Job overview
We are recruiting for a Principal SLT - Acute, Critical Care and Instrumental Clinics. Working across both our acute sites in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals, your role would be primarily clinical, supporting patients with complex communication and swallowing disorders across our acute caseload, including critical care, respiratory, frailty and degenerative neurological conditions. You would also oversee our outpatient instrumental clinics.
As team lead, you would work closely with the Clinical Manager for SLT and the Principal SLT for Stroke and Neuro to provide leadership for the acute sub-team, supporting them to meet service targets, balance clinical and non-clinical activities, lead and oversee service developments and workforce development including upskilling junior members of the team.
Excellent communication skills and significant experience in acute dysphagia, critical care including tracheostomy, FEES and videoflouroscopy are essential. Further experience in complex communication disorders is desirable. You will offer second opinions and guidance on more complex dysphagia. We need flexible, dynamic individuals capable of leading a team. We would also consider candidates who are still developing these skills in to a developing role. Just get in touch!
See our recruitment video for more about how it feels to work with us
Main duties of the job
1. ·To work clinically as a Principal SLT as part of the Acute MDT at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals, assessing, advising, managing and rehabilitating patients with complex swallowing and/or communication disorders secondary to acute acquired causes (except stroke and non-stroke neuro).
2. ·To be responsible for the leadership and coordination of the intervention and management of patients with adult acquired communication and dysphagia impairments
3. ·To liaise and collaborate effectively with the Clinical manager for SLT, wider SLT team, MDT colleagues and clinical colleagues including community services.
4. ·To act as the Principal SLT for instrumental procedures and supervise the competency attainment for both VFS and FEES for junior staff.
5. ·To deputise for the Clinical Manager for SLT when required.
6. ·To strive to deliver KPIs in line with National guidance and recommendations
7. ·To collaborate in the development and management of acute SLT services at the Trust
8. ·To collaborate with the Principal Speech and Language Therapist: Stroke and Neuro in the introduction and implementation of an enhanced SLT weekend service across all acute inpatients.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
9. At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
10. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a employer contribution of 23.7% and life assurance benefits
11. Blue Light card eligibility
12. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
13. Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent
14. Evidence of successful completion of postgraduate degree or specialist development and training e.g. Advanced Dysphagia, FEES or Videofluoroscopy
15. Experiential and advanced training as evidenced by highly structured self-directed study as part of CPD
Desirable criteria
16. Introductory management course
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
17. Extensive post qualification experience of working with clients with complex communication and /or swallowing disorders in acute settings, including critical care
18. Experience of line management including supervision and appraisals
19. Experience of advising and providing expert second opinions
20. Evidence of teaching/facilitating skills
21. Experience of risk management
22. Knowledge of advanced level decision-making processes
23. Expert level clinical knowledge of all areas of acute SLT conditions based on current best practice.
24. Knowledge of current issues and research relating to SLT in the specialty
25. Excellent understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion issues for patients and staff
Desirable criteria
26. Experience of leading instrumental assessments
27. Experience of 7/7 working
28. Experience of Healthroster
29. Experience of performance management
30. Experience of multi-agency and partnership working
31. Experience and understanding of infection control issues
32. Experience of audit
Skills
Essential criteria
33. RCSLT Level D Dysphagia Competencies or equivalent experience
34. Level 3 Videofluoroscopy competencies
35. Level 2b FEES competencies
36. Proven clinical skills to a high level of expertise in the specialty
37. Excellent leadership skills
38. Excellent interpersonal skills
39. Developed negotiation skills, able to work collaboratively with the MDT across organisational boundaries
40. Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
41. Critical appraisal skills
42. Ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own and others workload
Desirable criteria
43. RCSLT Tracheostomy competencies
44. Counselling skills or post graduate training in behavioural change techniques
45. Experience of sharing research e.g. presenting at national conferences or publishing in journals