Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

This Speech and Language Therapy post is based within the acute paediatric and neonatal team(s) at King’s College Hospital. The post holder will provide a specialist inpatient service to infants and children who have feeding, swallowing and/or communication disorders. The post holder will take a lead in developmental care and early intervention on the neonatal unit(s) (cross-site) and will hold an acute inpatient caseload on the children’s wards managing acute inpatients and neuro rehabilitation with support of the Band 7 and 8a SLTs.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will use specialist knowledge and skills to manage their own complex caseload with support from the Band 7 and Band 8a SLTs. This post provides clinical and professional leadership to a Multi-Therapy Assistant.

The post holder will be expected to represent paediatric / neonatal Speech and Language Therapy and the Paediatric Therapy Team at relevant meetings and will advise on service developments in line with government policy development.

The post requires a flexible approach to working and an ability to work closely as part of a multi-disciplinary therapy team.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To manage and provide specialist assessment, treatment and management of infants and children with acquired swallowing and/or developmental/behavioural feeding difficulties and acquired neurological communication impairments within the neonatal units (cross-site) and paediatric wards. See attached job description for more details.

Person specification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria

• BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
• Experience of infant feeding, swallowing and communication and an awareness of a range of assessment and therapy techniques
• An awareness of developmental care and family integrated care frameworks
• Experience of management of children with acquired neurological communication impairments
• Awareness of relevant assessments and outcome measures of children with brain injury
• Awareness of risk identification and management including MD liaison and decision making.
• Knowledge and awareness of safeguarding procedures and the SLT role within that.
• Postgraduate training in management of dysphagia.
• Excellent IT Skills including data and presentation packages
• Interest in developing research and audit skills

Desirable criteria

• Member of RCSLT
• MSc or specialist postgraduate training / experience to masters level equivalent
• Experience of audit
• Membership of relevant CENs
• Good knowledge of communication aids and computer based communication programmes
• Presentation at CENs/Membership of CEN committee
• Participation in instrumental assessment of swallowing skills
• Knowledge and awareness of MDT neurodevelopmental follow up

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to communicate complex and emotive information, including where there are barriers to understanding
• Proven ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of student training and supervision
• Good presentation and teaching skills and ability to devise appropriate training and information packages
• Ability to work in partnership with other professionals and agencies

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of clinical supervision of others including students
• Evidence of professionally written and spoken public presentation skills

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Excellent observational and analytical skills
• Ability to undertake assessment and make differential diagnoses
• Ability to plan and implement treatment programmes

Desirable criteria

• Awareness of specialist assessment and differential diagnosis with a complex caseload

PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Good organisational and time management ability
• Ability to plan and prioritise own autonomous caseload within professional guidelines and policies
• Able to work flexibly, under pressure and to use appropriate conflict resolution skills
• Able to demonstrate awareness of current NHS changes and professional issues

OTHER

Essential criteria

• Commitment to an inclusive child & family-centred approach
• Commitment to lifelong learning

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.