Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care

To screen, assess, diagnose, develop and implement specialist speech and language therapy treatment for clients.

To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge.

To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.

To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.

To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible

To demonstrate negotiation skills.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures.  This requires maintaining knowledge of current research and agreed best practice in working in the field of specialism.

To adapt practice to meet individual patients’ circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences

To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.

To develop ideas of innovative practice in working in the promotion and development of adult clients’ communication skills in specialist area.

To adhere to inter-agency child protection and vulnerable adults’ policies.

To provide a service which takes account of the needs of clients from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds  

Clinical

To independently manage and prioritise own complex caseload.

To contribute to monitoring and evaluating own specialist service delivery and provide progress reports as necessary.

To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.

To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.

To work independently, accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals.

To reflect on client’s communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.

To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management

To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve as appropriate.

To use specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision-making for case management.

To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment, seeking advice as appropriate.

To develop clear care plans based on best practice.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs.

To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances.

To participate in any service planning required to provide service cover in the event of staff absences.

To plan, deliver and evaluate training (formal and informal), tailoring training to the needs of course participants.

Administration

To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports in line with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ (RCSLT) professional standards as well as local trust policies.

To adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures to protect the confidentiality of information about clients’ and colleagues at all times.  

To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines.

To gather and update activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.

To assist in defining and collating data for the purposes of service monitoring and clinical governance activities.

To contribute to, develop and maintain a store of specialist information and resources accessible to Speech and Language Therapy colleagues.

Performance and Quality

To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate.

To liaise with other specialist Speech and Language Therapists working in specialist area both regionally and nationally through the Special Interest Group network.

To take a role in creating, developing and updating care pathways for specific clinical issues, within the SLT service.

To participate in the development of care protocols/packages relating to specialist area in liaison with senior colleagues to improve patient care.

To advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures, change in demand etc.

To assist with the identification of training needs within the team.

To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in a wide range of working groups and policy development groups, chairing where required.

To liaise with relevant professional staff in Health, Education and Social Services and contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.

To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies.

To participate in projects aiming to promote the Speech and Language Therapy profession and service.

To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards-setting and clinical effectiveness.

To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects, taking a lead role where appropriate to area of specialism.

To collect, provide and evaluate research data as required.

Financial and Physical Resources

To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.

To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to clients.