Team Leader - Speech & Language TherapyNHS
Job summary
Adult Speech & Language Therapy Team Lead
Band 7 | Livewell Southwest | 30 hours per week
Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking for your next leadership opportunity?
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Band 7 Team Lead to provide clinical, operational and professional leadership to our Adult Speech & Language Therapy Service.
This exciting role combines team leadership, service development and specialist clinical practice. You will support the SLT workforce within the community team, while maintaining a specialist caseload.
We are looking for an HCPC-registered Speech and Language Therapist with significant experience in adult rehabilitation, complex communication and swallowing disorders, strong leadership skills, and a passion for delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
In return, we offer a supportive team environment, excellent development opportunities, and the chance to shape and influence adult therapy services across Plymouth and the surrounding areas.
Join us and help lead the future of adult Speech & Language Therapy services at Livewell Southwest.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Main duties of the job
Ensure all staff are receiving Practice Supervision, line management and have an up-to-date appraisal.
Ensure, as team leader, that designated staff implement policy and service development changes.
Be an active member/lead of the in-service training programme by coordinating, attending and delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, CPD sessions etc.
Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee.
Be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
Interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate clinical diagnosis and prognoses in a wide range of highly complex conditions e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease and Palliative Care, to recommend the best course of intervention, and to develop comprehensive management plans.
Undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans. Understand and contribute to specialized objective assessments such as Video fluoroscopy or FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing).
All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
Job description
Job Purpose
The post holder will provide clinical and managerial leadership to the community Adult Speech & Language Therapy and be responsible for day-to-day operational service planning and delivery of these services. They will work with the Directorate Manager to progress and develop strategic objectives and to further improve and monitor the success and effectiveness of the teams.
The post holder will ensure a robust approach to service development and improvement in line with Livewells vision and values. Make recommendations to the Directorate Managers, for changes to practice by the team. This may lead the implementation of specific changes to practice or contribute to service protocols.
The Post Holder will also undertake a specialist clinical role, with a limited caseload, involving the advanced assessment and treatment of patients within the specialty who may have complex and/or chronic presentation.
Scope & Range
To be responsible for the leadership and delivery of quality therapy services within the Adult Speech and Language Therapy team. This will encompass the Livewell SLTs working in the following areas: Plym Neuro Rehab Unit, Community Neuro Rehab Team, Community Team, and the Adult Mental Health wards, but not Learning Disability teams.
The post holder will take the lead in the triage and management of referrals to the service utilising the service criteria. They will work closely with other operational leads, strategic leads, professional leads and practice leads to support the delivery and development of the service.
The post holder will undertake regular caseload management with staff to ensure workload is effectively monitored. They will be responsible for reviewing, monitoring, and reporting on waiting lists (if applicable to service) in line with LSW standards and national guidance.
The post holder will be highly skilled and knowledgeable in their area of work and will require the use of advanced clinical reasoning, analysis, assessment and re-assessment skills; using a patient-centred goal setting approach, to develop and provide individual treatment programmes. This may be for their own patient caseload but also to support the senior therapists within their team via case discussion and joint working
Responsibility for People Management:
Ensure all staff are receiving Practice Supervision, line management and have an up-to-date appraisal.
Ensure, as team leader, that designated staff implement policy and service development changes.
Be an active member/lead of the in-service training programme by coordinating, attending and delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, CPD sessions etc.
Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee.
Promote and develop a learning environment within area of practice, using a collaborative approach.
Teach, train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff, assistants, and students, as required.
Liaise with the university and local training institutions to support undergraduate and post graduate training in SLT and other professions (e.g. nursing/ AHP roles).
Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources:
Be responsible for managing the community service budget and work with the Directorate manager to optimise the use of resources, support cost improvement plans and organisational priorities.
Authorised signatory for staff payroll extra duty and staff expenses payments over and above their normal activities. Monitor and be second level approver for e-roster rotas as per Policy.
Responsibility for administration, clinical, & professional duties:
Be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
Interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate clinical diagnosis and prognoses in a wide range of highly complex conditions e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease and Palliative Care, to recommend the best course of intervention, and to develop comprehensive management plans.
Undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans. Understand and contribute to specialized objective assessments such as Video fluoroscopy or FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing).
Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation, in line with Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT) Standards of Practice and local/organisational policy. Communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
Maintain skills to assess capacity, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. Comply with local confidentiality policies, and safeguarding procedures e.g. child protection and vulnerable adult procedures.
Provide specialist advice, teaching and training to patients, carers, and other members of the MDT regarding relevant conditions, support strategies and management of patients.
Maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, National Service Frameworks, RCSLT, BDA and NICE guidelines.
Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation.
To be responsible for workforce planning and delivery, manage the recruitment process, conduct interviews, and be responsible for sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance issues with support from the Matron/Directorate Manager.
Report on performance targets at monthly performance meetings.
Forecast, plan and develop future trends in workforce development and develop workforce plans.
To be a team lead for the risk register and escalation of risk across the team.
Responsibility for people who use our services:
Provide specialist and highly specialist advice to therapy colleagues including those working within other clinical areas. Work jointly with other health and social care colleagues and services (for example medical, nursing, Social Services, private sector and therapy colleagues) to ensure patients identified rehabilitation and care needs are met through delivery of a coordinated multi-disciplinary service.
Use an extensive range of highly developed verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers; this will include patients who may have complex difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g.: patients may be aphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or have realistic expectations of therapy intervention.
Work collaboratively with other service leads to develop staff and services to maintain equity across localities.
Share information, learning and training with other members of the MDT, including the AHP Lead, to meet the needs of the organisation and professions.
To initiate, organise and attend a variety of multi-disciplinary/multi-agency case conferences, liaison meetings and reviews as necessary and appropriate.
To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent which must be documented and work within a legal framework with individuals who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
To follow all recognised policies and procedures in relation to child protection and vulnerable adult cases.
Ensure risks to patients/service users, carers and staff are identified, reported and appropriately managed to support patient centred care and health and safety issues.
As part of your role there may be a requirement / opportunity to undertake Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP) discussion, To achieve this you will be required to be competent In advanced communication, care planning and attended appropriate training to support competence
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.