Job summary
We have a vacancy for a newly or recently qualified Speech and Language Therapist to join our community Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy mainstream service in Suffolk. Our service is Countywide, and we have a role available in the West; Bury St Edmunds / Stowmarket
The role will offer the successful applicant the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and experience working with a varied paediatric caseload. Our community mainstream therapists work in a variety of settings including clinics, children's centres, nurseries, preschools, and mainstream schools within a dedicated and supportive team.
As a team we are strongly committed to delivery of effective, evidence-based therapy, and we offer regular clinical and management supervision and CPD/training opportunities.
We would welcome any applicants at the start of their career or those with current applicable experience especially regarding assessment and intervention of children and young people's speech, language and communication needs, experience working with therapy partners (parent/carers and educational staff), a passion / interest in delivering 1:1 and/or group therapy, and an interest in delivering training.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:
Work with preschool children and young people with a broad range of speech, language, and communication needs.
Work independently to provide regular assessment sessions throughout the key stages of the patient journey.
Plan and deliver therapeutic interventions to children and young people.
Offer a blend of face-to-face sessions and some virtual working.
Understand typical and atypical development of speech, language, and communication skills
Select and successfully interpret a range of appropriate formal and informal assessments
Be able to work effectively and flexibly with a variety of people, in a variety of settings
Have strong emerging or established personal communication skills to convey key information to service users, colleagues, and other professionals
Be familiar and confident with computer-based record keeping and Microsoft packages
Have good organisational skills to be able to coordinate, organise and book sessions on a regular basis
To work closely in partnership with families, educational staff and the wider professional team to support effective outcomes for children and young people
Support delivery of training packages to parents/carers and educational staff (both face to face and virtually)
Contribute to wider service development projects
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description for full details.
Clinical:
- To independently manage a defined caseload of children and young people presenting with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties.
- To devise and deliver therapeutic interventions based on assessment findings, best practice and departmental guidelines
- To gather case history information, and to use formal and informal assessment methods to inform differential diagnosis. To use the information gathered from assessment in conjunction with knowledge of best practise and departmental guidelines to determine treatment options.
- To provide timely information, written and verbal, and advice regarding diagnosis, treatment aims and progress of clients to referrers, parents and carers and other professional staff, taking into account confidentiality and the complex and sensitive nature of the information imparted and the needs of the children and young people.
- To upskill, engage and motivate the therapy partner (parent, carer, or teaching staff) and in some cases the young person themselves to carry out therapeutic activities in between sessions, to ensure best outcomes.
- To actively seek clinical and non-clinical advice and support from senior colleagues as required.
- To refer on to and work with other professionals and agencies as appropriate.
- To direct and supervise the work of the speech and language therapy assistant according to the level of experience for specific client groups.
- To use therapy outcome measures according to departmental guidance to evaluate therapeutic progress and to assist with clinical decision making.
- To discharge children or young people in a timely manner when they have met the departmental criteria.
- To use interpreters and translation services to facilitate access to the service for those using English as an additional language.
- To work in partnership with other members of the Health team, Early Years, Education and Social Care in the best interests of the child or young person
- To identify the need for Alternative Augmentative Communication systems (AAC), seeking advice and support in implementing new systems and requesting the involvement of external agencies where required.
- To support and promote the use of AAC where appropriate for the child or young person.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description for full details.
Clinical:
- To independently manage a defined caseload of children and young people presenting with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties.
- To devise and deliver therapeutic interventions based on assessment findings, best practice and departmental guidelines
- To gather case history information, and to use formal and informal assessment methods to inform differential diagnosis. To use the information gathered from assessment in conjunction with knowledge of best practise and departmental guidelines to determine treatment options.
- To provide timely information, written and verbal, and advice regarding diagnosis, treatment aims and progress of clients to referrers, parents and carers and other professional staff, taking into account confidentiality and the complex and sensitive nature of the information imparted and the needs of the children and young people.
- To upskill, engage and motivate the therapy partner (parent, carer, or teaching staff) and in some cases the young person themselves to carry out therapeutic activities in between sessions, to ensure best outcomes.
- To actively seek clinical and non-clinical advice and support from senior colleagues as required.
- To refer on to and work with other professionals and agencies as appropriate.
- To direct and supervise the work of the speech and language therapy assistant according to the level of experience for specific client groups.
- To use therapy outcome measures according to departmental guidance to evaluate therapeutic progress and to assist with clinical decision making.
- To discharge children or young people in a timely manner when they have met the departmental criteria.
- To use interpreters and translation services to facilitate access to the service for those using English as an additional language.
- To work in partnership with other members of the Health team, Early Years, Education and Social Care in the best interests of the child or young person
- To identify the need for Alternative Augmentative Communication systems (AAC), seeking advice and support in implementing new systems and requesting the involvement of external agencies where required.
- To support and promote the use of AAC where appropriate for the child or young person.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
- Recognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification (A)
- Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (A)
- Eligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (A)
Desirable
- Evidence of applicable short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc (A)
Experience
Essential
- Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics (A/I)
- Knowledge and experience of a range of paediatric SLC assessment methods. (A/I)
- Knowledge and experience of using a range of paediatric therapy techniques and approaches. (I)
- Experience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals. (A)
- Knowledge and experience of the impact of a SLCN difficulty for the child or young person and their family / carers. (I)
Desirable
- Experience of working in community paediatric settings (A/I)
- Experience of MDT working (I)
- Experience of working in teams or groups (I)
- Experience of working with children/young people with complex presentations (I)
- Use of digital methods for therapy (I)
- Use of outcome measures (A/I)
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of child development ages and stages and application to speech language and communication diagnosis and treatment (I)
- Knowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and experience of writing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports (A/I)
- Knowledge of Safeguarding CYP (A/I)
- Good presentation skills, written and verbal (A/I)
- Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating (A/I)
- Good organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload (I)
- Ability to demonstrate good analytical and reflection skills (I)
- Ability to work under pressure (A)
- Well developed concentration skills (A/I)
- Aware of relevant policies & procedures pertaining to working in a health care environment e.g health & safety legislation, clinical governance, equality & diversity (I)
Desirable
- Experience of record keeping via SystmOne (A)
- Developing critical appraisal skills with insight into own strengths and weaknesses. (I)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills: including observation, active listening and empathy skills (I)
- Developing negotiation and problem solving skills(I)
- Flexible approach to working hours and duties (A)
- Motivation and drive (A/I)
- Ability to work in a team (I)
- Able to travel to rural locations to carry out post (A)
Desirable
- Able to cope with exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances (I)
- Able to pass knowledge and skills onto others (I)
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure (I)
- Pragmatic (A/I)
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
- Recognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification (A)
- Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (A)
- Eligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (A)
Desirable
- Evidence of applicable short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc (A)
Experience
Essential
- Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics (A/I)
- Knowledge and experience of a range of paediatric SLC assessment methods. (A/I)
- Knowledge and experience of using a range of paediatric therapy techniques and approaches. (I)
- Experience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals. (A)
- Knowledge and experience of the impact of a SLCN difficulty for the child or young person and their family / carers. (I)
Desirable
- Experience of working in community paediatric settings (A/I)
- Experience of MDT working (I)
- Experience of working in teams or groups (I)
- Experience of working with children/young people with complex presentations (I)
- Use of digital methods for therapy (I)
- Use of outcome measures (A/I)
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of child development ages and stages and application to speech language and communication diagnosis and treatment (I)
- Knowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and experience of writing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports (A/I)
- Knowledge of Safeguarding CYP (A/I)
- Good presentation skills, written and verbal (A/I)
- Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating (A/I)
- Good organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload (I)
- Ability to demonstrate good analytical and reflection skills (I)
- Ability to work under pressure (A)
- Well developed concentration skills (A/I)
- Aware of relevant policies & procedures pertaining to working in a health care environment e.g health & safety legislation, clinical governance, equality & diversity (I)
Desirable
- Experience of record keeping via SystmOne (A)
- Developing critical appraisal skills with insight into own strengths and weaknesses. (I)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills: including observation, active listening and empathy skills (I)
- Developing negotiation and problem solving skills(I)
- Flexible approach to working hours and duties (A)
- Motivation and drive (A/I)
- Ability to work in a team (I)
- Able to travel to rural locations to carry out post (A)
Desirable
- Able to cope with exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances (I)
- Able to pass knowledge and skills onto others (I)
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure (I)
- Pragmatic (A/I)
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).
