Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and energetic Speech and Language Therapist to lead and develop the Speech and Language Therapy community dysphagia service.
The post holder will be responsible for managing patients with acquired dysphagia who are resident in the South Tees locality community setting (residing within their own home or a care home setting). As this is a new development you will have opportunity to evaluate and implement hybrid methods of service delivery to best meet service demand, such as home visits, clinics and virtual assessments.
Main duties of the job
The clinical caseload will include managing patients with a diagnosis of dementia, stroke, and potentially some neurological conditions eg Parkinsons Disease or other undiagnosed neurological conditions. There will also be a requirement to liaise with gastroenterology regarding the management of patients with oesophageal dysphagia.
The service will work across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, but with an office base within the main speech therapy department at The James Cook University Hospital site.
Provision of education and training to carers and health care professionals supporting the patient caseload will also be an important part of this role.
You will contribute to achieving performance targets for the service and be responsible for evaluating service provision and achieving targets within your specific clinical area.
Regular support will be provided from your operational lead and from specialist colleagues across the wider team.
Working for our organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions:
·Your Leadership Impact
·Leading your Team to Success
·Leading Into the Future
·Service Improvement for Beginners
·Developing your Service Improvement Skills
·Lean Practitioner
The leadership and improvement programme aims to:
·Explore leadership within the NHS
·Promote Trust values and behaviours
·Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
·Equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.
After you complete these six and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house and externally provided courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
1. Basic IT skills
2. Audit and research experience
3. Project management / quality improvement experience
4. Evidence of ongoing continuous professional development
5. To display effective communication skills, communicating complex, sensitive and contentious information to patients, carers and colleagues
6. To demonstrate analytical skills and judgement when dealing with the management of complex clients
7. Skills of motivation, persuasion and innovation
8. Demonstrate excellent knowledge and clinical expertise within relevant specialist area
Desirable criteria
9. Experience with use of electronic note systems SystemOne
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
10. To hold a degree or relevant Diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
11. To be a registered member of the Health Care Professions Council
12. To have post-graduate training in dysphagia (can be in house or external)
13. To be a member of RCSLT
14. Have undertaken relevant leadership development training or qualifications
Experience
Essential criteria
15. To have substantial post graduate experience including work with frail, respiratory, elderly, stroke and neuro patients in an acute, rehabilitation and / or community setting
16. To have experience in the management of dysphagia at advanced level
17. Ideally to be competent in undertaking videofluoroscopy assessments
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is now the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group.
As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.