Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

We are looking for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our Adult Community Speech and Language Therapist Team! We welcome applications from experienced therapists with the opportunity to develop from a Band 6 to Band 7.

As a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist you will hold a caseload of complex cases, undertake independent assessment and management of service users to incorporate pharmacological considerations, where appropriate making complex clinical decisions regarding service user management and clinical outcomes. You will contribute to strategic and clinical development.

This is a part time post of 37.5 hours working within the mental health wards across Dorset. Our service embraces flexible working as long as the service needs are met. You will sit within the Adult Community Speech and Language Team and providing specialist SLT input to the mental health wards across the county as well as contributing to service development.

If you have any queries or would like to meet the service and/or ward teams, please contactsteph.hammond@nhs.net or call 01202 307766

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

Job description

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person specification

Knowledge, Skills and Training

Essential

• Membership of the relevant Professional Body
• Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio
• Knowledge and understanding of Trust Strategy relevant to role
• Demonstrable knowledge of legislation relevant to area of clinical practice

Job Specific Experience

Essential

• Experience at Registered Practitioner Band 6 level
• Able to demonstrate specialist expertise and knowledge underpinned by theory acquired through CPD in relation to clinical assessment, treatment and evaluation.
• Evidence of risk management skills and experience.
• Evidence of involvement in meeting relevant clinical governance objectives.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge of health policy and its application in practice.
• Experience of developing specialist programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing highly specialist advice

Able to demonstrate specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate information in order to make a clinical judgement regarding diagnosis and intervention.

Evidence of involvement in the development of programmes of care, protocols and audit.

Experience of multi-disciplinary working.

Able to demonstrate innovation and effective use of resources.

Able to actively research for the potential to improve quality and customer care, seeking new ideas and methods to improve health care.

Evidence of involvement in research.

Trained in PMVA techniques or willing to be trained.

Managerial/Supervisory Experience

Essential

• Evidence of proactive involvement in the supervision and development of members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Evidence of delivering education and training in practice.
• Able to act as a clinical supervisor and/or facilitate peer groups.

Information Technology

Essential

• Able to analyse data and produce reports using Microsoft Excel and Word
• Confident in the use of computer systems, spreadsheets, databases, data collection and co-ordination, word processing and report writing.

Experience of using electronic patient / service user record systems

Personal Qualities/Attributes

Essential

• Evidence of demonstrating the Trust's values and behaviours.
• Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
• Able to overcome barriers to understanding where there are physical or mental disabilities.
• Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.
• Experience of planning and organising complex activities requiring the formulation and adjustment of plans .e.g. organising own time, co-ordination with other agencies and plans for sudden, unforeseen circumstances.
• Able to work independently within sphere of authority
• Evidence of skills in diplomacy, negotiation and influencing.
• Inquisitive and eager to learn, asks questions and responds positively to change in practice/procedure. Seeks ways to improve self and others.
• Ability to evaluate care leading to improvement in quality standards an service improvement

Able to adapt to a changing environment and changing priorities.

About the employer

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.