Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities:

• To work at an advanced level in the field of neonatal speech and language therapy by receiving referrals and independently assessing and treating own caseload of patients, ensuring evaluation and progression of treatment programmes to a high standard, and in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.
• In conjunction with the Neonatologists, Clinical Lead Therapists, and Outpatient Team, organise and manage specialist outpatient clinics for infants referred to the neurodevelopmental follow-up clinic service.
• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical practice for patients under your management and to support more junior staff to do likewise.
• To have clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex and diverse conditions, and prioritise that work efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities.
• To use advanced clinical assessment and reasoning skills and evidence based knowledge to assess patients with highly complex conditions, and to formulate prognoses and recommendations for the best form of intervention including e.g. Videofluoroscopy, ENT assessment.
• To formulate and deliver individual speech and language therapy treatment programmes based on advanced clinical knowledge of current practice, evidence based practice and treatment options.
• To analyse and interpret clinical and non-clinical facts which may be conflicting, and to provide expert advice and second opinion to the MDT, including peers and Consultants, and external organisations
• With appropriate training, to request and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. endoscopy, VF) to assist with patient assessment and to plan the most appropriate patient management approach
• To recognise boundaries of own extended practice as it develops and to manage associated clinical risk at all times.
• To make appropriate referrals to other services and clinicians based on assessment and investigation findings, and by having an in-depth understanding of the role of others in the multidisciplinary team.
• To ensure effective discharge planning as part of a patient’s management, liaising with referrers and other members of the MDT as appropriate.
• To use advanced theoretical and practical knowledge to advise, guide and teach less experienced speech and language therapists, assistants and students in the assessment and management of patients and other aspects of clinical care, including record keeping.
• To liaise with Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Paediatricians, ENT consultants, Radiologists, GPs, Clinical Lead Therapists to formulate protocols/care pathways for the assessment and management of patients attending the specialist clinics.
• To manage clinical risk within own clinical caseload, and provide expert advice to contribute to the effective management of clinical risk within the speech a
• The post requires a flexible approach to working and a 7-day working pattern may be required, also cover of statutory and public holidays, maintaining the competency required to work as the sole speech and Language therapist within this clinical area.