Speech & Language TherapistNHS

Job summary

22.5 hours per week.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified SLT to work in the Community Learning Disability Team in Plymouth.

We are a forward thinking team who puts peoples needs at the heart of what we do.

The post is a community post based within the multi-disciplinary team of the Plymouth Community Learning Disabilities Team which is part of Livewell Southwest. The post will interest someone who enjoys working with a multi-disciplinary environment and who is committed to providing a high quality speech and language therapy service to people with a learning disability and their carers.

The Community Learning Disabilities Team is a multi-disciplinary health team, of which the speech and language therapists are a part. There are 3.0 WTE Band 6 speech and language therapists and 0.3 speech and language therapist assistants within the service.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will provide specialist speech and language therapy assessment and intervention for adults with a learning disability, many of whom have complex physical and/or emotional needs. The post is a community post based within the multi-disciplinary team of the Plymouth Community Learning Disabilities Team which is part of Livewell Southwest. The post will interest someone who is keen to experience a wider role within SALT increasing their professional development and enjoys working with a multi-disciplinary environment and who is committed to providing a high-quality speech and language therapy service to people with a learning disability and their carers.

The work includes provision of training for carers and support staff to develop capable communication environments for people with a learning disability. It also includes delivery of training on awareness of dysphagia to be carried out once the post holder has reached the competency of a Level 3 Specialist Dysphagia Practitioner as described in the Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Competency Framework (see www.rcslt.org).

The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will need to be flexible and carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by their line manager.

Job description

4.MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

To have responsibility for managing own speech and language therapy caseload of adults with a range of learning disabilities with guidance and support from senior colleagues, using person-centred principles.

This caseload is of adults with learning disabilities who have communication impairment and/or dysphagia. The caseload includes individuals with complex needs including severe and profound learning disabilities e.g. autism, sensory and/or physical impairment, behavioural and emotional problems, dementia, behaviours which challenge (including verbal and physical aggression directed at self or others), in addition to severe learning disabilities.

To develop, organise and deliver training programmes with guidance and support from senior colleagues to carers, support staff and other professionals and also to people working mainstream services who have contact with adults with severe learning disabilities. These training programmes will be both formal and informal and will focus on communication and/or dysphagia. Some of the training is delivered with other members of the multi-disciplinary team. It includes giving information about communication, and communication breakdown and training others in skills that can aid communication. This includes Total communication (i.e. the use of sign, symbols, photos, objects, etc to back up speech) and other specialist techniques, in order to develop appropriate communication environments to facilitate the communication of individuals with a severe learning disabilities. It also includes developing and delivering training in the use of IT to facilitate effective communication e.g. the production of communication passports.

To represent speech and language therapy and take an active role in, multi-disciplinary working, such as multi-disciplinary allocation meetings, clinical audit groups, core groups supporting the most complex clients, etc.

Core Responsibilities

1) CLINICAL

1.1To be responsible for managing own speech and language therapy caseload of adults with severe learning disabilities with guidance and support from senior colleagues. The degree of communication impairment may range from mild to severe.

Managing the caseload includes:

Assessment and diagnosis of the communication difficulties of the individual, using both specialist speech and language therapy assessments and also observational and informal assessment skills, in order to form an overall picture of the individuals communication strengths and difficulties, both in understanding and expression, in a variety of situations and settings. Assessment includes the use of video and audio recording where appropriate. The speech and language therapy assessment may contribute to a multi-disciplinary assessment of the individual. In gathering this information there may be conflict of opinion about the individuals communication strengths and needs. The therapist therefore needs to analyse the information given in order to make a judgment about the most appropriate action to take and negotiate this with the people involved.

Intervention and/or advice regarding the specific communication difficulties of the individual.

Intervention includes;

• Specialist speech and language therapy interventions working on the individuals speech and/or language skills.
• Using specialist communication programmes including the use of systems designed to be an alternative to, or to augment, speech, including sign and symbols.
• The use of specialist programmes such as Intensive Interaction for individuals who have little or no understanding of language.
• The setting up and use of microelectronic communication aids.

Direct communication work with the person, including both individual and group work.

Collaborating with the person with learning disabilities where possible and the people in their communication environment, i.e. the people who support the person, to develop and use appropriate strategies to promote more effective communication.

Supervising others who may be implementing the communication programme.

Reviewing and evaluating progress, at regular intervals, in order to update the communication programmes as necessary.

Discharging as appropriate.

The caseload will include working with individuals with dysphagia and supervision will be provided through the Clinical Supervision arrangement. Peer Supervision is also available through current agreements with neighbouring NHS SLT Teams and Independent Sector Organisations specialising in Learning Disabilities. The speech and language therapist is responsible for assessment, including risk assessment, intervention and provision of a care plan to manage the persons dysphagia. This will require working with the person within their level of capacity for this issue, and their carers, in implementing a care plan which takes into account the persons wishes, their quality of life and their safety.

1.2To record details of assessment and intervention. To write comprehensive reports giving details of the individuals communication skills and difficulties, and strategies that have been shown to promote more effective communication. To use the appropriate paperwork and electronic recording systems (SystmOne) to record contacts and details of assessments, care plans and reviews.

1.3To organise group work as required as part of speech and language therapy intervention with people with learning disabilities.

1.4To work as part of the core team when a person is being seen by several clinicians from the multi-disciplinary team. The purpose of the core team is to co-ordinate care. This may require negotiation of need and priorities where there is a conflict of opinion. The speech and language therapist may be required to be the core team co-ordinator for a few people on their caseload.

1.5To develop and deliver training programmes on communication and/or dysphagia for carers, support staff and professionals involved with people with severe learning disabilities. The training is delivered to groups ranging in size from 2 40 people.

1.6To alert the SLT Clinical Lead within the CLDT or Service Manager of the CLDT where, due to risk or lack of clarity, there is a need for the development of a policy of procedure in order to ensure delivery of a safe and effective speech and language therapy service to people with learning disabilities and to contribute to the development of relevant procedure and policies.

1.7To assist others as appropriate, in making information accessible to people with learning disabilities i.e. people who are unable to read and/or have some difficulty in understanding complex language. This assistance may take the form of advice on how to make the materials (it does not necessary mean making materials for other groups of professional).

1.8To contribute to Vulnerable Adult Case Conferences and Strategy meetings and advise on issues relating to communication. This may involve working directly with the vulnerable adult and writing detailed reports on the communication issues involved in order to inform a criminal investigation. It may also include working alongside professionals from other agencies, e.g. social services and the police, in advising them of the most appropriate communication strategies to use when questioning the vulnerable adult.

2) ADMINISTRATIVE

2.1 To keep clear and accurate case notes (normally electronic) and all other necessary records to meet both professional standards, and the standards of the Record Keeping Policy of Livewell Southwest. This is to include input of statistics as required.

2.2 To use word processing programmes, email and the Internet as required. To use specialist software particularly packages using symbols and digital photography to make materials for use as part of an individuals communication programme.

2.3 To ensure all equipment and materials used are maintained in good order and inform the budget holder of the need for additional or replacement items. To ensure that all equipment is kept in such a way to meet Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

2.4 To contribute towards making information accessible to individuals with learning disabilities, e.g. leaflets about the service provided etc To advise other agencies on appropriate materials to use on request.

3) PROFFESSIONAL

3.1 To adhere to national and local Standards and Guidelines relating to Professional Practice.

3.2 To be aware of and adhere to current legislation and employers procedures. To attend Mandatory Training as required by the employer.

3.3 To identify own training requirements and update clinical knowledge by engaging in continuing professional development activities including reading appropriate literature, attending local in-service training meetings of speech and language therapists, regional Special Interest Groups and training as appropriate.

To participate and take the lead in service development for the SLT team and the CLDT.

3.4 To participate in supervision, personal appraisal and peer review. To take an active part in the speech and language therapy peer clinical supervision group by leading on and contributing to case discussions, review of literature etc. To seek supervision from other members of the LD MDT relating to shared areas of understanding and practice. To receive supervision from an SLT Clinical Lead consultant with extensive LD experience, as appropriate. To provide supervision to band 5 SLTs and SLTa.

The full Job description can be found in the attached JD and Person Spec.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise providing integrated health & social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon & Cornwall. With teams in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, health & wellbeing hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we always value being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. Transforming services to make them sustainable, ensuring that we value, support & empower each other.

We are committed to involving the people we care for, families & carers in everything that we do, working towards co-production where we can. Helping us to deliver the right care for people, in the right place & at the right time. By putting people at the centre of what we do, we ensure to support people to lead, healthy independent lives & be the very best at helping people to live well.

Valuing our employees making an investment in their development a priority. We offer:

Protected CPD time for registered staff

Various development pathways and ongoing regular training packages for all staff

Leadership & mentoring programmes

Access & funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course & Scholarship Into Nurse Training

A Robust Preceptorship

A bespoke induction programme

Existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme can continue their membership when they join the organisation.