Job summary
7.5 hours per week.
We are seeking
a passionate and skilled Speech and Language Practitioner (Band 6) to join our dedicated
multi-disciplinary team at Atkinson Secure Children's Home in Exeter for 1 day per week.
This is a
unique opportunity to provide independently managed speech and language therapy
to children and young people with complex needs, many of whom present with
significant speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD).
You will play
a vital role in assessing, diagnosing, and managing SLCD, working
collaboratively with the Home's health and wellbeing team and education and care colleagues, as well as other professionals, to ensure the
best outcomes for our young people.
Working within
the Home is highly rewarding; there is a strong team spirit and shared
therapeutic ethos. The Atkinson is recognised for its integrated working, the great
relationships we develop with our young people, and their positive outcomes.
This role could potentially offer an exciting secondment opportunity or additional hours for existing Livewell employees.
Please contact
Maddie Mills, Operations Manager, if you would like to learn more about the post
and arrange a visit to the home.
Main duties of the job
- Independently manage a specialist caseload using evidence-based practice.
- Conduct formal and informal assessments to identify SLCD and contribute to differential diagnoses.
- Develop and deliver tailored treatment plans, adapting approaches based on clinical expertise and individual needs.
- Provide communication advice and support to the Atkinson School and other professionals.
- Write and disseminate clinical reports, including contributions to Education Health and Care Plans and Secure Accommodation Review meetings.
- Offer training and guidance to staff and carers on SLCD and its management.
- Participate in multi-agency case discussions and contribute to coordinated care planning.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service development and audit.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social
enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across
Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of
Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports
centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and
collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while
empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in
shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right
time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead
healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training
pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care
Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship
programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all
sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental
health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the
application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE
To provide an independently managed speech and language service to children and young people residing at Atkinson Secure Children's Home, working in collaboration with the Homes multi-disciplinary team as well as carers and other professional colleagues as required.
To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments with children and young people at the Atkinson, as indicated by their presenting speech, language and communication difficulties.
SCOPE AND RANGE
Clinical
- To independently manage personal specialist caseload with reference to theory, published research and evidence, and agreed best practice.
- To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret complex case related information and data from children and young people, carers and other relevant sources, including cross agency working.
- To demonstrate specialist knowledge in a specific area of speech and language therapy and support the development of other staff in this area.
- To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments as indicated by the presenting speech, language and communication difficulties and other factors, including analysis of understanding and use of voice, grammar, vocabulary, speech sounds, fluency, social use of language, non-verbal communication, carer-child interaction and play skills, and make judgements from these concerning prioritisation and future management.
- To reach differential diagnoses on the basis of assimilated evidence from formal and informal assessments, some of which may be conflicting, and with reference to typical and atypical developmental norms and research evidence.
- To prioritise and decide on appropriate treatment/management matched to individual need, and to adapt and modify treatment options based on extended clinical expertise whilst ensuring children and young people and carers are fully involved in the decision-making process.
- To provide assessment and communication advice to the Atkinson School for implementation by teachers, assistants and other professionals.
- To be responsible for writing and dissemination of clinical reports based on assessment and treatment findings to appropriate professionals and relevant others, including legal Education Health and Care Plans and/or documentation for child protection cases.
- To explain highly complex and sensitive case related information to meet a range of levels of understanding of children and young people/carers, where anxiety often acts as a barrier and co-operation is not guaranteed. To recognise that communication difficulties may be the first indicator of deeper more complex problems and to support accordingly.
- To demonstrate empathy and reassurance when providing children and young people and carers with complex information that has long-term implications for educational and social development e.g. children whose communication difficulties are unlikely to resolve and there are lifelong implications.
- To monitor, recognise, assess and evaluate subtle changes in children and young peoples conditions and adapt assessment and specialised treatment programmes accordingly, based on extended clinical experience.
- To assess the risk to, and vulnerability of, children and young people in relation to timing and manner of treatment and amount of information provided.
- To implement the second opinion process as and when necessary and refer on for highly specialist SLT intervention or multidisciplinary input.
- To negotiate with children and young people, carers and professionals around individual case diagnosis and management where others have less specialist knowledge and/or experience in relation to SLCD, and differences of professional judgement can occur e.g. levels of priority for treatment and impact of communication difficulties on accessing the educational curriculum.
- To initiate and/or contribute to multi-agency case discussions and management in relation to complex cases when the need for this has been identified through assessment and observation, ensuring a well-coordinated care plan and pathway when professional and ethical opinions may differ.
- To be responsible for training others about speech & language development and disorders and how to manage these in different contexts to include Atkinson MDT.
- To reflect on practice both individually and with peers/mentors to identify own strengths and development needs.
Professional
- To maintain registration with the Health & Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- To develop deeper and more specialist professional expertise and clinical skills across a range of speech, language and communication difficulties by working with highly specialist staff, attending Specific Interest Groups, specialist courses, self-directed study and maintaining personal portfolio.
- To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training, when necessary, within an individual performance review framework.
- To be responsible for evaluating service innovation as agreed by appropriate manager.
- To maintain professional and service standards with adherence to local and national guidelines and clinical governance including confidentiality.
- To record and update personally generated clinical observations, assessment results, and treatment and advice details in client case notes.
- To participate in the Organisations Annual Appraisal Process.
- To follow and implement local and national policies with elements of independent professional judgement and to make recommendations for change.
- To contribute to local policy and service development through the clinical governance process.
- To comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individuals responsibility to escalate to Director of Operations/Chief Executive Office)
- To be responsible for maintaining equipment records and the safe use and security of clinical equipment.
- To identify and request therapy equipment to meet caseload demands (according to service guidelines)
- To provide clinical activity data and routine recording of CPD, travel, and other related activity, observing data protection guidelines
- To provide clinical and professional education and assessment of SLT students if/as required.
- To take part in research and clinical audit as directed by senior staff, undertake action research with personal caseload and contribute to others research by providing data.
- To be able to recognise breakdown/conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support from more senior colleagues to resolve.
PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE
To provide an independently managed speech and language service to children and young people residing at Atkinson Secure Children's Home, working in collaboration with the Homes multi-disciplinary team as well as carers and other professional colleagues as required.
To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments with children and young people at the Atkinson, as indicated by their presenting speech, language and communication difficulties.
SCOPE AND RANGE
Clinical
- To independently manage personal specialist caseload with reference to theory, published research and evidence, and agreed best practice.
- To identify, collect, analyse, and interpret complex case related information and data from children and young people, carers and other relevant sources, including cross agency working.
- To demonstrate specialist knowledge in a specific area of speech and language therapy and support the development of other staff in this area.
- To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments as indicated by the presenting speech, language and communication difficulties and other factors, including analysis of understanding and use of voice, grammar, vocabulary, speech sounds, fluency, social use of language, non-verbal communication, carer-child interaction and play skills, and make judgements from these concerning prioritisation and future management.
- To reach differential diagnoses on the basis of assimilated evidence from formal and informal assessments, some of which may be conflicting, and with reference to typical and atypical developmental norms and research evidence.
- To prioritise and decide on appropriate treatment/management matched to individual need, and to adapt and modify treatment options based on extended clinical expertise whilst ensuring children and young people and carers are fully involved in the decision-making process.
- To provide assessment and communication advice to the Atkinson School for implementation by teachers, assistants and other professionals.
- To be responsible for writing and dissemination of clinical reports based on assessment and treatment findings to appropriate professionals and relevant others, including legal Education Health and Care Plans and/or documentation for child protection cases.
- To explain highly complex and sensitive case related information to meet a range of levels of understanding of children and young people/carers, where anxiety often acts as a barrier and co-operation is not guaranteed. To recognise that communication difficulties may be the first indicator of deeper more complex problems and to support accordingly.
- To demonstrate empathy and reassurance when providing children and young people and carers with complex information that has long-term implications for educational and social development e.g. children whose communication difficulties are unlikely to resolve and there are lifelong implications.
- To monitor, recognise, assess and evaluate subtle changes in children and young peoples conditions and adapt assessment and specialised treatment programmes accordingly, based on extended clinical experience.
- To assess the risk to, and vulnerability of, children and young people in relation to timing and manner of treatment and amount of information provided.
- To implement the second opinion process as and when necessary and refer on for highly specialist SLT intervention or multidisciplinary input.
- To negotiate with children and young people, carers and professionals around individual case diagnosis and management where others have less specialist knowledge and/or experience in relation to SLCD, and differences of professional judgement can occur e.g. levels of priority for treatment and impact of communication difficulties on accessing the educational curriculum.
- To initiate and/or contribute to multi-agency case discussions and management in relation to complex cases when the need for this has been identified through assessment and observation, ensuring a well-coordinated care plan and pathway when professional and ethical opinions may differ.
- To be responsible for training others about speech & language development and disorders and how to manage these in different contexts to include Atkinson MDT.
- To reflect on practice both individually and with peers/mentors to identify own strengths and development needs.
Professional
- To maintain registration with the Health & Care Professions Council and the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- To develop deeper and more specialist professional expertise and clinical skills across a range of speech, language and communication difficulties by working with highly specialist staff, attending Specific Interest Groups, specialist courses, self-directed study and maintaining personal portfolio.
- To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training, when necessary, within an individual performance review framework.
- To be responsible for evaluating service innovation as agreed by appropriate manager.
- To maintain professional and service standards with adherence to local and national guidelines and clinical governance including confidentiality.
- To record and update personally generated clinical observations, assessment results, and treatment and advice details in client case notes.
- To participate in the Organisations Annual Appraisal Process.
- To follow and implement local and national policies with elements of independent professional judgement and to make recommendations for change.
- To contribute to local policy and service development through the clinical governance process.
- To comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individuals responsibility to escalate to Director of Operations/Chief Executive Office)
- To be responsible for maintaining equipment records and the safe use and security of clinical equipment.
- To identify and request therapy equipment to meet caseload demands (according to service guidelines)
- To provide clinical activity data and routine recording of CPD, travel, and other related activity, observing data protection guidelines
- To provide clinical and professional education and assessment of SLT students if/as required.
- To take part in research and clinical audit as directed by senior staff, undertake action research with personal caseload and contribute to others research by providing data.
- To be able to recognise breakdown/conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support from more senior colleagues to resolve.
PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Broad experience with a mixed paediatric caseload.
- Experience of working unsupervised across a range of NHS, AND non-NHS settings.
- Experience of parent/carer support and liaison.
- Ability to provide specialist advice and training for less experienced/skilled colleagues and parents/carers, including SLT Assistants.
- Experience of providing placement education for SLT students.
Desirable
- Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience of working with children and young people in care.
- Experience of working with children and young people who have experienced childhood trauma/ACEs.
Qualifications
Essential
- Specialist graduate level education in speech and language therapy.
- Membership of RCSLT.
- HCPC registration.
Desirable
- Training in a clinical specialism.
Specific Skills
Essential
- Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate highly complex information to meet a range of levels in understanding of clients and carers.
- Ability to negotiate and explain complex case related information about speech & language development and disorders to a range of audiences.
- Ability to pass on skills to carers and other professionals to enable them to carry out communication advice for complex communication disorders.
- Ability to implement and adapt specialised treatment programmes from a range of options based on extended specialist clinical experience.
- Ability to identify, collect, analyse, and interpret complex case related information.
- Ability to motivate and develop carers and other professionals and to work collaboratively.
- Ability to make a differential diagnosis on the basis of assimilated evidence from assessments some of which may be conflicting.
- Knowledge and experience of clinical governance.
- Ability to recognise own clinical competencies and the need for onward referral for more highly specialist advice.
- Ability to reflect on practice to identify own strengths and development needs.
- Ability to demonstrate effective team working.
Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of the mental health needs of children and young people with complex communication disorders.
- Working knowledge in use of sign and symbol systems such as Makaton.
- Knowledge of the national curriculum and its differentiation for children with additional needs.
- Evidence of CPD to maintain and develop specialist competencies and knowledge base, e.g. working with more specialist staff, Clinical Excellence Networks (RCSLT registered) and short specialist courses, self-directed study.
Desirable
- Evidence of attendance at line management training and workshops.
- Knowledge of specialist approaches identified in the competency framework.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Broad experience with a mixed paediatric caseload.
- Experience of working unsupervised across a range of NHS, AND non-NHS settings.
- Experience of parent/carer support and liaison.
- Ability to provide specialist advice and training for less experienced/skilled colleagues and parents/carers, including SLT Assistants.
- Experience of providing placement education for SLT students.
Desirable
- Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience of working with children and young people in care.
- Experience of working with children and young people who have experienced childhood trauma/ACEs.
Qualifications
Essential
- Specialist graduate level education in speech and language therapy.
- Membership of RCSLT.
- HCPC registration.
Desirable
- Training in a clinical specialism.
Specific Skills
Essential
- Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate highly complex information to meet a range of levels in understanding of clients and carers.
- Ability to negotiate and explain complex case related information about speech & language development and disorders to a range of audiences.
- Ability to pass on skills to carers and other professionals to enable them to carry out communication advice for complex communication disorders.
- Ability to implement and adapt specialised treatment programmes from a range of options based on extended specialist clinical experience.
- Ability to identify, collect, analyse, and interpret complex case related information.
- Ability to motivate and develop carers and other professionals and to work collaboratively.
- Ability to make a differential diagnosis on the basis of assimilated evidence from assessments some of which may be conflicting.
- Knowledge and experience of clinical governance.
- Ability to recognise own clinical competencies and the need for onward referral for more highly specialist advice.
- Ability to reflect on practice to identify own strengths and development needs.
- Ability to demonstrate effective team working.
Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of the mental health needs of children and young people with complex communication disorders.
- Working knowledge in use of sign and symbol systems such as Makaton.
- Knowledge of the national curriculum and its differentiation for children with additional needs.
- Evidence of CPD to maintain and develop specialist competencies and knowledge base, e.g. working with more specialist staff, Clinical Excellence Networks (RCSLT registered) and short specialist courses, self-directed study.
Desirable
- Evidence of attendance at line management training and workshops.
- Knowledge of specialist approaches identified in the competency framework.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
