Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention to service users who have a variety of complex communication and/or swallowing needs. This will include adults with learning disabilities, autism, and/or mental health conditions. This includes the assessment, diagnosis, and management of dysphagia, ensuring timely and appropriate intervention, liaison with medical teams, and training for staff and carers where needed.
• To independently manage own caseload, working closely with care coordinators and social supervisors where applicable, while accessing regular clinical and managerial supervision.
• To provide leadership and to line manage and/or clinically supervise junior Speech and Language Therapy colleagues, students, and other relevant staff.
• To act as a core member of a multi-disciplinary team and represent the Speech and Language Therapy service at team, directorate, and working group meetings as appropriate.
• To provide specialist advice and support to families, other speech and language therapists, and multidisciplinary professionals both within and outside the Trust, ensuring the active involvement of carers and family members in care planning and delivery wherever appropriate.
• To provide compassionate, non-judgemental care that is rooted in empathy, kindness, respect, and dignity 

Freedom to Act

• To act in accordance with the professional standards set out by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy and the Health Professionals Council.
• To act in accordance with local policies and procedures at all times.
• To pursue the principles of ‘Valuing People’ at all times and to follow the Trust’s values.
• To maintain knowledge of current best practice and clinical effectiveness within the Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Learning Disability/ ASD field.
• To plan, organise and manage own workload with guidance.
• To maintain the online RCSLT CPD log.

 Leadership

• To induct, train, review work performance and clinically supervise/appraise SaLT colleagues, and Specialist Support Workers as identified.
• To contribute to the development of Speech and Language Therapy Service policies and procedures, including participation in projects and quality improvement initiatives.
• To contribute to the service development through relevant meetings and working groups.
• To plan and deliver training courses where appropriate in relation to speech and language discipline.
• Communicate regularly through team meetings, Business meetings, clinical forums and individually with team members providing an opportunity for two-way feedback.
• Ensure that service users and carers’ opinions and experiences are being responded to at a team level.
• Clinical record keeping is of a consistent high standard and meets trust policy and practice guidance.

Clinical

• Deliver evidence-based practice regarding specialist speech and language therapy assessment and intervention.
• To carry out and interpret specialist assessments of the eating and drinking (dysphagia) within inpatient secure wards. 
• Monitor specialised packages of care including direct therapy, advice and training
• To contribute to specialist multi-disciplinary assessment and care package, including consultation, giving advice and joint care planning e.g. Positive Behaviour support.
• To contribute to medical diagnosis including differential diagnosis
• To contribute to and carry out Capacity to Consent Assessments in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act
• To work as a member of the Learning Disability/ASD Team by completing ‘Initial Assessments’, covering duty as and when required
• To participate in CPA/CTR/ professional and network meetings.
• To monitor clinical effectiveness and clinical outcome measures
• To follow Health and Safety guidelines regarding unpleasant working conditions, e.g. Hepatitis, lone visits, exposure to bodily fluids.

 Research

• To plan, co-ordinate and carry out regular and ongoing complex audits of Speech and Language Therapy Service work in order to contribute to knowledge of clinical effectiveness and outcomes
• To develop and promote evidence-based practice

Communication

• To demonstrate well-developed specialist communication and presentation skills at all times
• To provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information where there may be significant barriers to understanding or acceptance possibly within emotive, distressing and/or antagonistic atmospheres
• To adapt spoken and written information to suit the communication needs of the listener/audience
• To demonstrate well-developed motivation, negotiation, empathy and reassurance
• To liaise with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Teams, this may include; family, carers, support staff, AHPs, nurses, and commissioners.
• To develop and deliver specialist presentations and training to a range of audiences including Service Users, carers, staff and Professional colleagues, in both small and large groups
• To maintain clinical records in accordance with local standards
• To provide letters and reports as necessary in accordance with local standards
• To provide accurate and contemporaneous statistical information in accordance with local standards
• To use basic word processing skills and specialist software packages to develop communication aids and accessible information

To be noted:

• This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

• This job description will be reviewed in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the postholder.

• The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.