Speech and Language Therapist

To hold and manage a delegated caseload and to be legally accountable for all clinical decisions and professional actions. To provide assessment, differential diagnosis and appropriate and clearly planned Speech and Language Therapy intervention and discharge planning for patients with a wide range of disorders referred to the Service, in line RCSLT Clinical Guidelines, and standards set by, Team Leaders and SLT Service Manager. To adapt assessment and intervention techniques to the needs of individual patients on an ongoing basis including the provision of augmentative and alternative communication systems as appropriate. To identify need for second opinions, referring to senior colleagues as appropriate. To assist/observe instrumental assessments, as patient need dictates (e.g. participation in videofluoroscopy (VFS), Fibreoptic Endoscopoic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES), videolaryngoendoscopy and voice clinic), conducted by senior SLTs. To be aware of Health and Safety issues in relation to potential exposure to radiation and bodily fluids. To contribute to assessment and information gathering of a patients mental capacity in relation to their ability to consent with support from senior colleagues. To also enable patients to maximise their independence in decision making and their ability to communicate their wishes. To work closely with all appropriate agencies and MDT colleagues to ensure comprehensive management of the patients SLT needs, providing written and verbal reports as appropriate to ensure that all parties involved fully understand the nature of the patients communication/swallowing disorders. To participate in case conferences and undertake multi-disciplinary working, to enhance patients functional abilities. To devise, monitor, supervise and evaluate the implementation of communication and swallowing intervention programmes carried out by others, e.g. SLT Assistants, other health professionals, volunteers and carers. To provide information that may be complex to patients, carers and families in a manner that enables and ensures their understanding (patients will frequently have communication and or cognitive difficulties as well as emotional difficulty accepting the information being provided), observing data protection guidelines. Please view the attached job description for full details of the role and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.