To act as a lead for the specialist dysphagia service for neonates and babies on the Special Care Baby Unit and Neonatal Wards at Leighton Hospital, train staff on these wards and carry a dysphagia caseload in the community settings across Vale Royal and South Cheshire. The post holder would also provide supervision to staff that are also trained in dysphagia, in addition to carrying a caseload of children with potential speech and/or language difficulties.

Responsibilities :

• To provide expert supervision to existing members of staff that have been trained in dysphagia, and lead on the Dysphagia peer group
• To work autonomously to manage a defined highly complex patient caseload, whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• To contribute to the delivery of the service in a variety of defined clinical settings, which may include in-patient wards, out-patient and community clinics and the patient’s home.
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients, contributing to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
• To utilise highly advanced communication skills to ensure clinical advice and treatment programmes are delivered sensitively, taking into consideration the needs of carers.
• To comply with the Mental Capacity Act to gain valid and informed consent to specific treatment and intervention for patients who lack capacity to consent themselves.
• To undertake highly specialist clinical assessment, taking into account all relevant information and clinical reasoning to formulate evidence based individualised treatment plans in agreement with the patient.
• To implement highly specialist individual and/or group interventions for patients with diverse presentations and highly complex needs.
• To monitor progress and review treatment plans and interventions to facilitate the achievement of goals.
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to decisions with regard to patient care programmes through attendance at ward rounds, case conferences and other multidisciplinary meetings.
• To maintain accurate documentation in line with professional standards and local policies and procedures.
• To provide accurate and timely written information and reports to referring agents and other agencies where appropriate.
• To record and submit clinical activity data as required by the Trust in an accurate and timely manner.
• To ensure the safe and timely discharge of patients from the caseload liaising with other agencies as required.
• To be responsible for safe and competent use of equipment including the provision of support, education and training to other staff, patients and carers as required.
• To identify appropriate equipment and adaptation needs, liaising with equipment providers, completing paperwork and complying with any tracking, stock control and maintenance systems as required.
• To give and request second opinions where appropriate.
• To refer for diagnostics e.g. X-rays, as appropriate to the role through liaison with medical staff.