Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Key Duties Patient/client care To assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Treatment To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication, voice and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible To demonstrate negotiation skills To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management Policy/service development/implementation To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate Financial and physical resources To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients Human resources To supervise the work of assistants and volunteers To participate in student placements as appropriate To provide mentoring to more junior Speech and Language Therapists To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers To assist in the support of students from other professional groups as appropriate To participate in specialist training in area of clinical expertise To assist with the identification of training needs within the team Information resources To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines Research and development To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness To undertake Clinical Governance /audit projects within local service To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects To collect and provide research data as required Freedom to act: To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals Knowledge and Skills Communication and relationship skills To contribute to clinical teams both multi disciplinary and uni disciplinary by discussing own and others input around clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions To work closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist To develop skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process To develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties To employ excellent communication skills Knowledge, training and experience To demonstrate Specialist Knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence based practice To manage caseload independently To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework To participate in Individual Performance Review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical specialism To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the adult acute inpatients and voice outpatients and maintain up to date HPC and RCSLT registration To attend Specialist Short Courses appropriate to clinical specialism To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines To participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical specialism To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise with and without support To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in stroke rehabilitation To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field To attend relevant course, meetings and special interest groups To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding, , Working with Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act and other legal frameworks To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice Analytical and judgmental skills To develop the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication /voice and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve To use specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice as appropriate To develop clear care plans based on best practice To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances Planning and organisational skills To manage and prioritise own caseload independently To manage and prioritise own workload