Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job responsibilities

Job responsibilities:

Clinical:

To provide a specialist level of expertise in the assessment and management of children and young people presenting with complex communication needs (including paper and power based AAC) developing and directing treatment plans for local services.

To determine through formal and informal assessment the provision of paper and power based AAC required to support a young person.

To communicate assessment outcomes verbally and in written reports to referrers, clients, parents and carers, education staff, health colleagues and other professionals. Communication should be completed in a timely manner considering confidentiality and the complex, sensitive nature of the information conveyed and the needs of the recipients.

To support and guide local services in the most appropriate therapeutic AAC interventions following SCARC criteria, clinical guidance, and evidence-based practice.

To upskill, engage and motivate those supporting AAC users to ensure the best outcomes.

To use therapy outcome measures according to SCARC guidance to evaluate, assess and to assist with clinical decision making for AAC users.

To discharge children or young people in a timely manner when they no longer require SCARC support.

To use interpreters and translation services to facilitate access to the service for those using English as an additional language.

To assess and advise on the provision of alternative augmentative communication systems (AAC) adhering to SCARC criteria, requesting the involvement of the regional AAC hubs where required.

To support and promote the use of AAC where appropriate for the child or young person.

To actively seek second opinions from SCARC colleagues in all aspects of clinical management.

To support the training, implementation and awareness raising of AAC including facilitating the SCARC training offer.

Education and development

To support parents and carers, students and other professionals through education, informal or formal training in AAC.

To provide supervision and clinical experience for speech and language therapy students on placement with SCARC.

To attend all mandatory training required.

To access and keep up to date with AAC evidence base and continuing professional development, including attending relevant training course and conferences (where required) and to disseminate any information from courses attended to colleagues.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on clinical practice, seek and understand feedback provided, make action plans for improvements, and carry these out to enhance personal and professional development.

To engage with and support the effective use of SCARC equipment, monitoring whether equipment is used effectively and adapting equipment accordingly through liaison with families, health, and education/ care professionals.

Leadership

To be an ambassador for SCARC, AAC and the Trust by following and demonstrating professional and Trust values.

To work in accordance with departmental and service objectives.

To use initiative to identify and share ideas for SCARC service improvements.

To take a shared approach to teamwork, understanding your own role and the value of diversity.

To support other team members in SCARC.

To enable others to solve problems and signpost to support where appropriate.

To proactively manage difficulties as they arise, creating action plans and implementing them.

To use active listening skills to deal with complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.

To be compassionate to those in distress or complex situations and maintain productive and effective relationships.

To actively challenge and where necessary report any incidence of abuse or discrimination in line with policies and procedures.

To clinically supervise and manage student placements at SCARC

To engage with and participate in supervision and appraisals of SCARC team members

Core Duties

To work independently working towards a specialist level and knowledge in AAC, seeking supervision/support as required for cases or issues outside of own clinical scope e.g. highly complex or novel.

To be accountable for own professional conduct, recognising professional boundaries and to seek support as appropriate.

To ensure effective partnership working, at all times, with those supporting young people with AAC in the best interests of the child or young person.

To demonstrate and adhere to consent policies especially those relating to mental capacity assessments and deprivation of liberty.

To be responsible for own administration work including timetabling, record keeping, and report writing via SystmOne.

To adhere to Data Protection / Information Governance and Confidentiality Policies.

To record statistical information as required by West Suffolk Foundation Trust & Integrated Community Paediatric Services.

To practice good time management skills to maintain a balance between clinical and non-clinical duties as per departmental guidance.

To be involved in departmental projects e.g. clinical audit, clinical governance as required.

To participate in supervision and appraisal system, identifying development needs and drawing up a personal development plan with relevant appraiser.

To seek immediate support from SCARC service lead for breaches of policy or HCPC standards.

To be knowledgeable of and adhere to relevant WSFT policies and procedures, including incident reporting, sickness, manual handling, lone working and leave policies.

To be responsible for the carriage, care, maintenance and security of equipment being used and informing the SCARC service lead of any issues arising.

To attend SCARC meetings as mandated.

Ability to travel to all rural locations to carry out post

Education & Qualification

Essential

• oRecognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
• oRegistered with the Health & Care Professions Council
• oMember of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
• oEvidence of continuing professional development via RCSLT log or portfolio

Desirable

• oMember of a Clinical Excellence Network (SEN) in AAC or equivalent clinical area
• oEvidence of further post graduate short courses or training relevant to paper and power based AAC
• oRecent Placement Educator Training

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• oExperience and knowledge of supporting AAC.
• oKnowledge and experience of a wide range of informal assessment of AAC.
• oKnowledge of a range of intervention techniques and approaches in AAC.
• oExperience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals
• oKnowledge of supporting people to implement AAC.
• oExperience of training others

Desirable

• oWorking with, or supporting with, young people with AAC.
• oExperience of working in a wide range of environments including home, school and community settings
• oExperience of MDT working
• oAwareness and exploration of power based AAC software and vocabularies.
• oUse of outcome measures.
• oContribution to clinical education.
• oSupervision and support of others.
• oSupporting caseload management

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• oKnowledge of different types of paper and power based AAC.
• oKnowledge of statutory assessment procedure and experience of writing EHCP reports.
• oKnowledge of safeguarding for young people and vulnerable adults.
• oGood presentation skills, written and verbal
• oDigitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
• oGood organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload
• oAbility to demonstrate good analytical and reflection skills
• oAbility to work under pressure
• oWell-developed concentration skills
• oAware of relevant policies & procedures pertaining to working in a health care environment e.g health & safety legislation, clinical governance, equality & diversity.
• oExperience of using symbol-based software eg InPrint3/Matrix Maker

Desirable

• oExperience of record keeping via SystmOne
• oExperience of setting up and programming paper and power based AAC

Personal Qualities

Essential

• oExcellent interpersonal skills: including observation, active listening, and empathy skills
• oDeveloping negotiation and problem-solving skills
• oAble to cope with exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
• Flexible approach to working hours/duties
• oAbility to work in a team.
• oAbility to travel to all rural locations to carry out post

Desirable

• oExperience with managing difficult / changing circumstances.
• oExperience implementing a project.

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).