Team Lead Speech & Language Therapist Acute Frailty & Elderly PathwayNHS

Job summary

The Speech and Language Therapy post is based within the Acute team at King's College Hospital, PRUH site. The post holder will provide a highly specialist inpatient service to adults who have communication and/or swallowing disorders, working closely with the MDT to deliver optimal clinical care in the acute and post-acute phases of hospital admission.

The post holder will establish, build and maintain working relationships within Speech & Language Therapy (cross-site) and all multidisciplinary teams within the speciality of acute frailty and elderly care. They will be expected to be involved in Southeast London/London/England-wide Acute networks for Speech & Language Therapists.

Main duties of the job

To autonomously manage and provide highly specialist intervention, which will include assessment, contribution to differential diagnosis, and highly specialist SLT management for patients with acute, acquired communication and swallowing disorders, following King's College Hospital (KCH) Speech and Language Therapy evidence-based guidelines and abiding by KCH Speech and Language Therapy service standards.

Job description

Clinical Responsibilities

1. To autonomously manage and provide highly specialist intervention, which will include assessment, contribution to differential diagnosis, and highly specialist SLT management for patients with acute, acquired communication and swallowing disorders, following King's College Hospital (KCH) Speech and Language Therapy evidence-based guidelines and abiding by KCH Speech and Language Therapy service standards.

2. To provide highly specialist input into policies and protocols regarding the management of patients on the Speech and Language Therapy Acute Team and wider service.

3. To act as a link between all SLTs involved in treating patients in Acute and Frailty beds to ensure the patient receives treatment from the most appropriate therapist and that knowledge and resources are shared across the service.

4. To act as a link with the other therapy professions to develop the process for planning rehabilitation goals and programmes for relevant patients on these acute wards.

5. To provide accurate appropriate and current information for clients and their carers to enable autonomy and choice where possible.

6. To carry out instrumental assessments (VF/FEES) and assist in the training and supervision of other SLT staff in these assessments.

7. To liaise effectively and work collaboratively with the relevant multidisciplinary teams to plan and facilitate appropriate management.

8. To attend clinical meetings/ward rounds/case conferences where appropriate.

9. To maintain an active liaison role, including SLT colleagues in the acute and community sector, members of the in-patient and community multidisciplinary teams, GPs, other members of the primary health care team, local authority services and voluntary organisations, ensuring consultation and feedback.

10. To carry out joint assessments with other members of the multidisciplinary team where appropriate.

11. To identify barriers to effective communication within the environment and suggest and implement solutions where feasible.

12. To co-ordinate and promote communication developments e.g. mental capacity act issues, developing and delivering training on supporting communication, advising on environmental changes that support those with communication difficulties.

13. To provide complex and sensitive clinical information to patients and carers in clear, accessible and empathetic format, both in written and verbal form.

14. To develop and deliver training regarding communication and swallowing to carers, relatives and staff.

15. To instigate referrals, when appropriate, to internal/external agencies and to liaise with other agencies to ensure appropriate follow up and care arrangements for patients.

16. To assist with clinical cover in other areas as required.

Administrative Responsibilities

1. To be responsible for prioritising and managing own caseload. To support the Acute SLT Clinical Lead in overseeing the organisation of the acute caseload across the SLT service, identifying shortfalls and risk.

2. To maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records within EPIC.

3. To provide timely and accurate reports including transfer and discharge reports.

4. To prepare for and participate in an annual job appraisal which includes a 6 monthly review with the SLT acute clinical lead.

5. To attend Kings College Hospital Speech and Language Therapy team meetings.

6. To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data.

7. To comply with departmental procedures and policies and contribute to developments in clinical effectiveness, including risk management

Leadership

1. To jointly lead the Acute Frailty and Elderly SLT team at PRUH provide clinical support and supervision to junior therapists within the team.

2. To assist in the ordering and be responsible for the accurate record keeping, safe-keeping and maintenance of therapy equipment, in line with standards and policy, including infection control.

3. To assist in the co-ordination of Acute Frailty and Elderly SLT team objectives and projects.

4. To attend and participate in Kings SLT and Multiprofessional team meetings as appropriate.

5. To develop care protocols and standards relating to the delivery of the SLT Acute Frailty and Elderly service.

About us

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.