Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
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Job Overview
Following the successful Stroke Investment Business Case, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our specialist Stroke Team based within the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) and Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) at Southmead Hospital.
This role offers the opportunity to develop and enhance specialist skills in the assessment and management of adults with communication and swallowing disorders following stroke. You will work as part of a highly experienced multidisciplinary team, providing evidence-based assessment and management within a fast-paced acute environment. The role includes opportunities to develop expertise in instrumental swallowing assessment, alongside service development, quality improvement, staff supervision, and MDT teaching opportunities.
We Are Looking For a Therapist Who
- Has experience of assessing and managing adults with communication and swallowing difficulties, including achievement of level C competence in dysphagia.
- Demonstrates strong clinical reasoning, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to person-centred care.
- Enjoys working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and is keen to further develop specialist stroke competencies.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive and innovative team with a strong focus on clinical excellence, professional development, and service improvement.
Main Duties of the Job
This role is based in the stroke team but there may be future opportunities to move to other caseloads.
The Role Is To
- Provide specialist speech and language therapy assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for adults with communication and swallowing disorders resulting from stroke and, as required, other neurological conditions, neurosurgery, medical conditions, and long-term health needs.
- Work as a member of the specialist SLT team delivering assessment, advice, rehabilitation, and management for adults with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties.
- Liaise closely with multidisciplinary teams, primary care providers, and partner agencies to ensure coordinated patient care.
- Develop and maintain specialist knowledge and skills in dysphagia and communication disorders, including instrumental dysphagia assessment, critical care, tracheostomy, and ventilator-dependent patient management where applicable.
Working for our Organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre, and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
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Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce, we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- Independently manage and prioritise a specialist caseload.
- Assess, diagnose, and manage complex communication and swallowing disorders.
- Communicate complex, sensitive, and potentially distressing information to patients, carers, and professionals.
- Adapt communication methods to overcome barriers associated with aphasia, dysarthria, cognitive impairment, hearing impairment, and altered consciousness.
- Provide verbal and written reports to multidisciplinary teams and external agencies.
- Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary meetings.
- Negotiate care plans and therapy goals with patients, carers, and members of the MDT.
- Make decisions regarding referral, discharge, and onward specialist investigations.
- Manage complex clinical situations with support from senior colleagues where appropriate.
- Participate in audit, service evaluation, and QI projects.
Person Specification
Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria
- HCPC Registration / Licence to Practise
- Achievement of level C competence in dysphagia
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
Essential criteria
- Specialist knowledge of adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders
- Specialist knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders in stroke, neurology, neurosurgery, and elderly care
- Ability to undertake independent caseload management
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Experience
Essential criteria
- Postgraduate experience managing adults with communication and swallowing disorders
- Experience working within MDT settings
Desirable criteria
- Experience working in acute inpatient settings
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to work independently and use initiative appropriately
- Ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively
- Reflective practitioner who seeks feedback and learning opportunities
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce, we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
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The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at interview.
If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points-based system.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
Important
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts, we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification.
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide, interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.
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