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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

• To assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy treatment of dysphagia and communication difficulties and evaluate outcomes.
• To take a significant role in the Videofluoroscopy clinics at Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
• To be involved in management of patients with tracheostomy tubes in situ under the guidance of senior team members, working alongside a multidisciplinary team.
• To use specialist skills to formulate a diagnosis.
• To use specialist skills to make appropriate discharge decisions in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team and to organise safe discharges from hospital
• To maintain specialist knowledge of current practice and literature, ensuring decisions are based on the best available evidence.
• To adapt clinical practice to meet individual patients’ circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
• To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to clients.
• To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.
• To contribute to clinical teams both uni-disciplinary and multidisciplinary by discussing own and others input around clients’ needs ensuring a well-coordinated care plan.
• To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
• To demonstrate skills in motivating clients with severe communication needs and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process and enabling them to contribute to the decision- making process regarding their care plans.
• To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties or health factors affecting their ability to participate in their therapy care.
• To demonstrate good negotiation skills with carers, clients and other professionals around complex case management.
• To employ counselling skills with clients/ carers with highly complex needs and maintain sensitivity when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients’ difficulties and implications of the same.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures.
• To manage and prioritise complex and specialist caseload and workload with some support and use specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement/ decision making.
• To support junior colleagues in clinical decision making when required.
• To provide specialist advice/ second opinions to speech and language therapists and other professionals in area of expertise.

Organisational and Managerial

• Take an active role in caseload management
• Ensuring understanding and adherence to Trust health and safety requirements, including attendance on mandatory training courses.
• Working within infection control and health and safety guidelines and being responsible for the security care and maintenance of equipment, including equipment loaned to clients.
• Participation in the Trust incident reporting and risk management procedures.
• To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.
• To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures/statutory requirements including: Safeguarding Children, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks
• To participate in the implementation of service/Trust Clinical Governance Plan
• Share responsibility for regular liaison with the contracted catering and domestic support service to ensure high quality provision of supplies related to texture modified diets.

Education & Training

• Develop clinical skills and professional knowledge through experience, training and supervision.
• To provide education and training to members of staff working in care homes, including carers and kitchen staff on matters related to speech, communication and swallowing.
• To take part in the supervision of students as required, acting as lead clinical educator as needed.
• Take part in supervision of the work of other SLT staff, SLT Support Practitioner and volunteers.
• Support the development and delivery of specialist training to others including junior SLT staff as required.
• To support SLT staff to achieve relevant RCSLT competencies related to their role.
• To take a role in implementing SLT training throughout the hospital.
• To explain the role of Speech & Language Therapists to visitors, students, volunteers and other professionals e.g. at Careers Events.

Quality and Effectiveness

• To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies, and be responsible for updating when required
• Maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT Professional Standards and local Trusts policies.
• To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines.
• To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.

Professional

• To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans.
• To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio.
• To attend relevant training (courses, meetings, special interest groups) and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a therapist working in this field.
• To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good speech & language therapy practice in adults and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration.
• To actively participate in reflective clinical supervision as a supervisor and supervisee in order to develop and enhance practice.

Communication

• To provide specialist written and verbal advice to a range of professionals regarding the management and care of clients with severe/ complex communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• To attend and report to case conferences/review meetings etc. for patients on the caseload, with support as requested for situations where conflict management/negotiation may be required.
• To present and communicate complex condition-related information in such a manner as to motivate and inform patients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, agreeing decision-making relevant to patient management.
• To attend and participate in professional and other relevant meetings.
• To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff which are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.
• To plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical.
• To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
• To provide advice including written reports to others regarding the management and care of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• To contribute to clinical teams both multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary by discussing own and others’ input around patients’ needs, ensuring a well-coordinated care plan.