HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To prioritise and manage own caseload independently.
• To provide specialist speech and language therapy assessments for clients referred based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including standardised assessment, self-report measures, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care. This involves a high level of preparation, concentration and analytical skills.
• To assess and ascribe a level of risk for dysphagic clients.
• To formulate and implement management plans for the treatment and/or management of a client’s speech and swallowing disorders, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client’s difficulties, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.
• To assess and ascribe a level of risk using adjuncts to the bedside assessment, which require technical skill e.g. cervical auscultation, pulse oximetry etc.
• To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, and intervention for clients under their care to both multidisciplinary teams and other, non-professional carers. This will encompass written documentation (SLT notes, med notes, specialist reports etc).
• To agree options in collaboration with all those involved, in order to implement the individual’s management plan which may include any combination of the following:
• Therapeutic intervention with adults either individually or in groups.
• Therapeutic intervention with carers either individually or in groups.
• Directly supporting others in carrying out individual programmes.
• Providing advice on specific strategies to employ in the home and other settings.
• Negotiation with client or carer in order to identify and monitor SMART goals.
• To identify and refer on to other specialists as appropriate (eg. ENT, videofluoroscopy etc).
• To use negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations. To negotiate various roles to be taken in order to execute intervention plans effectively.
• To maintain sensitivity at all times to emotional needs of client/carer when imparting distressing information.
• To use skills in motivating clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
• To frequently demonstrate empathy sensitivity and understanding with clients, carers and families. To treat them with respect and dignity at all times.
• To provide specialist communication assessment and intervention in order to identify and support a client’s ability to manage their own affairs, with an acquired communication difficulty. To work with the multidisciplinary team in order to achieve this.
• To regularly communicate highly complex and specialised information to others through written reports and face to face discussion matching communication style and content to the needs of the receiver.
• To be involved in the planning for, and the delivery of education programmes for other professionals.
• To be aware of Government papers and initiatives relating to Stroke (e.g. RCP Stroke guidelines 2nd Ed, NSF for Older people).
• To adapt assessment and intervention to meet individual client’s circumstances, with regards to cultural and linguistic differences. To support and advise the multidisciplinary team in this area.
• To interact daily with families and clients who have recently experienced extremely traumatic events and who face an uncertain future.
• To engage in regular conversation with clients addressing highly emotive issues, necessitating use of counselling skills to facilitate psychological adjustment to a dramatic change in their self-perception and quality of life.
• To provide statistical information on own caseload, including activity and clinical effectiveness measures.
• To participate in audit activities in the team, including SSNAP for stroke patients, and participate in audit both in the wider speech and language therapy service, and within multidisciplinary teams.
• To participate in research in SLT team, SLT department or multidisciplinary teams.
• To utilise theory, evidence –based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
• To provide advice, consultation and training packages for staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and setting, where appropriate.
• To provide advice, consultation and support for carers, and other non-professionals.
• To assist in the support of students from other professional groups as appropriate.
• To provide observation sessions for prospective SLT students.
• To participate in clinical training for SLT students, and act as a mentor for Band 5 therapists as required.