Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist ICU

Job Profile Summary As an autonomous practitioner within a multidisciplinary team, the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist will assess, treat and manage their own caseload and provide highly specialist speech and language therapy skills to patients with speech, language and swallowing problems within the Intensive Care Unit and acute wards across the hospital (neurosurgical ward, acute admissions unit, Heart Vascular and Thoracic ward, Digestive Diseases ward). The neurosurgical ward is primarily patients on an elective neuro-oncology surgical pathway. This role will report directly to the Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist and be part of a highly innovative, evidence-based, forward-thinking Speech and Language therapy team. This role will provide assessment and therapy provision to the Intensive Care Unit, neurosurgical ward, and wider acute wards of the hospital. Some cross cover to Neurorehabilitation may be required, as well as working within the wider therapy team providing speech and language therapy expertise. With support from the therapy leadership team this role will develop and progress education and research within speech and language therapy. The role will motivate, empower, coach and develop multidisciplinary team members and students through supervision frameworks.

Job Responsibilities

• Be independently responsible for the assessment, diagnosis and management of complex communication, swallowing and tracheostomy weaning needs for patients with multiple aetiologies and comorbidities across the intensive care unit, requiring advanced clinical reasoning, together with integrated clinical management with the wider MDT to enable optimal outcome - Provide and act as a source of clinical expertise in speech and language therapy management of neurological and medical patients to the MDT in relation to communication and swallowing difficulties, whether they arise due to the nature of the underlying medical conditions, are due to concomitant conditions or the presence of equipment/technologies used to support life (e.g. intubation, tracheostomy or ventilation) - Deputise for the Speech and Language Therapy Lead as required - Educate and train Speech and Language Therapists and other MDT members with innovation and passion around communication, swallowing and cognitive impairments in the critically ill patient, the role of speech and language therapy and rehabilitation - Take a proactive lead in using routine outcome measures to improve patient care at both a local and national level - Provide highly supportive supervision and coaching to other therapists - Keep informed of evidence, changes to practice, relevant research and guidance to discuss at regular opportunities to progress and develop own / MDT practice - Lead small service development projects within own area of work - Work within published National Guidelines appropriate to role using these as a basis for participation in the development of locally agreed, evidence-based protocols, guidelines and pathways. - Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, ensuring a high standard of care and actively encourage and motivate others to do the same - Identify areas of research and quality improvement relevant to critical care/neurosurgery and add to wider therapy development strategy - Assist in identification, mitigation and management of risks as part of clinical governance - Assist the Clinical Lead SLT in the recruitment of other caregivers as required