Job overview
We are looking to recruit an experienced and compassionate Speech and Language Therapist who is interested in further developing their career in clinical leadership and education in the position of Clinical Lead Complex Dysphagia & Team Education at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust.
The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Department is situated at the Royal Preston Hospital site of LTHTR, however, the team also deliver SLT services to Chorley District Hospital.
The Clinical Lead Complex Dysphagia & Team Education is a combined clinical and educator role, roughly split into 3 days of clinical activity and 2 days of clinical leadership/education. Your clinical work will be determined by your area of clinical expertise, but flexibility to support the service will be needed as required. You are required to be competent in complex dysphagia (including tracheostomy & ventilated patients) and have advanced level competence in instrumental assessment, both FEES & VFS. The education and professional development of SLTs within the service is of paramount importance, therefore competence in training is essential.
The Clinical Lead Complex Dysphagia & Team Education will also work alongside the Head of Service to develop SLT services and educate the wider SLT / student team. Training opportunities will be supported to enable the successful candidate to gain the knowledge and skills required.
Main duties of the job
The Clinical Lead Complex Dysphagia & Team Education role is a valued leadership position and essential to support optimal SLT service delivery. You will work alongside the Head of SLT to provide clinical/educational leadership to our large team of 30 speech and language therapists. You must be an autonomous and clinically focussed practitioner, capable of using transferable knowledge and skill to support staff with their varied clinical caseloads.
Main responsibilities include:
1. To provide education, development and clinical support for the therapy staff working SLT
2. Provide clinical expertise and oversight in complex clinical areas
3. Ensure delivery of care is in line with best practice standards
4. Ensure delivery of high-quality evidenced-based practice.
5. To carry a caseload in the area of expert clinical practice - leading in complex dysphagia management
6. To lead the development of the workforce through developing and delivering education and training
7. Transformation prior to proposed integration.
8. Regional collaboration in vital and vulnerable areas
Please see the separate job description and person specification for full details.
Working for our organisation
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is a large acute organisation, delivering specialist services both locally and regionally. LTHTR is committed to visible AHP leadership and there is a strong support network with access to excellent in-house leadership development.
It is an exciting time to join The Department Speech and Language Therapy at LTHTR as we are currently reviewing the services we provide and are on an improvement journey. This provides an exciting opportunity to support the Head of SLT to drive innovation and service development forward.
The SLT department has a strong reputation for delivering high quality person-centred care and the caseload provides complex presentations across dysphagia, communication and voice respectively. We have established FEES and VFS clinics, with in-service training to provide sustainability.
You will join a large, friendly team of speech and language therapists covering a range of specialist services. The department is rated ‘GOLD’ on the STAR quality assurance framework, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. CPD and training are supported.
To find out more about us, have a look at our twitter pages @SLT_LTHTR
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the separate job description and person specification for full details.
9. To carry a clinical caseload in area of clinical expertise.
10. Be competent in complex dysphagia (including tracheostomy/ventilation) and instrumental assessment
11. Proficient MDT working
12. Provide clinical expertise and oversight in other specialist clinical areas
13. Provide leadership, guidance and development for the team of SLTs
14. Ensure high quality, evidence based practice
15. Embed research into practice
Person specification
Qualifications and Education
Essential criteria
16. Degree is Speech and Language Therapy
17. HCPC / RCSLT registered
18. Post graduate clinical education/training at masters level (or equivalent) in complex dysphagia
19. Continuous professional development
20. Level 3 competency in VFS and FEES
Desirable criteria
21. Leadership Training
22. Educated to masters level
23. Project management training
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
24. Highly motivated and experienced practitioner with substantive range of clinical experience within a relevant clinical setting
25. Significant experience in a clinical lead post
26. Significant experience in clinical leadership, training and developing staff.
27. Experience in teaching and assessing VFS / FEES competencies
28. Experience of clinical governance and applied to practice and service delivery
29. Experience of managing change
30. Participation in business case planning/ contribution to business case development
31. Significant experience of leading audit activity
32. Knowledge of national, local and professional health service agendas
Desirable criteria
33. Experience in business cases
34. Experience with continuous improvement methodologies to demonstrate systems wide improvements
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
35. Advanced clinical reasoning & analytical skills in the management of complex conditions (relating to current clinical area)
36. Excellent communication skills, written and oral including highly effective interpersonal skills. Able to effectively communicate highly complex, sensitive or contentious information
37. Self-motivated and able to motivate others
38. Able to promote team working and best practice
39. Commitment to CPD of self and others
40. Lead others in change management
41. Good presentation and teaching skills
42. Experience of delivering training sessions
Desirable criteria
43. Experience in presenting complex information to senior management team
44. Experience of clinical research
Values & Behaviours
Essential criteria
45. Caring and compassionate
46. Professional attitude and approach
47. Flexible to the needs of the service
48. Self-motivated and able to motivate others