Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Profile Summary

As an autonomous practitioner within a multidisciplinary team, the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist will assess, treat and manage their own caseload and provide highly specialist speech and language therapy skills to patients with speech, language and swallowing problems within the Intensive Care Unit and acute wards across the hospital (neurosurgical ward, acute admissions unit, Heart Vascular and Thoracic ward, Digestive Diseases ward). The neurosurgical ward is primarily patients on an elective neuro-oncology surgical pathway.

This role will report directly to the Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist and be part of a highly innovative, evidence-based, forward-thinking Speech and Language therapy team.

This role will provide assessment and therapy provision to the Intensive Care Unit, neurosurgical ward, and wider acute wards of the hospital. Some cross cover to Neurorehabilitation may be required, as well as working within the wider therapy team providing speech and language therapy expertise.

With support from the therapy leadership team this role will develop and progress education and research within speech and language therapy. The role will motivate, empower, coach and develop multidisciplinary team members and students through supervision frameworks.

Job Responsibilities:

- Be independently responsible for the assessment, diagnosis and management of complex communication, swallowing and tracheostomy weaning needs for patients with multiple aetiologies and comorbidities across the intensive care unit, requiring advanced clinical reasoning, together with integrated clinical management with the wider MDT to enable optimal outcome

- Provide and act as a source of clinical expertise in speech and language therapy management of neurological and medical patients to the MDT in relation to communication and swallowing difficulties, whether they arise due to the nature of the underlying medical conditions, are due to concomitant conditions or the presence of equipment/technologies used to support life (e.g. intubation, tracheostomy or ventilation)

- Deputise for the Speech and Language Therapy Lead as required

- Educate and train Speech and Language Therapists and other MDT members with innovation and passion around communication, swallowing and cognitive impairments in the critically ill patient, the role of speech and language therapy and rehabilitation

- Take a proactive lead in using routine outcome measures to improve patient care at both a local and national level

- Provide highly supportive supervision and coaching to other therapists

- Keep informed of evidence, changes to practice, relevant research and guidance to discuss at regular opportunities to progress and develop own / MDT practice

- Lead small service development projects within own area of work

- Work within published National Guidelines appropriate to role using these as a basis for participation in the development of locally agreed, evidence-based protocols, guidelines and pathways.

- Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, ensuring a high standard of care and actively encourage and motivate others to do the same

- Identify areas of research and quality improvement relevant to critical care/neurosurgery and add to wider therapy development strategy

- Assist in identification, mitigation and management of risks as part of clinical governance

- Assist the Clinical Lead SLT in the recruitment of other caregivers as required

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Specialist knowledge and experience in application of clinically reasoned, safe and evidenced based techniques, assessments, management plans and outcome measures for patients with routine and complex communication and swallowing disorders in critical care and acute wards.
• Effective and adaptable communication using a variety of verbal and written techniques to the needs of the patient, family, carer and wider MDT
• Ability to form collaborative and productive relationships with key stakeholders and continuously seek to develop knowledge and skills in own clinical area of critical care
• Ability to set collaborative goals with the patient and/or their families
• Ability to make appropriate recommendations regarding further assessment and referrals to other disciplines/agencies, e.g. ENT, dietetics, clinical psychologist

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• Current registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Experiential post graduate learning and development of specialist skills such as Videofluoroscopy assessment, Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) assessment, and tracheostomy management. Competence in ventilator management desirable
• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy (RCSLT) desirable
• Membership of Clinical Excellence Network (CEN) desirable

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cleveland Clinic London

Address

33 Grosvenor Place

London

SW1X 7HY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description Summary

The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in delivering key performance targets including assurance that the professional nursing practice and delivery of care is aligned to the Cleveland Clinic London (CCL) mission and values. They will be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care of patients requiring level 2 and 3 care under indirect supervision from the sister/charge nurse and in accordance with established policies, procedures and protocols. They will be expected to be able to demonstrate procedures, mentor and supervise pre and post registration staff without direct supervision;lead the unit on a day to day basis in the absence of the Sister /Charge Nurse and drive the delivery of high quality and innovative nursing practice consistent with regulatory and professional requirements. They will also build and maintain excellent working relationships with other departments to ensure a seamless service for our patients.

Key Responsibilities

Operational

• Provides direct nursing care to patients requiring level 2&3 care in accordance with established policies, procedures and protocols of CCL .

• Prioritises nursing care, recognizes deterioration in patients condition and escalates to the senior nursing team /clinicians immediately .

• Manages the intensive Care Unit when on duty, demonstrating clinical responsibility in order to carry out safe delivery of care to a complex group of patients.

• Supports, and in the absence of the Intensive Care Unit Sister /Charge Nurse, organises the day to day running of the Intensive Care Unit. This includes allocating nursing staff according to their level of competence, reviewing skill mix and workload to ensure they meet the needs of the service.

• Keep the Intensive Care Sister/Charge Nurse informed of all the relevant issues affecting patient care e.g. risk, staffing levels, skills and equipment needs.

• Contribute to the outreach and resus team rotas if required.

Leadership & Team Management

• Creates a climate of support and cooperation, a culture of shared accountability across the organisation whilst holding individuals to account where there is non-compliance.

• Acts as a clinical leader and role model whilst providing direct quality patient care, sharing expertise with colleagues.

• Ensures adherence and timely management of units and CCL KPIs on recruitment and retention, staff development, appraisal, sickness management, disciplinary and grievance.

• Contributes to the development and delivery of department teaching and mentorship programs

• Ensures personal and team adherence to all CCL policies and procedures .

• Liaises with the Clinical Educators regarding the developmental needs of staff.

• Supports team engagement through application of Shared Governance principles.

• Provides feedback to the intensive care Sister/Manager on individual staff progression or identify and document any concerns.

• Identifies own training needs and maintains professional development in accordance with Revalidation requirements.

Quality & Safety

• Adheres to the NMC code of conduct and acts as the patient advocate at all times.

• Facilitates the implementation of quality systems and improved patient outcomes as a result.

• Ensures a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors following the guidelines of risk management. Proactively reports incidents, risks and/or failings, taking responsibility to minimise these.

• Supports the Intensive Care Sister /Intensive Care Manager with the implementation and revision of core standards of care, policies and SOPs. Manages non-conformance to policy, procedure and standards of care.

• Ensures adherence to the CCL Complaints Management Policy by supporting the unit manager in investigating all concerns and verbal/written complaints. Ensures the management of these are undertaken appropriately and within the CCL timescales.

• Ensures that nursing and clinical practice is in accordance with the mission and strategic plan

• Demonstrates Infection Control principles and participates in the development of unit infection control related reports, taking appropriate action where there is variance to the agreed KPIs.

• Ensures duty of candor at all times.

• Communicates with patients, families, visitors and external providers in a calm, courteous, helpful manner, endeavoring to resolve difficult issues at the /department level.

• Communicates patient clinical information clearly and accurately, documenting pertinent information in nursing record and ensuring complete documentation of patient care.

• Participates in research and innovation and the dissemination of Evidence Based Practice in care delivery.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Nursing Bachelor's Degree
• Current nursing registration (First Level) through the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) required, with no restrictions to practice
• Completed Adult Critical Care/Intensive Care Course or equivalent
• ILS/ALS provider course completed and qualification in date

Experience

Essential

• Suitable experience as an ICU Senior Staff Nurse
• Demonstrable clinical experience in the field of high acuity critically-ill adults with invasive lines, mechanical ventilation, continuous and intermittent hemodialysis, and vasoactive intravenous medications in a hospital setting
• Wide range of experience working in critical care specialties including cardiac and cardiothoracic, neurosurgery, renal, and GI surgery
• Track record of achievement of objectives in present and past posts, in both clinical and leadership fields

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cleveland Clinic London

Address

Cleveland Clinic

33 Grosvenor Place

London

SW1X 7HY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/ (Opens in a new tab)