward referral as appropriate.
• To undertake a clinical caseload providing care to patients with both communication and swallowing difficulties.
• To liaise and work closely with patients, carers and families to establish agreed goals for therapy/management.
• To liaise and work in partnership with other professionals and as part of the multidisciplinary team to ensure a well-co-ordinated care plan.
• To participate in the department's clinical governance initiatives, including computerised data collection.
• The post holder must adhere to infection control procedures and policies.
• To provide patients, families, carers and other professionals with information about the patient's condition, taking account of information governance policies.
• To keep up to date with and apply relevant evidence-based research findings into practice.
• To participate in audit activities and analysis of outcome measures.
• To attend SALT team meetings and contribute to the overall development of therapy services within the Trust.

• Hold a full UK driving licence and have use of a vehicle, with the ability to travel independently around the county.
• Evidence of willingness to undertake post-registration dysphagia training and progression through the competency programme to work independently with dysphagia cases.
• Potential opportunities for LSVT certification and involvement in delivering this therapy where applicable.
• Desire to work with adults in community, outpatient, domiciliary, and hospital settings and to engage with specialist pathways as appropriate.