Specialist Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Be responsible for a designated caseload of babies and children and manage this efficiently and effectively with regards to clinical priorities.

2. To undertake specialist assessment of the individual child and their familys communication and dysphagia needs ensuring that their personal goals and priorities are taken into consideration with an emphasis on current and future participation in all areas of their daily life.

3. Consider the childs physical, communication, sensory, emotional, social and cognitive abilities and needs when planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating treatment with consideration for the short and long term needs of the child and their family/carer(s).

4. Identify when children and their family need to access other services and refer accordingly, including video fluoroscopy (VFSS) and augmentative and alternative communication devices (AAC)

5. To attend VFSS appointments at tertiary centers as required and implement findings and recommendations.

6. Evaluate treatment and management plans through the use of a childs individual goals and review these on a timely basis.

7. Participate in relevant assessments of therapy equipment, alongside other professionals to optimise communication and / or dysphagia management, as required.

8. To set up and adapt communication and feeding equipment, show families/carers how to use it safely, advise on when and how often it should be used and monitor it as the child grows/changes and monitor the effect of the equipment once provided.

9. Provide a cohesive coordinated service through attending and /or giving advice towards the childs annual review, Team around the Child (TAC), Team around the Family (TAF), Health/medical reviews and other meetings as required. Provide written reports, as required, for the childs Education & Health Care Plan (EHCP) and any other clinical appointments/ reports. Liaison with relevant education, social, health or other professionals involved with the child and their family. Attend Educational tribunals at the request of the education or health authority or parents.

10. Follow all safeguarding processes and act promptly where there are any concerns.

11. Have a thorough understanding of health and safety in the workplace, the use of clinical risk assessment and the importance of clinical governance.

12. To have active involvement in the clinical supervision and training of colleagues, volunteers and students, and to offer training to others outside agencies where appropriate.

13. Attend team meetings, in-service training and mandatory training sessions.

14. Additional and reasonable requests from your line manager or senior management team may be required.

Legislation and Health and Safety

1. Be professionally and legally accountable, ensuring Speech and Language Therapy is carried out in accordance with relevant policies, procedures and standards of White Lodge, and those of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and HCPC.

2. Keep detailed, clear and accurate clinical records including ensuring appropriate risk assessments are completed. Ensure all paperwork is filed correctly and securely.

3. Ensure that all therapy equipment, materials and tools are clean and safe and fit for purpose.

Continuing Professional Development of Self and Others

1. Be responsible for your own continued professional development and recording of this in accordance with current HCPC and RCSLT guidelines.

2. Maintain up-to-date clinical evidence-based knowledge of assessment, treatment and management of children with neurodevelopmental disability. Undertake further internal and external training as appropriate feeding back new knowledge and contributing to service changes.

3. Actively explore the use of new philosophies of intervention, assessments & treatments. Implement and evaluate them and make appropriate service changes in discussion with therapy manager.

4. Attend and actively participate in supervision, appraisals, and staff meetings.

5. Provide training for parents, carers, students and other professionals

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered with Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
• Paediatric Dyphagia post graduate qualification
• 5 years post graduate work experience
• Minimum of 3 years experience within the field of paediatric dysphagia
• Experience of using a range of AAC modes including Makaton, symbols, high & low tech AAC devices
• Up to date continuous professional development (CPD) including training, courses and reflective practice.
• Effective written communication, including accurate record keeping and report writing
• Competent IT skills. Experienced in the use of Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, using tablet devices for video and photographs
• Drivers licence

Desirable

• Evidence of post graduate training within paediatrics and neurodevelopment
• Member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
• Specialists experience in the field of neonatal / preschool neurodevelopment and early intervention
• Experience of teaching & supervising (eg: students, therapy assistants, other professionals)
• Evidence of participation in audit and service review and in-service training program

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Able to work unsupervised at a specialist level
• Ability to supervise and appraise staff
• Broad knowledge of current evidence-based practice in Paediatric Neuro disability
• Effective communication skills with the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to a childs family and carer(s). Including negotiation skills
• Evidence of using initiative and being self-motivated
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team
• Demonstrates good time management skills and ability to work under pressure
• Able to adapt and respond positively to change with good problem-solving skills
• The emotional capability to be able to cope with potentially distressing situations E.g.: working with babies and children who have life limiting illness, progressive conditions or lifelong neurodisability where quality of life and/ or prognostic issues are discussed.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

White Lodge

Address

White Lodge

Holloway Hill

Lyne

Chertsey

Surrey

KT16 0FA

Employer's website

https://www.whitelodgecentre.co.uk/about-us/recruitment/current-vacancies (Opens in a new tab)