Job overview

The Adult SLT team at Darent Valley Hospital have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (0.8wte) to join our critical care service at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. We are looking to recruit a dynamic, innovative and skilled Critical Care Speech and Language Therapist capable of providing high quality input to the hospital’s 10-bedded Intensive Care Unit. We are situated near South-East London with good transport links, where an additional 5% high cost of living allowance applies. We pride ourselves in being a friendly, proactive and flexible team.

The post will provide excellent opportunities to develop skills as a core member of the Critical Care MDT. It is essential that you have a high level of knowledge and skills within critical care and are motivated to work within the current Speech & Language Therapy resource to develop the skills and competence of the team in critical care and the associated pathways.

Main duties of the job

Established leadership skills are essential for this role. Service evaluation and governance are key components with the post holder expected to undertake regular audit and collate clinical outcomes within Critical Care and across Acute Speech & Language Therapy with a view to continually improving quality, safety and productivity. Teaching will be a significant part of your role, both within the SLT team and the wider MDT.

The successful candidate will also work closely with the acute lead SLT to support a team of therapists and therapy assistants to manage an acute caseload. There is access to weekly videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics, and while working knowledge and experience of these assessments are desirable for the role we would be pleased to support attainment of additional competencies as required. The post holder will also be working alongside the Stroke Unit SLT team and there are also well established outpatient and Macmillan teams, and excellent administrative support. They will be supervised by the Band 8 Head of Service for Inpatients.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you’ll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we’ve achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.