Band 7 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Neonatal Unit Care

Job summary

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital is a 32 bedded unit, with 12 Critical Care cots and 20 Special Care cots. In addition, there is a seven bedded Transitional Care Unit (TCU). The NICU is partnered with a Special Care Unit at Good Hope Hospital. Over 10,000 babies are delivered within the Trust a year with around 6500 deliveries at Heartlands site. Heartlands has a busy NICU, serving a diverse local population as it aims to provide the intensive and high dependency care for all ten thousand babies born within the Trust. NICU sees around 850 admissions: providing medical care for babies of all gestations. The unit is the designated network cooling centre. The post holder will work closely with members of the MDT team and the West Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery Network. Although, predominantly based at Heartland Hospital however some travel to Good Hope Hospital will be required. We are looking for a speech and language therapist with clinical experience in paediatric speech and language therapy who can demonstrate they can manage a caseload of patients within the neonatal service. For applicants with transferable skills we would consider a development opportunity, starting at Band 6. We are committed to supporting ongoing personal and professional development and offer a wider variety of training opportunities. 

Main duties, tasks & skills required

To deliver an advanced Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service (universal, targeted, and specialised) including assessment and management of neonates within the neonatal service. This will develop patient pathways, integrate with developmental follow up screening clinics and provide advice to the neonatal nursing outreach team service to support appropriate onward referrals. To be a source of expertise to fellow clinicians, multi-disciplinary team (MDT) colleagues, Trust managers, Healthcare Professionals, and other services internal and external to the Trust as required. To manage, supervise and appraise staff and students within the specialist neonatal service, as required. To lead in service development, education, training, and development of SLT clinical practice in the neonatal setting. To undertake clinical audits and evaluation of evidence-based practice, initiating/participating in research within specialist neonatal service locally, regionally, and nationally. Candidates who are keen to consider a development opportunities will be considered. For further information contact: Amina Power Clinical Team Lead, amina.power@uhb.nhs.uk or Claire Howell, Therapy Lead Paediatrics, claire.howell@uhb.nhs.uk

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can;
Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.

Job description

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description* 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

*Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent

*Health and Care Professions Council -- License to Practice(E)

*Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists(E)

*Evidence of relevant postgraduate training in neonates(E)

Desirable

*Postgraduate advanced accredited Paediatric dysphagia training (D)

*Attendance at recent postgraduate specialist courses relevant to the clinical field(s) e.g., accredited courses, master's level learning (or equivalent experience can be demonstrated) (D)