Lead Speech and Language Therapist Job Description

Transcription

1 Job Title: Establishment: Responsible to: Lead Speech and Language Therapist Job Description LEAD SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST Central Services Head of Clinical Services Brief description of key responsibilities: The role of the Lead Speech and Language Therapist will be to provide speech and language therapy services to the Group; working collaboratively with staff and promoting the well being and best interests of people who use our services. The post holder will be an autonomous practitioner, taking a lead role in assessment and treatment of a specialist caseload of clients, including the provision of second opinions for other therapists in the team and the overall speech and language therapy service as required. The postholder will have professional supervision and line management responsibilities for the Speech and Language Therapy Team. Main duties and responsibilities: Clinical 1 To lead on the operational management of the Speech and Language Therapy service, working closely with the Head of Clinical Services to take delegated responsibility for specific operational tasks to ensure that the service is effective and well co-ordinated. 2 To demonstrate advanced specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of language and communication problems, providing appropriate specialist assessment and intervention and evaluating outcomes underpinned by current evidence based practice and outcome measures. 3 To demonstrate advanced specialist knowledge in this clinical area underpinned by current evidence based practice and outcome measures, and ensuring that these are embedded in the practice of all clinicians in the service area. 4 To provide advanced specialist advice to others regarding the management and care of people who use our services with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties, developing clear care plans based on best practice. 5 To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to people who use our services, carers, families and members of the multidisciplinary team/other professions, demonstrating empathy, and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist. Page 1 of 5 HO D POL Per /08/13

2 6 To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements based on research and evidence based practice. 7 To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports reflecting advanced specialist knowledge, ensuring that they meet the departmental standards and are in line with the Group s Standards and Policy, and RCSLT professional standards. 8 To be a Registered member of the RCSLT and to maintain HPC registration as a Speech and Language Therapist. 9 To participate as needed in on-call systems. Communication 10 To contribute to Clinical Services Management Meetings and to organise team meetings. 11 To represent the team/service area within multi-disciplinary systems within the Group. 12 To represent the interests of the speech and language therapy service at a range of strategic and operational meetings within and outside the Group as required. 13 To write service reports, providing appropriate information, action plans and methodology for evaluating outcomes, reflecting national and local strategic priorities for the client group in liaison with the Head of Clinical Services. 14 To communicate highly complex and sensitive information, which may be contentious about the service area, to staff and senior managers and across other agencies. 15 To demonstrate highly developed negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations, including the resolution of complaints which may involve diffusion of hostility and aggression. 16 To resolve informal complaints and to have first line responsibility for dealing with formal complaints and preparing initial draft responses. Personnel and People Development 17 To lead on the recruitment of staff within the Speech and Language Therapy team, in line with Group policies and procedures. 18 To line manage speech and language therapists and other staff within the service area (ensuring that appraisal systems, including the identification of continuing professional development, supervision and support systems, are in place for all team members). Page 2 of 5 HO D POL Per /08/13

3 19 To oversee the organisation of the caseloads within the Speech and Language Therapy Team, identifying shortfalls and issues to be addressed, advising the Head of Clinical Services as appropriate. 20 To ensure proactive CPD, in line with the requirements of HPC and RCSLT registration. Teaching and Training 21 To facilitate relevant student placements within the service area, ensuring continuity of placement and provision, and contributing to the clinical supervision of students, including assessment of the placements as appropriate, attending teaching sessions and meetings organised by the education establishments. 22 To provide training to trainee and qualified Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals. 23 To be responsible for the development and delivery of core and specialist training (formal and informal) to others in the clinical speciality, on a range of subjects relating to the clinical specialism. 24 To plan and implement training programmes for others, targeting this training appropriately to the needs of course participants, and reflecting on and evaluating the training. Personal and Professional Development 25 To undertake personal/professional development planning evidenced by a Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework. 26 To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required to support clients within their specialist area with a wide range of communication needs. 27 To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in clinical specialist areas in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a advanced specialist therapist working in their clinical field and maintain up to date HPC and RCSLT registration. 28 To keep up to date with new techniques and clinical developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in their clinical field for example, through reading, attendance at courses, conferences, meetings and Special Interest Groups. Service Improvement 29 To plan, develop and improve services, meeting changing needs, and in line with developments within the Hesley Group. Page 3 of 5 HO D POL Per /08/13

4 30 To co-ordinate, facilitate and evaluate service area aims and objectives and projects ensuring these reflect the annual team service plan and providing progress reports as required. 31 To participate in strategic planning in collaboration with the Head of Clinical Services. 32 To initiate and undertake Action Research/Clinical Governance/audit projects within area of clinical expertise or service area, and to encourage and support other members of the Speech and Language Therapy team to do so. Quality and Evidence Based Practice 33 To lead on the development of innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in relation to the service provided within the Speech and Language Therapy team, building the local evidence base. 34 To demonstrate high level of clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures. 35 To participate in collaborative research with partners in University Departments, Education and Health. Administration 36 To carry out administrative duties including activity data collection, updating this accurately and regularly, ensuring the prompt provision of such information for the Speech and Language Therapy team. 37 To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of augmentative and alternative communication devices ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients. General 38 To undertake any other duties as required by the Head of Clinical Services, which may include a change in workplace. 39 To assume delegated tasks as requested by the Head of Clinical Services, including leading working groups, policy development groups within area of clinical expertise. 40 To contribute to and facilitate support groups organised for Speech and Language Therapists in order to offer and receive support. Health & Safety In carrying out the tasks in this job description you have a duty (under Health & Safety legislation) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and Page 4 of 5 HO D POL Per /08/13

5 that of others. This implies taking positive steps to understand the hazards in the workplace, to comply with safety rules and procedures and to ensure that nothing you do, or fail to do, puts yourself or others at risk. This includes managing a safe and secure environment for people who use our services. This duty includes checking that any person entering Hesley Group property has a right to do so and their visit is recorded in accordance with Hesley Group procedures. The contribution of this role: Carrying out the tasks on your job description efficiently will ensure the smooth operation of the Group s administration and service. You will, therefore, be making a very important contribution to other employees, to matters affecting individual people who use our services and the achievements of the Group as a whole. This will develop our position with local authorities who are our customers, as will the positive relationships you make every time you deal with authority personnel and parents by letter, telephone, or in person. This organisation is committed to the protection and safeguarding of children and adults at risk, and promoting their welfare. The Hesley Group, therefore, expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Prepared by Human Resources Dept.... Date: 29/08/13 Jobholder Signed Date:.... Manager Signed Date:... Page 5 of 5 HO D POL Per /08/13