Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

The Acute Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) team are excited to be advertising this role to join our team of 7 SLTs working at Southampton Children’s Hospital. This post is ideal for a team-focussed, enthusiastic and experienced SLT who is passionate about working with babies, children and their families in a tertiary setting.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The department of dietetics and speech and language therapy employs approximately 130 staff, with clinical experts working across the range of specialties, providing acute services in both adults and paediatrics. As a tertiary hospital, we have senior SLTs in a wide range of specialist areas. There is access to regular CPD sessions, and opportunities to engage in service development and research.

The onsite Wellbeing Hub is an excellent resource for staff complete with a café, various meeting spaces, a free gym and changing facilities.

If you are the successful candidate, you will:

•    Work as part of the Acute Paediatric SLT team, specialising in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), and 
        Respiratory medicine, and supporting the SLT team in areas such as gastro, general paediatrics, 
        neurology, instrumental assessment,
•    Provide regular communication and swallowing assessment and therapy to babies and children 
        with complex needs,
•    Continually represent the SLT service within Paediatrics,
•    Be innovative in your approach to patient care and service delivery, whilst being part of MDT 
        service initiatives,
•    Work closely with the team of paediatric SLTs and wider MDT,
•    Support patients to have instrumental assessment of their swallowing, and
•    Offer training and support to less experienced SLTs and other staff.

What experience/skills are needed 

If you are:
•    Experienced in working with babies and children with complex communication and swallowing 
        difficulties,
•    Experienced in working in an acute setting,
•    Experience in working with ENT and/or Respiratory medicine,
•    Skilled in using instrumental assessments e.g. FEES and/or VF,
•    Experienced in supervising and educating others,
•    Experienced in representing SLT in an MDT setting, and effectively advocating for patients’ 
        needs,
•    Experienced in carrying out clinical audits, service evaluations and/or research,
  
        we would love to hear from you.

We would consider applicants with acute adult experience as well as those experienced in paediatrics in a community setting. If you are interested but not sure you have all the desired experience, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Person specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
• HCPC (Health and Care professions Council) registered speech and language therapist
• Evidence of commitment to relevant ongoing CPD and development in relevant areas
• Evidence of relevant speech and language therapy knowledge and expertise with recent experience demonstrating this
• Evidence of post-graduate training in relevant speciality
• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience and involvement with training
• Ability to communicate complex information fluently, confidently and effectively to a diverse range of people: e.g. with patients, carers, managers and other health care professionals
• Ability to demonstrate a practical and sensitive approach and flexibility in working style when applying clinical judgement to complex clinical issues
• Ability to create rapport and professionally manage relationships with colleagues, patients and carers and the emotional challenges this presents

Desirable criteria

• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and relevant specialist groups
• Experience of leading or co-ordinating audit or research work
• Clinical supervisory skills training

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Presentation skills
• Teamwork
• Microsoft Office skills
• Communication
• Record keeping
• Attention to detail
• Interpersonal skills
• Organisational skills
• Prioritisation
• Policy development
• Research skills
• Leadership
• Advanced analytical thinking
• Mentoring skills
• Keyboard skills
• Numeracy skills

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.