Speech & Language Therapist - Dysphagia Lead

SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST - DYSPHAGIA LEAD

FULL TIME - North-East of England

MINIMUM SALARY £55,000.00

Job Purpose

To serve as a leader and model in dysphagia therapy within the foundation, driving the enhancement and development of eating, drinking, and dysphagia services across all areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership in Service Development: Lead the development and improvement of dysphagia services, aiming to enhance quality and service user outcomes.

• Quality and Outcomes: Positively impact the quality of services provided, with a focus on improving outcomes for all service users.

• Reporting and Compliance: Report regularly to the foundation's executive team, including updates on audits, training compliance, incident reports, and impact data.

• Staff Collaboration and Support: Provide guidance and support to staff, working in collaboration with dysphagia-trained Speech and Language Therapists to ensure a high standard of care.

Main Duties

• Policy Development and Implementation: Develop, implement, and evaluate policies and practices with a focus on continuous improvement. Encourage a shared responsibility for policy adherence across the team.

• Collaborative Quality Assurance: Work closely with service leads and quality assurance teams to establish a clear, consistent approach across all services.

• Leadership in Communication: Lead steering group meetings to maintain open, timely, and effective communication among dysphagia-trained therapists regarding service processes and developments.

• Incident Response and Reporting: Address concerns or incidents promptly and with sensitivity, reporting to the Health and Safety Manager as required.

• Adherence to Clinical Guidelines: Ensure adherence to best practice clinical guidelines, including those established by NICE, HCPC, and RCSLT.

• Support for Skill Development: Provide practical support to therapists to aid in the ongoing development and extension of their skills, facilitating their daily responsibilities.

• Professional Development: Contribute to the professional growth of colleagues through coaching, mentoring, and effective feedback, demonstrating best practices.

• Resource Dissemination and Advice: Share resources, offer guidance on practice, and support research and professional development initiatives.

• Competency Monitoring: Monitor skill levels and competencies across the therapy team, advising the executive team on necessary areas for further professional development.

Qualifications and Training

• Professional Status: Qualified Speech and Language Therapist.

• Specialized Education: Postgraduate qualification in Dysphagia.

• Relevant Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with service users with eating, drinking, dysphagia, and complex needs.