Clinical Lead Speech

Job summary

We are seeking dedicated, clinical specialist Speech & Language Therapist to lead our services at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH)

This is an exciting opportunity to combine your clincia, managerial and leadership experience to head up a team of 13 therapists across inpatient stroke and acute medical wards and join the SLT senior leadership team at Kings.

We are a busy and highly effective team in a very busy District General Hospital serving the residents of Bromley and surrounding boroughs.

The team operates as an active member of the wider MDT and has strong links across therapies, nursing and medicine to deliver patient centred care.

The SLT service at Kings is made up of 52 staff across our 3 acute sites (Denmark Hill, PRUH Orpington and Orpington Hospital). We have regular contact for operational meetings and CPD alongside many opportunities to collaborate on projects and service developments across our teams.

King's College Hospital has a large Therapy department with over 400 therapists from Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy. Each service is organised under a Head of Profession with a Chief of Therapies heading up the service and representing Therapies across the Trust as well as externally. The department has a well-established provision of education and training, supervision and appraisal, ensuring that all staff have opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge and to reach their full potential.

Main duties of the job

To lead and manage the team of Speech & Language Therapists based on the PRUH site.

To possess and develop highly specialist knowledge (theory and practice) in acute in-patient Speech & Language Therapy across a range of specialities including Medicine, Frailty, Surgery, Critical Care and Stroke.

To ensure and maintain a high standard, efficient and effective Speech & Language Therapy service within these specialist areas.

To manage a complex clinical caseload and undertake the assessment and management of patients.

To deputise for the Head of Speech & Language Therapy as appropriate.

About us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, million patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King's to another level.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities:

To assess, diagnose, treat and manage a complex caseload of adults with acquired communication and swallowing problems, admitted to the PRUH and Orpington Hospital (latter frailty only), in accordance with Kings College Hospital Speech and Language Therapy service guidelines and service standards.

To provide specialist diagnostic and treatment advice on acute management issues to the wider Speech and Language Therapy team.

To lead and support development of competencies for the PRUH SLT team in Videofluoroscopy. This includes leading on coordination of the weekly clinic and management of inpatient and outpatient referrals into the clinic.

To provide information, advice and support to patients, carers, relatives and staff.

To liaise effectively with the multidisciplinary team to facilitate patient management.

To attend ward and team meetings and case conferences, as appropriate

To liaise with all appropriate agencies pre and post discharge. In particular to liaise with Speech and Language Therapists within the regional network to facilitate seamless transfer of care. This may include links with appropriate CENs and voluntary organisations.

To provide accurate and timely reports, including transfer and discharge reports.

Where appropriate, following patient discharge, to act in a specialist advisory capacity regionally and nationally, on ongoing patient management.

To provide clinical training for Speech and Language Therapy students as agreed and appropriate, including preparation for and participation in, continuous assessment or exams.

To provide specialist lectures and presentations to hospital staff and those in the community and externally.

To facilitate access to specialist AAC assessment and management.

To pursue an active programme of continuing professional development, including participation in annual appraisal.

To participate in regular clinical supervision.

Managerial and Administrative Responsibilities:

Lead and develop the PRUH Speech & Language Therapy service in liaison with the Head of Speech & Language Therapy.

To provide monthly clinical supervision and support for the PRUH-based team.

To ensure departmental equipment and communication devices are regularly maintained and in good working order.

To deputise for Speech & Language Therapy Manager/Therapy services as appropriate.

To attend Speech and Language Therapy team meetings, including band 8 strategy/clinical governance meetings.

To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data on caseload and organisational issues

Clinical Governance

To lead and develop appropriate audit activity.

To ensure dissemination and development of evidence based practice within the PRUH-based Speech and Language Therapy teams and wider Kings service.

To supervise, where appropriate, research and audit activity undertaken by the PRUH-based Speech and Language Therapy teams.

To contribute to the development of KCH policies, standards and guidelines as appropriate.

To contribute to MDT protocols, guidelines and patient information, as appropriate.

People Management and Performance

Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.

Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans. Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant. Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level. Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trusts recruitment policy and process. Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people. Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date. Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.

General

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations. We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued. At Kings we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind . We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful . We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team . We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff. To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues. This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. All employees must hold an '' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication. Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At Kings, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc/PGDip in Speech & Language Therapy Registered member of HCPC Active membership of appropriate Clinical Network Advanced postgraduate dysphagia qualification

Desirable

Member of RCSLT MSc or specialist postgraduate training to Masters level equivalent Postgraduate training in leadership and management

Skills and Competencies

Essential

Excellent communication skills, both spoken and written, including negotiation and working in pressurised environments Experience working as member of a senior multidisciplinary team Ability to promote and represent speech & language therapy within the organisation Able to plan for change and implement policy and procedures as well as adjust as necessary

Desirable

Level 4 Videofluoroscopy competency and experience both leading an inpatient videofluoroscopy clinic and developing competencies within members of an SLT team. Competency in FEES

Knowledge Learning and Experience

Essential

Extensive experience of line management and supervision of more junior staff Experience of working at highly specialist level in a range of setting including acute medicine, and stroke Knowledge of current legislation and national frameworks specific to hyper-acute/acute care Experience with leading clinical audit Experience of working at highly specialist level in a range of acute and neuro rehab in-patient settings Experience of student training and supervision of SLT students Experience of lecturing and teaching to a wide range of senior professionals within own and other disciplines

Desirable

Experience with leading and/or participating in research

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