Job overview
Barts Health NHS Trust has an exciting opportunity for a rotational band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly and supportive team at Whipps Cross Hospital.
This band 6 rotation covers the following specialities:
1. Inpatient acute wards, including ICU
2. Waltham Forest Community, supporting patients at home or in care home settings, as well as outpatients. You will be based at Whipps Cross Hospital.
3. Integrated Stroke pathway, covering inpatients stroke unit and supporting patients on discharge home into the community
We’re looking for a qualified Speech and Language Therapist who is confident in independently assessing and managing adults with dysphagia and communication impairments. Most importantly, we’re seeking someone who is enthusiastic, compassionate, and keen to be part of a supportive team environment.
Main duties of the job
This rotation provides an excellent opportunity for existing band 6s’s or experienced band 5s wanting to take on increased responsibility, and to consolidate their knowledge and skills in managing more complex patients with acquired swallowing and communication impairment across a range of inpatient and community settings.
There will also be opportunities to develop competencies in videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy, FEES and leadership and management skills e.g. supervising band 5 SLTs and students.
Regular supervision and in-house training will be provided to the successful applicant, which includes joint assessments and formal protected1:1 supervision. There are also excellent CPD opportunities within the SLT service and as part of the wider multidisciplinary team.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
4. Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
5. Registered with Health & Care Professions Council -License to Practice
Experience
Essential criteria
6. Experience of working with adults with acquired communication & swallowing disorders
7. Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team including collaboration with different professional groups and contribution to coordinated patient care
Desirable criteria
8. Experience of working with patients from diverse, multicultural and multilingual backgrounds
9. Experience of leading or supporting videofluoroscopy clinics, tracheostomy management and /or FEES
10. Experience of working with Speech and Language Therapy assistants and students, including providing supervision, guidance, and completion of probation and/or appraisals.
11. Experience leading and/or supporting service development, audits and/or quality improvement projects
Knowledge
Essential criteria
12. Knowledge of relevant assessment tools and therapeutic interventions used in the management of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
13. Awareness of how cultural and linguistic differences may influence and impact management of swallowing and/or communication difficulties and the importance of taking these into account when working with a multi-cultural caseload
14. Awareness of the principles of clinical governance and audit
15. Knowledge of national policies, procedures and current research relevant to stroke, frailty, respiratory and neurological conditions
Desirable criteria
16. Attendance at relevant CENs/ training courses and study days as part of HCPC’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
17. Knowledge and/or experience with supporting staff through sickness and/or, performance management utilising Trust policies.
Skills
Essential criteria
18. Excellent interpersonal skills utilising observation, active listening and empathy, in order to build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders (within SLT, wider MDT, patients and families).
19. Ability to adapt communication effectively to suit different audiences, including patients, family members, and consultants, ensuring information is conveyed clearly, appropriately, and in a manner that is accessible and sensitive to individual needs.
20. Demonstrable negotiation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyse situations, consider multiple perspectives, and reach effective, practical solutions in collaboration with colleagues and service users.
21. Demonstrates the ability to work independently and take initiative, whilst proactively seeking appropriate support and guidance, when required, to ensure safe and effective practice.
22. Demonstrates good organisational skills with the ability to effectively plan, prioritise, and manage a varied workload, ensuring deadlines are met and high standards of service delivery are maintained.
23. Ability to multitask in a busy environment and be flexible where there are changes in service needs and priorities.
24. Demonstrates strong analytical and reflective skills in clinical practice and personal development, with the ability to critically evaluate information, identify learning points, and apply insights to improve decision-making.
25. Demonstrates basic computer literacy skills, including the ability to use standard IT systems and software effectively for documentation, communication, and administrative tasks
Desirable criteria
26. Dysphagia competent (equivalent to RCSLT Level C or ‘foundation to proficient’ in EDS framework)
27. Ability to navigate Microsoft 365
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
28. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
29. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
30. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
31. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B2 or higher.
32. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)