Overview
A Vacancy at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated, highly skilled, creative, and leadership oriented SLT to join the Inpatient Adult Team at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The post is a Band 7 grade, on a fixed term (12 month), 1.0 WTE (37.5 hrs/week) contract, providing cover for a period of maternity leave.
The successful candidate will be Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist for the Acute General Medicine workstream based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. They will play a key leadership role in delivering high-quality, person-centred care for patients covered by this workstream, including patients with complex dysphagia and communication needs. The role involves direct clinical supervision, coordination, and professional development for SLT colleagues, including SLT support provided for Horton General Hospital (Banbury).
They will be an established and collaborative member of the OUH Adult SLT Department, working with other specialist workstreams and with SLTs across the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System. The post holder will lead on service developments and innovation, particularly leading developments to the OUH VFS and FEES inpatient services.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country, providing a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals: John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, focusing on compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles. Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Advert closing information: This advert closes on Thursday 28 Aug 2025.
Responsibilities
Patient/client care
* To assess, develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment, including clinical decision-making after assessments and development of specialist care plans based on best practice and expert knowledge.
* To generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge and provide appropriate specialist intervention with outcome evaluation; manage complex caseloads.
* To advise others regarding management and care of patients/clients with communication, feeding and swallowing difficulties or tracheostomies; provide specialist advice in relation to relevant care groups.
* To collaborate with a wide range of professions across locations and agencies; demonstrate clinical effectiveness using evidence-based practice and outcome measures.
* To monitor and adapt patient management with attention to auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of communication, adjusting as needed.
Policy/service development/implementation
* Lead on the implementation of team objectives or projects in liaison with peers; develop care protocols for specific clinical issues.
* Advise the line manager on service delivery, shortfalls and pressures; participate in working groups and policy development.
* Develop care protocols/packages in liaison with the Service Manager to improve patient care; contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
* Adhere to Trust, Service and team plans and policies; use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments and implement within the specialist area; lead in the implementation of the Service/Trust Clinical Governance Plan.
Financial, physical resources and human resources
* Monitor stock levels and request new equipment as appropriate; ensure security, care and maintenance of equipment, infection control and safety standards.
* Provide regular specialist training and facilitate development of problem-solving/negotiation skills within peer review; supervise unregistered staff, volunteers and other professionals; participate in appraisal and recruitment processes; provide second opinions to colleagues; oversee the clinical service delivery within the specialty.
Information resources
* Maintain up-to-date case notes in line with professional standards and local policies; share information observing data protection guidelines; regularly update activity data.
Research and development
* Participate in innovations in risk management, quality standards and clinical effectiveness; initiate and undertake research/clinical governance/audit projects; participate in departmental research and governance projects; collect and provide research data as required; participate in National trials if required.
Freedom to act
* Provide leadership within the specialist area; manage a complex caseload independently; monitor and evaluate service delivery; work within professional boundaries and protocols; operate within an Individual Performance Framework with periodic appraisal.
Knowledge and Skills
Communication and relationship skills
* Contribute to clinical teams with well-coordinated care plans; present complex information to motivate and inform patients, carers, families and the multidisciplinary team.
* Use advanced communication to listen, counsel and support patients and carers; manage conflict and initial complaints sensitively; build productive relationships under stress; maintain sensitivity to emotional needs of adults with communication impairments and swallowing disorders.
Knowledge, training and experience
* Demonstrate highly specialist knowledge underpinned by current evidence-based practice; make decisions following assessment of complex cases.
* Identify personal development needs within an appraisal framework; participate in local clinical guidelines development; maintain HCPC and RCSLT registration; deliver specialist training; provide advice to non-specialists and specialists; understand relevant procedures and legal frameworks including Working with Vulnerable Adults.
Analytical and judgmental skills
* Recognise potential breakdowns; use knowledge to inform sound clinical judgments; analyse complex information to plan patient care and service development; engage in reflective clinical supervision; tailor training to participants' needs.
Planning and organisational skills
* Manage and prioritise own caseload and workload independently.
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