Job overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic clinical lead speech and language therapist with a passion for improving care and leading change within both the acute and outpatient services.
This is a part‑time, permanent position working 30 hours per week. As a large teaching hospital and tertiary centre, we offer a diverse caseload across acute, emergency, critical care, surgical, frailty, admission avoidance and instrumental assessment services. The post holder will jointly lead the service across two sites with an established Band 7 Clinical Lead, reviewing service models, streamlining pathways, strengthening MDT working, and delivering education to improve care for patients with swallowing and communication needs.
This person will understand acute care and be motivated to deliver a high-quality service with a vision on how to improve patient outcomes and flow with the opportunity to work across the inpatient and outpatient pathway and in FEES and videofluoroscopy clinics.
The service supports evidence-based practice and CPD, offering opportunities to develop your clinical portfolio. Part-time and flexible working may be considered, with potential for Band 6–7 development for the right candidate.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
1. To lead and provide operational management of the Speech & Language therapy service to acute medicine and surgery.
2. To lead service developments and support staff working.
3. To use advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose and independently manage complex dysphagia and disorders of communication respectively.
4. To represent speech and language therapy in multidisciplinary team settings and contribute highly specialist expertise for the management of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.
5. To integrate with the multidisciplinary teams and contribute to training and education and quality improvement projects as appropriate.
6. To demonstrate skills in motivating patients to engage in therapeutic process.
7. To use excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and a flexible approach to work practice.
8. To participate in instrumental assessment using videofluoroscopy and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
9. To participate in appropriate trust level service developments which impact on the care delivered to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties.
10. To maintain clinical professional development and be up to date with research and advancements within this clinical area.
Working for our organisation
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust is a large acute organisation, delivering specialist services both locally and regionally. The Speech Therapy Department is situated at the Royal Preston Hospital site; however, we also deliver services to Chorley District Hospital (District Hospital).
We are a dedicated SLT service with excellent patient care at the core of our values, and our varied caseload provides complex presentations across dysphagia, communication and voice respectively. We have established VFS and FEES clinics, with in-service training to provide sustainability. We strive to continuously improve our SLT services through service development and innovation and are keen that audit / research are part of our clinical roles. We have strong clinical leadership within the department and structured clinical supervision and CPD is promoted.
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 well supported.
To find out more about us, look at our Twitter @SLT_LTHTR or Bluesky page @LTHTR-SLT
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:
11. To communicate and collaborate with all SLT Stakeholders.
12. To provide leadership and highly specialist clinical skills within acute medicine and surgery.
13. To support personal and people development.
14. To ensure the health, safety and security of self and colleagues.
15. To support service development and planning.
16. To support the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda within SLT.
17. To support equality of opportunity and access withing SLT for both staff and patients.
18. To directly support delivery of therapy to patients.
19. To provide leadership and management support.
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
20. HCPC registration
21. RCSLT registration
22. Graduate or post-graduate qualification in Speech and Language Pathology
23. Post graduate courses in relevant clinical area of Speech and Language Therapy
24. Evidence of CPD in relevant areas working towards master’s level
Desirable criteria
25. Masters qualification or modules
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
26. Highly specialised knowledge in clinical area
27. Assess, diagnose and manage complex dysphagia
28. Assess, diagnose and manage complex communication disorders
29. Awareness of emerging assessment and treatment developments and able to critically appraise the evidence base
30. Excellent MDT working skills.
31. Experience of planning and delivering training/education to MDT
Desirable criteria
32. Trained in instrumental dysphagia assessment, VFS and FEES
33. Experience undertaking local research projects
34. Experience of working with an out-patient case load
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
35. Highly specialist skills in clinical area
36. Implementation of relevant national guidance
37. Advanced communication skills
38. Advanced diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills
39. Ability to prioritise workload
40. Experience in audit
41. Teaching experience
42. Good IT skills
43. CPD and clinical governance commitment
44. Supervision and line management of staff
45. Clinical Educator
Desirable criteria
46. Awareness of NHS strategic regional and national plan
47. Experience of leading a team
48. Analytical skills
49. Excel and Data collation skills
50. Experience of audit/service evaluation across MDT/different services
Values & Behaviours
Essential criteria
51. Invests in trust values
52. Clinical leadership skills
53. Able to work flexibly and multi-task.
54. Self-motivated and able to motivate others
55. Resilient under pressure
56. Takes responsibility for high quality care and performance
57. Able to travel
Desirable criteria
58. Leadership training