Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Main tasks and responsibilities Communication 1. To provide highly specialist advice and input for patients with communication and swallowing needs at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals 2. To liaise with SLTs, AHPs, medical and nursing teams, and other members of the MDT regarding prioritisation, case management and risk management of patients with communication and swallowing disorders. 3. To demonstrate interpersonal skills that grow and maintain positive working relationships with all healthcare professionals involved in patient care. 4. To communicate sensitive and complex information and sometimes unwelcome news tactfully and diplomatically to patients, parents and carers, acknowledging this may trigger a range of emotions, and to provide ongoing counselling and support. 5. To promote and contribute to multi-professional team building and collaborative practices, e.g. knowledge and skills sharing, joint working. 6. To ensure close liaison with SLT colleagues in other trusts including community teams to ensure adequate handover of individual cases working towards a seamless service. 7. To promote the department, the Trust and the profession by participating in joint initiatives with other members of the team as required by the operational and professional leadership team. 8. To write comprehensive, clear reports to inform medical, education and social services with regard to current and future needs of the patient. 9. To recognise communication breakdown/conflict when it occurs and generate potential solutions. 10. To network with other SLTs locally, nationally and internationally. 11. To produce information for patients which is accessible and user friendly and in accordance with Trust policy. 12. To demonstrate empathy with patients and their carers, particularly in situations where they may be highly stressed or grieving and where barriers to understanding may exist (e.g. linguistic and cultural differences). 13. To contribute positively and constructively to staff meetings and in-service trainings. Please see the job description document for full role responsibilities. Job description Job responsibilities Main tasks and responsibilities Communication 1. To provide highly specialist advice and input for patients with communication and swallowing needs at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals 2. To liaise with SLTs, AHPs, medical and nursing teams, and other members of the MDT regarding prioritisation, case management and risk management of patients with communication and swallowing disorders. 3. To demonstrate interpersonal skills that grow and maintain positive working relationships with all healthcare professionals involved in patient care. 4. To communicate sensitive and complex information and sometimes unwelcome news tactfully and diplomatically to patients, parents and carers, acknowledging this may trigger a range of emotions, and to provide ongoing counselling and support. 5. To promote and contribute to multi-professional team building and collaborative practices, e.g. knowledge and skills sharing, joint working. 6. To ensure close liaison with SLT colleagues in other trusts including community teams to ensure adequate handover of individual cases working towards a seamless service. 7. To promote the department, the Trust and the profession by participating in joint initiatives with other members of the team as required by the operational and professional leadership team. 8. To write comprehensive, clear reports to inform medical, education and social services with regard to current and future needs of the patient. 9. To recognise communication breakdown/conflict when it occurs and generate potential solutions. 10. To network with other SLTs locally, nationally and internationally. 11. To produce information for patients which is accessible and user friendly and in accordance with Trust policy. 12. To demonstrate empathy with patients and their carers, particularly in situations where they may be highly stressed or grieving and where barriers to understanding may exist (e.g. linguistic and cultural differences). 13. To contribute positively and constructively to staff meetings and in-service trainings. Please see the job description document for full role responsibilities.