<div><p>An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist within Bedfordshire Community Health Services Adult Speech and Language Therapy Team.</p><p>We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated clinician to join the service and work closely with the wider MDT.</p><p>This is a full time post (37.5 hours).</p><p>Based in the community the successful candidate will cover outpatients and domiciliary visits across north, mid and south Bedfordshire to patients in their own homes and nursing and care homes.</p><p>The role will also involve participation in training sessions on communication and dysphagia to other professionals and attending multi-disciplinary team meetings.</p><p>Post graduate dysphagia training will be provided if required.</p><p>ELFT has a very strong culture of quality improvement and you will be encouraged to take an active role in service improvement projects.</p><p>The adult speech and language therapy service comprises of a small, friendly and very supportive team. There are regular team meetings, supervision and opportunities for further training and CPD.</p><p>We are currently expanding and developing the community service to work further on prevention and education and to build integrated pathways. So this is a great time to join us!</p><h3>Main duties of the job</h3><p>The post holder will:</p><p>Be responsible for delivering speech and language therapy input to appropriate adults with acquired communication, swallowing and voice problems (e.g. Parkinsons voice).</p><p>Identify, assess and diagnose communication/ impairments and select appropriate patients and therapy for effective treatment.</p><p>The post holder will be supported in developing dysphagia competencies and will ultimately see patients with acquired swallowing problems as part of their caseload.</p><h3>About us</h3><p>Our mission is to make a positive difference to peoples lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.</p><h3>Job responsibilities</h3><ol><li>To work with adults with a range of acquired communication and swallowing disorders, and their carers with support from experienced clinical staff.</li><li>To develop clear care plans based on best practice.</li><li>To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting knowledge</li><li>To provide appropriate intervention and evaluate outcomes.</li><li>To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients with communication difficulties.</li><li>To contribute to clinical teams, both multidisciplinary and uni‑disciplinary, by discussing own and others input around patients needs, ensuring a well‑coordinated care plan</li><li>To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of current evidence based practice and outcome measures.</li><li>To use clinical skills and knowledge of communication aids to provide appropriate Augmentative and Alternative Communication intervention</li></ol><h3>Person Specification</h3><h3>Qualifications</h3><ul><li>Speech and Language Therapy Degree</li><li>HCPC registration</li><li>Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists</li><li>Post Graduate Dysphagia Training</li></ul><h3>Driver and UK work status</h3><ul><li>Must have UK driving license</li><li>Must have own transport to travel throughout Bedfordshire independently</li><li>Must be eligible to live and work in the UK</li></ul><h3>Experience</h3><ul><li>Experience of working with adults with a range of medical conditions and acquired communication disorders</li><li>Demonstrates experience in assessment and therapeutic interventions for a wide range of acquired communication disorders</li><li>Experience of delivering training</li></ul><h3>Knowledge</h3><ul><li>Demonstrates a well‑established knowledge of theoretical and clinical issues relating to adults with acquired communication disorders associated with a wide range of medical conditions</li><li>Has good awareness of safe eating and drinking in order to recognise potential problems and escalations accordingly</li><li>Knowledge of a range of high and low tech augmentative and alternative communication suitable for use with adults with communication disorders</li><li>Awareness of legal requirements, RCSLT guidelines and national policies relevant to the client group</li><li>Awareness of the principles of clinical governance and audit</li></ul><h3>Skills</h3><ul><li>Excellent verbal and written communication skills</li><li>Able to work flexibly and meet conflicting demands</li><li>Excellent organisational skills</li><li>Able to impart potentially distressing information in a sensitive manner to adults with acquired communication disorders and their carers</li><li>Demonstrates excellent presentation skills</li></ul><h3>Disclosure and Barring Service Check</h3><p>This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.</p><p>£32,073 to £39,043 a year, Dependent on experience</p></div>