Job Description

SPECIALIST LEARNING DISABILTIES

Band 6 - Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Intensive Health Outreach Team (IHOT)



22.5 hours per week (full time hours may be available and would be discussed at interview)



Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

Base:

The Redwoods Centre, Shrewsbury



Job overview

A fabulous opportunity has arisen for a Speech and Language Therapist to work in our innovative Intensive Health Outreach Team (IHOT) who provide a community service across the beautiful county of Shropshire. IHOT is a multidisciplinary team providing specialist and sometimes intensive services to adults with learning disabilities who have complex physical health needs. The post offers the opportunity to work in a highly focussed way with individuals who require assessment and intervention for dysphagia.



We welcome applications and enquiries from Speech and Language Therapists with dysphagia experience. Whilst experience working with people with learning disabilities is desirable, it is not essential. We encourage those with an interest in pursuing a career working in Learning Disability services to apply.

We can provide specialist and bespoke support to the successful applicant to support their development needs in this area.



You will ideally have experience of working with people who have complex needs, for example those associated with mental ill health, physical ill health, autism or behaviour that challenges.



To provide intensive specialist speech and language therapy assessment, diagnosis and treatment programmes to individual clients with complex physical health, communication and dysphagia needs referred to the Intensive Health Outreach Team in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.



To be an autonomous practitioner, holding a small clinical caseload of clients with complex dysphagia and working without direct supervision within the context of a multi-disciplinary team.



To support less experienced staff and students and colleagues to deliver the Trust contracted services.



To provide expert advice in relation to communication and dysphagia, signposting, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, clients, carers, relatives.



By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;



Supporting your career development and progression



Excellent NHS Pension scheme



Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave



Options for flexible working



Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days)



Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources



If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients



Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate



Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates



Salary sacrifice bikes up to 2k



Free car parking at all trust sites



Free flu vaccinations every year



Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to 250 (if the criteria is met)



We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.



Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.



Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications



KEY RESPONSIBILITIES



Main duties and responsibilities



1. Be professionally accountable for all aspects of own work, including caseload management and direct clinical care. To work within the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) Standards of Practice and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) standards.



2. Obtain and record informed consent from clients at each contact in accordance with Trust policy.



3. Carry out comprehensive specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessments for complex learning disabilities, some of whom have physical disabilities and/or autism and deteriorating physical health. Interpret clinical information and data related to clinical parameters along with non-clinical information and use clinical reasoning skills to accurately diagnose and develop specific treatment plans.



4. Provide specialist advice to other professionals or assessments to meet clients' holistic care needs.



5. Formulate and deliver individual treatment plans based on specialist knowledge, evidence-based practise, national and local guidelines using profession-specific clinical skills and techniques (e.g. 1:1 interventions, carer education, patient education).



6. To undertake complex swallowing assessments using highly developed skills when assessing and treating clients (e.g. cervical auscultation).



7. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the evidence base related to Speech and Language Therapy assessment and interventions for this client group.



8. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of instrumental assessment available (such as videofluoroscopy) and to be able to signpost to services who assess and provide this.



9. Contribute to the multi-disciplinary clinical referral, assessment and discharge planning process and onward referral as required.



10. Prioritise urgent, unexpected or planned referrals, adjusting caseloads and allocations to meet revised needs.



11. Undertake other duties when requested by professional or operational managers.



12. Maintain a professional Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio to demonstrate competence to practice, and which meets the requirements of HCPC registration.



13. Demonstrate the ability to facilitate team working across organisational boundaries and with health and social care professionals outside of the Trust.



14. Be a responsible, clinically autonomous practitioner, working within appropriate professional guidelines and code of conduct.



15. Triage, prioritise and manage own clinical caseload.



16. Manage often competing clinical and non-clinical demands and prioritise appropriately to meet the overall service need.



17. Have direct responsibility for client contact when assessing, treating or advising others.



18. Be responsible for the Speech and Language Therapy element of ongoing treatment packages.



19. Provide specialist advice via written or verbal instruction to clients, carers and relatives. This may be reports, plans, health education, preventative or condition-specific advice.



20. Act as a point of reference for Speech and Language therapy related clinical matters.



21. Carry out audit to improve service and compliance with local and national standards..



Please see the attached & Person Specification for further details.