Speech and Language Therapist, Band 5 Rehabilitation

Job responsibilities

Clinical Skills and Responsibilities

• Provide high quality, evidence-based speech and language therapy provision for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust Neurorehabilitation and step-down services, in partnership with other members of the Multidisciplinary Team
• Undertake speech and language therapy assessments of children through standardised and non-standardised assessments and clinical observations.
• Devise individualised, speech and language therapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team with the support of senior Speech and Language Therapists. These should be monitored, evaluated, and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child.
• Develop therapy goals, in collaboration with the child and family/carers, as well as the multidisciplinary and education teams, other health professionals and agencies, to facilitate the participation of the child in their life skills.
• Facilitate and support discussion around outcomes as part of the child or young persons intervention plan and support the multidisciplinary and education teams with measuring short-term targets, through using the therapy outcome measurement tools e.g., Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS).
• Complete childrens outcomes as part of our NHS England national contract including FIM FAM, Rehabilitation complexity scale, in a timely fashion
• Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Childrens Trust.
• Contribute to child related reports include in a timely manner in line with organisational targets.
• Support the delivery of 24-hour rehabilitation helping to embed speech language communication needs across the day
• Work closely with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the child and family, to provide a fully integrated approach to the overall management of the child.
• Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, in order to ensure effective service delivery.
• Work flexibly in terms of hours, including the ability to work an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month.
• Contribute to an environment that facilitates participation and wellbeing during mealtimes and support eating drinking and swallowing in accordance with clinical skills. Boundaries. Competencies
• Undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

Communication

• Develop effective communication strategies with children/young people (applying the principles of total communication approach).
• Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust policies and professional standards as set by HCPC
• Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.
• Attend regular meetings with the multidisciplinary team, to discuss individual children/ young people and service in general, as required e.g., meetings, Grand Round, clinics.

Management of Self and Others

• To provide support and supervision for volunteers within area of responsibility, providing motivation and support to achieve key objectives.
• To participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions as required by The Childrens Trust, both as appraiser and appraisee.
• To manage time effectively, ensuring they prioritise their workload appropriately and delegate work as required, referring to line manager for support as required
• To work closely with specialist and highly specialist & specialist therapists and multi-disciplinary technicians, seeking advice, supervision, and support as needed.

Governance

• Reads and implements all policies, procedures, and risk assessments pertinent to working practice and keeps up to date with policy changes as they occur.
• Critically evaluate practice (with support) through clinical audit findings, combined with knowledge of evidence-based practice and identify opportunities for service improvement and development.
• Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff, and use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of future practice.
• Support clinical governance activities.

Career Long Learning, Education and Research

• Undertake all mandatory training, in line with The Childrens Trust policy.
• Prepare appropriately for Performance Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements.
• Actively seek personal educational developmental opportunities, through attending off-site courses and events, in-house training sessions, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups and external organisations, and updating knowledge through Literature Reviews.
• Participate in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.
• Actively contribute to own competency needs for example newly qualified practitioner competencies

Limits of Authority and Problem Solving

• In addition to The Childrens Trust policies, the Speech and Language Therapist is governed by, and should adhere to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for speech and language therapists and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Quality Assurance Standards.
• Day to day decisions regarding caseload.
• Co-working clinical cases with Specialist / Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist or Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
• Support the Speech and Language Therapy Team in delivery of an effective service.
• Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload taking into account the needs of the whole service.
• Monthly formal supervision.

Professionalism

• Meet current HCPC and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists standards with respect to professionalism and to keep up to date with any changes.
• Be responsible for maintaining registration with HCPC and other Professional Bodies.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust.
• Maintaining up to date knowledge and skills.
• Maintain professional boundaries and professionalism at all times.
• Committed to demonstrating the organisations values and behaviours at all times.

Health and Safety

• Adheres to all health and safety guidelines, including infection prevention and control.
• Provide evidence of a valid NHS Covid Pass or acceptable proof of Covid vaccination or medical exemption and all vaccinations (or medical exemption) required for the post.
• Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training.
• Promotes the health and safety of others.
• Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (IRAR), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed.
• Responsible for identifying and mitigating risk within the work environment.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

• Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.
• Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience.
• Remains organised and focused when under pressure.
• Responds constructively to feedback and or criticism.
• Motivates self and others.

Qualifications

Essential

• RCSLT recognised degree or postgraduate diploma in Speech and Language Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Maintains a portfolio of Continuous Professional Development, in line with regulatory body standards.

Desirable

• Member of Clinical Excellence Network.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children and families.

Desirable

• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working with children/young people and/or adults with acquired brain injury or neurodisability.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Clinical reasoning skills in predictable situations, analysing a variety of evidence and presenting this in a relevant format e.g., report; presentation: Essential
• Evidence of working towards observation and treatment skills relevant to the assessment and management: Essential
• Workload management including delegation of tasks: Essential
• Competent IT skills, in order to collect and interpret data, present reports and compile presentations.
• Reflective practice skills: able to give clear and effective feedback and support others to develop.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of a therapy role.
• Ability to work flexibly, in order to meet the needs of the service and the children, including an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month (N.B. there is no On Call service required).

Desirable

• Clinical assessment and intervention skills relevant to children and young people with neuro-disability.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people with complex disabilities.
• Competent skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Physically fit and able to comply with organisational manual handling guidelines. Able to carry out moderate - intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Commitment to the vision and values of The Childrens Trust.
• Flexible and can do attitude to competing commitments in workload.
• Highly motivated and reliable.
• Ability to cope working in a demanding environment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).