Are you ready to take your clinical skills into the Intensive Care?
We are seeking an ambitious, dynamic, and forward-thinking Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to fill this newly funded, dedicated post within the Critical Care Unit at the Royal United Hospital. New funding has demonstrated recognition of the SLT role, value and impact on early communication, swallowing and tracheostomy management on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) frontline. The role will also include the provision of an essential service to support safe, effective and seamless stepdown of patients with continuing SLT needs. This post will be supported by the B7 Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist in Intensive Care, B8 Dysphagia Lead and will work closely with the B7 Team Leads in Neuro and Acute Services.
The post-holder will work collaboratively with the highly skilled and friendly members of the multidisciplinary team including Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy colleagues, Pharmacy and Advanced Critical Care Practitioners, nurses and doctors.
To undertake a comprehensive specialist assessment of patients, including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies, tracheostomy, post- extubation +/- ventilation
To prioritise patients within intensive care with rehabilitation needs and goals, to select, use and interpret specialist assessments to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis for patients with swallowing and/or communication difficulties
To use advanced clinical reasoning skills and highly developed assessment techniques to analyse and provide a specialist intervention plan
To manage a designated specialist caseload including seamless early step down, and to organise self effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time
We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.
We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.
By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person‑centred care we’re proud of.
We’re committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger.
We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing – and yes, we even have a pool!
Discover what it’s like to live and work in Bath , explore our RUH staff benefits , and learn how we’re building healthcare for the future through the Dyson Cancer Centre and our commitment to research .
Clinical Responsibilities
To have personal, professional and legal responsibility for own specialist caseload of patients, working as an autonomous practitioner, seeking highly specialist, MDT and lead support when needed
To undertake a comprehensive specialist assessment of patients, including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies, tracheostomy, post- extubation +/- ventilation
To prioritise patients within intensive care with rehabilitation needs and goals, to select, use and interpret specialist assessments to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis for patients with swallowing and/or communication difficulties
To use advanced clinical reasoning skills and highly developed assessment techniques to analyse and provide a specialist intervention plan
To manage a designated specialist caseload including seamless early step down, and to organise self effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time
To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required
To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and participation in intervention, and demonstrate high levels of skill in overcoming barriers to communication, tracheostomy weaning and swallowing such as new tracheostomy and delirium
To understand diagnosis impact on trajectory and progress, contributing to medical and surgical management. Assessment will include referral to and use of FEES as per competency and service capacity
To have a specialist understanding of delirium in the intensive care setting, and be able to utilise non-pharmaceutical skills and strategies to aid recovery
To use a range of treatment skills and options to meet the needs of service users whilst working closely and collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to provide a person centred, high-quality holistic care to both patients and their carers / family
To participate in multidisciplinary meetings and case discussions with both internal and external stake-holders; to support timely , responsive, well co- ordinated MDT care aimed at improving the patient experience and supporting flow through the hospital
To communicate complex and sensitive information effectively using a variety of verbal, non-verbal, written and graphic media, appropriate to the needs of the service user, carers and relevant others
To maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of clients with communication and swallowing disorders and their carers , and to provide support and negotiation through highly emotional and distressing situations
To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and to work within a legal framework with service users who lack capacity.
To provide specialist speech and language therapy advice, teaching and training to other MDT members regarding aspects of clinical presentation and the management of patients.
To apply an understanding of the effect of disability and to recommend alterations/adaptations of the service users’ social and physical environment, appropriate to their needs
To liaise with Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in other Trusts, or other parts of the Trust regarding the effective and timely transfer of patients
To maintain a high standard of patient records and data, documenting all relevant information according to RCSLT and HCPC standards of conduct
To demonstrate flexibility to meet the needs of the service
To represent the Intensive Care Speech and Language Therapy Lead on request if appropriate
To work within Trust and RCSLT clinical guidelines to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others’ quality of practice as appropriate .
Professional Development, Service Development and Delivery
To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practise through CPD activities as per HCPC
To be responsible for clinically and managerially supervising, educating and assessing more junior SLT staff as structure permits
To be responsible for clinically and managerially supervising, educating and assessing student Speech and Language Therapists.
To participate in the development of in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review. To educate and train other members of the MDT as required .
To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and to be responsible for complying with agreed personal development programmes to meet required knowledge and competencies.
To maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and techniques.
To undertake evidence-based projects and develop improvements to service delivery and clinical practice, making recommendations for change.
To undertake the measurement and evaluation of own work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with clinical specialist or manager.
To assist the ICU SLT Lead in ensuring that the clinical environment complies with all requirements and standards for better health and governance issues, data collection and to report as necessary.
To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the Intensive Care SLT Lead or B8 Dysphagia Lead
To be aware of, keep up to date with, and adhere to RUH Trust policies and procedures at all times
The Trust requires regular statutory/mandatory training. It is the responsibility of all staff to book in and attend these courses
Communication
To communicate (as appropriate) with empathy and reassurance to patients their families and carers; where information is sensitive or emotional.
To liaise with. and escalate concerns and issues with. the ICU SLT Lead, B8 Dysphagia lead, Therapies Lead, the intensive care Matrons and Lead ICU Consultant
The Trust continuously aims to improve the experience of patients and carers using the RUH Improvement Strategy. All staff are expected to follow the guidance contained in the Patient Experience Strategy for the RUH:
1) Communicate clearly with people;
2) Involve patients and carers in their care and within the hospital;
3) Seek out and use patient and carer feedback in all services.
Also refer to the Carer Policy, Respect behaviours and references to improving experience contained in policy and guidance; all staff will be aware of Equality and Diversity and will assist with accommodating people with special needs. Your individual behaviour can make a significant difference to patient and carer experience
