Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Speech and Language Therapy Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn. 

As a result of a service restructure, we are looking for enthusiastic and dynamic Speech and Language Therapists with a Special interest in acquired neurology to support our service to grow.

As a friendly district general hospital, we are looking for individuals with a special interest in the following area:

• Acquired neurological conditions

Application forms for Band 7 specialist positions are available on the NHS jobs website, however if you are an experienced band 6 with an interest in any of these fields, please get in touch and we would be happy to discuss further with you.

Previous applicants need not apply 

Main duties of the job

• To provide a Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service to acute hospital in-patients with a range of neurological conditions utilising highly developed specialist assessment and management skills of dysphagia and communication.
• To contribute to the provision of instrumental evaluation of swallowing including Videofluoroscopy
• To be competent in the assessment and management of tracheostomy
• To evaluate the Speech and Language Therapy service within specialist area, making recommendations for improvements and future design of services in line with best practice and current guidelines including local and national policies
• To work as part of the MDT to differentially diagnose, assess, treat and manage swallowing and communication disorders within the speciality
• To provide expertise to Speech and Language Therapy and MDT colleagues, patients and carers through specialist advice and education
• To support the Speech and Language Therapy team in the delivery of care across the Acute Medical service

Working for our organisation

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) King's Lynn is West Norfolk has a superb unspoilt coastline with pretty villages, all with their own individual charm. The medieval port of King's Lynn has some very interesting architecture.

We provide a comprehensive range of specialist and general acute services to around 331,000 people across West and North Norfolk, in addition to parts of Breckland, Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire. We have more than 4,000 staff and volunteers and approximately 500 beds on a single site. Some specialist services and clinics are provided in community facilities, such as the North Cambridgeshire hospital in Wisbech. We work in partnership with neighbouring hospitals for the provision of tertiary services.

In February 2022 the QEH the Care Quality Commission rated the Trust as 'Good' in all of the core services they inspected, and recommended the Trust moves out of the recovery support system (formerly special measures).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information about this role.

Person specification

Qualifications/Training & Professional Development

Essential criteria

• Attainment of recognised degree in Speech and Language Therapy as recognised by RCSLT and HCPC
• RCSLT membership
• Current Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
• Evidence of successful completion of post graduate study in dysphagia, and relevant highly specialist short courses
• Evidence of ongoing CPD to meet regulatory body professional standards

Desirable criteria

• Membership of any relevant clinical excellence networks (CENs)

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant relevant specialist clinical experience of working with patients with communication difficulties and dysphagia
• Experience in delivering education and training packages
• Experience in supervising undergraduate Speech & Language Therapists and more junior therapists
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency working
• Competence in Videofluoroscopy to a level of independent practice in line with RCSLT competencies

Desirable criteria

• Relevant experience working in a community setting

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Competent to a high level in the management of complex patients with communication and/or swallowing disorders within speciality
• Ability to be an excellent team member and assume leadership responsibilities when required by line manager
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills

Applications are welcome from anyone who meets the criteria specified in the person specification regardless of age, gender, disability, race ,ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. Only those applicants who demonstrate in the application form how they meet the criteria in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who possess and can demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our core values.