Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in Stroke

Position Summary:

The post holder will have responsibility for the provision of a specialist speech & language therapy service for those attending the speech and language therapy service in Beaumont Hospital and/or St Joseph’s Hospital in the area of Stroke. This post holder will work closely with the other SLT staff members who work in the area of stroke and will involve working with both inpatients and outpatients.

The successful candidate will be part of integral part of the well-structured, multi-speciality Beaumont Hospital SLT team with excellent support and opportunities for CPD. They will also work as part of the wider Stroke Multidisciplinary team which consists of the full range of professionals required to provide the service. This is an excellent opportunity to work in a well-established, specialist team.

Clinical & Professional Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive specialist assessment, treatment and information regarding the communication and swallowing ability of individuals, ensuring full client and family involvement, underpinned by a broad range of specialist knowledge and experience.• Manage and prioritise a complex and specialised caseload independently according to need and departmental guidelines.• Work closely with other SLTs working in the area of stroke and other clinical specialisms as required to ensure appropriate management of each patient’s communication and swallowing abilities.
• Provide swallow screening training to nursing staff and lead in the management of the process alongside other relevant staff members.
• Work closely with the staff working in the early supported discharge team for stroke and rotate between the inpatient stroke service and the ESD team.
• Provide cover for other therapists leave as required to ensure continuous provision of services.
• Take a lead role in demonstrating clinical effectiveness through the application of evidence based practice.
• Ensure that privacy and dignity of the client and family is respected at all times.
• Act as a clinical resource to other Speech and Language Therapists at a local and national level.
• Provide advice and training to other professionals as may be required.
• Keep informed of current changes in clinical and professional practice by attendance at courses, seminars and reading professional/scientific publications.
• Lead the development of innovations in and adhere to best practice in quality standards and clinical effectiveness in the clinical area.
• Maintain an accurate record-keeping system to comply with legal requirements, to maintain high level of patient care, to support clinical studies and to provide information for data collection.
• Represent the department within the context of a multidisciplinary team.
• Attend and participate in all team meetings and journal clubs as appropriate.
• Be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries.
• Work within departmental and national guidelines and professional code of conduct to ensure quality of care.
• To be involved in instrumental assessment clinics, Videofluroscopy and FEES, as appropriate.
• In conjunction with other SLTs, to provide a service to other patient groups, outside of clinical specialist area, as agreed with the SLT Manager.
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the office as may be required by the Speech & Language Therapist Manager.

Continuing Professional Development

• Identify and fulfil professional/personal development objectives with manager and peers.
• Maintain a record of CPD activities to demonstrate evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Attend relevant training in order to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge required of a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.
• Demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with speech and language therapist manager and peers to identify own strengths and development needs.
• To participate in Personal Development Planning, Professional Supervision, Peer Review and Quality Improvement and other relevant processes.

Working Relationships

• To maintain close liaison with all relevant personnel, including primary care and other services, with the objective of providing a quality SLT service that responds to the needs, priorities, concerns and safety of the individual.
• Manage varying professional viewpoints in a professional manner that results in improved service delivery and care.
• Work closely with all speech and language therapists within the department to ensure a high quality service is provided to all clients who attend the speech and language therapy service.

Education & Training

• Play an active role in departmental in-service training.
• Provide supervision/mentoring for other speech and language therapy staff and speech and language therapy assistants as required.
• Be involved in the education and supervision of speech and language therapy students.
• Provide education and training for other healthcare and education staff.
• Develop and/or facilitate the running of training programmes for speech and language therapists and other professionals as may be appropriate.

Administration
• Adhere to local guidelines regarding confidentiality and data protection legislation, professional standards and departmental guidelines.
• Monitor, evaluate and plan for the service as required.
• Liaise with relevant professional colleagues regarding service planning.
• Advise line manager on issues of service delivery specific to the clinical area.
• Maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with the Beaumont Hospital Record Keeping Policy.
• Initiate and carry out regular clinical audit activates appropriate to the Speech & Language Therapy department.
• Be familiar with and adhere to hospital guidelines and policies as relevant including Confidentiality and the Process of Consent.
• Read and adhere to issued staff departmental guidelines and policies to ensure professional practice and optimal patient care.
• Attend departmental staff meetings.
• Assist in the recruitment of new staff and the induction process as required.
• Assume delegated tasks as requested, including participation in working groups and policy development groups.
• To adhere to health & safety, hygiene, infections control and other hospital guidelines.
• In conjunction with other SLT staff, to deputise for the SLT Manager where appropriate.
• Perform such other duties as assigned by speech and language therapist management.

Research and Quality improvement

• Identify research/quality improvement needs within the service and relevant clinical area.
• Initiate and undertake projects appropriate to the service and relevant clinical area.
• Disseminate outcomes to improve service delivery.
• Design projects according to evidence based practice.
• Identify and use resources available within the hospital and from other relevant stakeholders

Selection Criteria:

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory

Education & Registration:

• A recognised qualification in speech & language therapy approved by the CORU, the regulatory body.
• Registered with the speech and language therapy registration board at CORU.
• Have 5 years full time (or equivalent) years post qualification clinical experience of which 4 years full time (or equivalent) in the required area of specialism.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the Irish Health Service

• Demonstrate a proven record of clinical excellence in the specialism with achievements in the areas of clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching and research.
• Candidates must demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the required area of stroke, in the form of post-graduate qualifications, relevant courses or competency development.

Informal Enquiries ONLY to:

Name:  Anne Healy

Title: Speech & Language Therapy Manager

Email address:  annehealy@beaumont.ie

Telephone:  (01) 8092514