Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist Acute Medicine/Surgery

We are seeking an enthusiastic clinical lead speech and language therapist with a passion for improving care and leading change within both the acute and outpatient services.

This is a part‑time, permanent position working 30 hours per week.

As a large teaching hospital and tertiary centre, we offer a diverse caseload across acute, emergency, critical care, surgical, frailty, admission avoidance and instrumental assessment services. The post holder will jointly lead the service across two sites with an established Band 7 Clinical Lead, reviewing service models, streamlining pathways, strengthening MDT working, and delivering education to improve care for patients with swallowing and communication needs.

This person will understand acute care and be motivated to deliver a high-quality service with a vision on how to improve patient outcomes and flow with the opportunity to work across the inpatient and outpatient pathway and in FEES and videofluoroscopy clinics.

The service supports evidence-based practice and CPD, offering opportunities to develop your clinical portfolio. Part-time and flexible working may be considered, with potential for Band 6–7 development for the right candidate.

Main duties of the job

• To lead and provide operational management of the Speech & Language therapy service to acute medicine and surgery.
• To lead service developments and support staff working.
• To use advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose and independently manage complex dysphagia and disorders of communication respectively.
• To represent speech and language therapy in multidisciplinary team settings and contribute highly specialist expertise for the management of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• To integrate with the multidisciplinary teams and contribute to training and education and quality improvement projects as appropriate.
• To demonstrate skills in motivating patients to engage in therapeutic process.

To use excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and a flexible approach to work practice.

To participate in instrumental assessment using videofluoroscopy and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).

To participate in appropriate trust level service developments which impact on the care delivered to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties.

To maintain clinical professional development and be up to date with research and advancements within this clinical area.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust is a large acute organisation, delivering specialist services both locally and regionally. The Speech Therapy Department is situated at the Royal Preston Hospital site; however, we also deliver services to Chorley District Hospital (District Hospital).

We are a dedicated SLT service with excellent patient care at the core of our values, and our varied caseload provides complex presentations across dysphagia, communication and voice respectively. We have established VFS and FEES clinics, with in-service training to provide sustainability. We strive to continuously improve our SLT services through service development and innovation and are keen that audit / research are part of our clinical roles. We have strong clinical leadership within the department and structured clinical supervision and CPD is promoted.

You will join a large friendly team of speech and language therapists covering a range of specialist services. The department is rated 'GOLD' on the STAR quality assurance framework, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. CPD and training are well supported.

To find out more about us, look at our Twitter @SLT_LTHTR or Bluesky page @LTHTR-SLT

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Louise Sloan Job title: Head of Speech & Language Therapy Email address: louise.sloan@lthtr.nhs.uk Telephone number: 01772 522426

Bethany Masey

Associate Head of Speech & Language Therapy

bethany.masey@lthtr.nhs.uk

01772 522426