Job summary
The Islington Additional Needs and Disability Service (IANDS) provides a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team approach to working with babies, children and young people who present with additional needs and disability. Within this service are teams providing assessment, diagnostic and therapy services to children in early years, special schools and mainstream schools.
We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and highly motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join the Bright Start Speech and Language Therapy team within this service, who is able to work sensitively with children and young people and who is committed to family centred practice and the community services that support them. The Bright Start Speech & Language Therapy team is part of the new Family Hubs offer which is delivered in Islington.
The Bright Start Speech and Language Therapy team coordinates provision to support children with and at risk of speech, language & communication needs (SLCN) through the delivery of a universal service to parents, families and practitioners. It focuses on early identification and prevention of SLCN as well as promotion of speech, language, and communication development. The post is important in delivering this service through contact with families of children under 5 as well as practitioners who work with these families.
Main duties of the job
Responsibilities include:
- Improving parent knowledge and awareness to support their children's speech and language development.
- Increasing the number of children, identified as being at risk, to access early intervention in Bright Start, thereby reducing the need for targeted SLT intervention.
- Increasing staff knowledge and understanding to support children's speech, language, and communication development.
- Increasing staff confidence and skill to use interaction strategies which will support children's speech, language, and communication development.
We are a friendly and supportive team which promotes equal opportunities and access for all.
You will receive a high level of clinical support and supervision for all aspects of the post, both formally and informally as well as training opportunities.
About us
Medical services have been delivered on the Whittington Hospital site for over 500 years. On 1st April 2011, Whittington Health was launched as a new Integrated Care Organisation (ICO) comprising The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, NHS Islington and NHS Haringey. The Whittington and the community health services in Islington and Haringey are award winning organisations, delivering acute and community based health services to a population of 443,000 people.
The organisation is the biggest employer in the area, with over 4,500 staff; delivering healthcare not only on the acute hospital site which has 420 beds, but also from a variety of other community based health centres and through visits to patients homes across the boroughs to address the health needs of the local population. Whittington Health also works with other health, social care and voluntary sector partners to support patients and service users from their initial appointment whether it be with a community health team or at the hospital, all the way through to treatment and tailored after care.
We are one of the three main teaching campuses for the Royal Free and University College Medical School.
Our ICARE (Innovation, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence) Values not only help us shape what we do, but also how we do it and why. They are fundamental to the way we do business and care for our patients.
For more information, please access the following link:https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description attached for further details.
The post holder will be providing a Speech & Language Therapy service as part of Bright Start Islington. Bright Start delivers services for children under five and their families which run in settings across Islington.
The post holder will work in a multi-agency environment with professionals and other workers from the statutory and voluntary sector. This will include Speech & Language Therapists, Health Visitors, Clinical Psychologists, Nursery staff, Bright Start and other Early Years Practitioners as well as liaison with a range of other services including Audiology and Community Paediatrics. S/he will monitor and work with Bright Start practitioners, co-workers and assistants involved in the support of children and their families. S/he may also offer guidance to a childsparents/carers and nursery, teaching staff within a childs educational or day care setting.
The post holder is an autonomous practitioner and is responsible for organising and delivering a universal service to families with children under 5 years. S/he will be involved in the early identification & intervention of childrens speech, language and communication needs within the Bright Start areas. S/he will provide training and support to all practitioners working with families of children under 5 years, across Islington. S/he will also deliver information sessions for parents/carers in settings such as stay & plays or parent workshops.
The post holder will have excellent communication skills and the ability to overcome communication barriers, displaying an awareness and sensitivity to social, cultural and economic issues. In particular s/he will need to be skilled in imparting information to parents and families in a way they are able to understand. His / her broad level of theoretical expertise in the management of early disorders of communication will ensure that s/he has the authority to reassure and instil confidence in clients, their carers, and other professionals. S/he will have good negotiation and persuasion skills to influence and encourage practitioners, parents, and others in the childs environment to support and make any necessary changes to their own communication to support the childs needs. S/he will be skilled in working in and liaising within a multi-disciplinary, multi-professional and multi-agency environment. S/he will need good communication skills to work with parents who may have a range of language, learning and mental health needs themselves and present with challenging behaviour.
The post holder will have successfully completed his/her post-qualification year and achieved the appropriate professional/clinical competencies.
S/he will participate in the clinical education of students who are on placement with the team
S/he will undertake Clinical Governance and audit projects as required.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Responsibility:
- To demonstrate specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of young children with language and communication needs, providing appropriate intervention and evaluating outcomes
- To demonstrate specialist knowledge in these clinical areas underpinned by current evidence-based practice and outcome measures
- To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients/clients
- To make appropriate differential diagnoses and specialist clinical decisions based on evidence from assessment of complex cases, seeking advice as appropriate
- To develop knowledge and skills in communication and specific speech and language disorders consulting with clinical supervisor as appropriate.
- To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of children with communication difficulties
- To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families, and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist
- To work closely with clients, teachers, carers, and families, to agree plan of management
- To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
- To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties
- To employ excellent communication skills
- To develop skills in motivating carers, clients and/or practitioners to engage in the therapeutic process
- To always maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of these children and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the childrens difficulties and implications of the same
- To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies
- To monitor and review the progress of clients against the targets set and agreed, and to modify targets as appropriate, through work with Bright Start practitioners
- To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances
- To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and development needs, providing evidence of sound clinical judgements, based on research and evidence-based practice.
- To develop the ability to reflect on auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness
- To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a specialist speech and language therapy service.
- To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports reflecting specialist knowledge, and ensuring that they meet departmental standards and are in line with local Trust Policy, and RCSLT professional standards
- To demonstrate an awareness of current policies and practice in education and incorporate these into them model of working as appropriate.
- To manage and prioritise workload independently, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
- To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for workload management
- To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, recognising and resolving potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seeking advice and support to resolve
- To ensure that children are referred on to other services where needed and in a timely way.
- To monitor and evaluate service delivery and provide progress reports as required.
- To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice. This will include compliance with / adherence to, and implementation of service area policies, National and Local Guidelines and RCSLT Professional and Clinical guidelines and competency framework.
- To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.
- To contribute to the local Trusts systems of clinical governance, participating in and developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others
- To be accountable for own professional action recognising professional boundaries and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct, seeking advice as appropriate
- To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description attached for further details.
The post holder will be providing a Speech & Language Therapy service as part of Bright Start Islington. Bright Start delivers services for children under five and their families which run in settings across Islington.
The post holder will work in a multi-agency environment with professionals and other workers from the statutory and voluntary sector. This will include Speech & Language Therapists, Health Visitors, Clinical Psychologists, Nursery staff, Bright Start and other Early Years Practitioners as well as liaison with a range of other services including Audiology and Community Paediatrics. S/he will monitor and work with Bright Start practitioners, co-workers and assistants involved in the support of children and their families. S/he may also offer guidance to a childsparents/carers and nursery, teaching staff within a childs educational or day care setting.
The post holder is an autonomous practitioner and is responsible for organising and delivering a universal service to families with children under 5 years. S/he will be involved in the early identification & intervention of childrens speech, language and communication needs within the Bright Start areas. S/he will provide training and support to all practitioners working with families of children under 5 years, across Islington. S/he will also deliver information sessions for parents/carers in settings such as stay & plays or parent workshops.
The post holder will have excellent communication skills and the ability to overcome communication barriers, displaying an awareness and sensitivity to social, cultural and economic issues. In particular s/he will need to be skilled in imparting information to parents and families in a way they are able to understand. His / her broad level of theoretical expertise in the management of early disorders of communication will ensure that s/he has the authority to reassure and instil confidence in clients, their carers, and other professionals. S/he will have good negotiation and persuasion skills to influence and encourage practitioners, parents, and others in the childs environment to support and make any necessary changes to their own communication to support the childs needs. S/he will be skilled in working in and liaising within a multi-disciplinary, multi-professional and multi-agency environment. S/he will need good communication skills to work with parents who may have a range of language, learning and mental health needs themselves and present with challenging behaviour.
The post holder will have successfully completed his/her post-qualification year and achieved the appropriate professional/clinical competencies.
S/he will participate in the clinical education of students who are on placement with the team
S/he will undertake Clinical Governance and audit projects as required.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Responsibility:
- To demonstrate specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of young children with language and communication needs, providing appropriate intervention and evaluating outcomes
- To demonstrate specialist knowledge in these clinical areas underpinned by current evidence-based practice and outcome measures
- To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients/clients
- To make appropriate differential diagnoses and specialist clinical decisions based on evidence from assessment of complex cases, seeking advice as appropriate
- To develop knowledge and skills in communication and specific speech and language disorders consulting with clinical supervisor as appropriate.
- To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of children with communication difficulties
- To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families, and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist
- To work closely with clients, teachers, carers, and families, to agree plan of management
- To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
- To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties
- To employ excellent communication skills
- To develop skills in motivating carers, clients and/or practitioners to engage in the therapeutic process
- To always maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of these children and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the childrens difficulties and implications of the same
- To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies
- To monitor and review the progress of clients against the targets set and agreed, and to modify targets as appropriate, through work with Bright Start practitioners
- To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances
- To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and development needs, providing evidence of sound clinical judgements, based on research and evidence-based practice.
- To develop the ability to reflect on auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness
- To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a specialist speech and language therapy service.
- To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports reflecting specialist knowledge, and ensuring that they meet departmental standards and are in line with local Trust Policy, and RCSLT professional standards
- To demonstrate an awareness of current policies and practice in education and incorporate these into them model of working as appropriate.
- To manage and prioritise workload independently, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
- To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for workload management
- To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, recognising and resolving potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seeking advice and support to resolve
- To ensure that children are referred on to other services where needed and in a timely way.
- To monitor and evaluate service delivery and provide progress reports as required.
- To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice. This will include compliance with / adherence to, and implementation of service area policies, National and Local Guidelines and RCSLT Professional and Clinical guidelines and competency framework.
- To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.
- To contribute to the local Trusts systems of clinical governance, participating in and developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others
- To be accountable for own professional action recognising professional boundaries and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct, seeking advice as appropriate
- To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- BSc. Speech Path or Equivalent (including Dip. CST)
- HCPC licence to practise, and registered member of RCSLT
- Successful completion of specialist short courses relevant to field including PCI ACT, Makaton, Hanen, CEN's Bilingualism, Promoting Communication in Early Years, Solihull, Elklan, Solution focussed brief therapy
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to communicate complex, sensitive information
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
- Skilled in delivering presentations and training and adapting style for a range of audiences
- Skilled in selecting, setting & evaluating specialist treatment goals
Desirable
- Able to critically evaluate published research within a specific area of clinical expertise
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of a specialist range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate communication, speech & language skills in pre-school children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs
- Knowledge of the key characteristics leading to a differential diagnosis relevant to a range of speech, language and communication disorders, including social communication disorders, DLD and selective mutism
- Knowledge of a specialist range of therapeutic interventions relevant to pre-school children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches
- Knowledge of early identification and preventative programmes and experience in delivering these programmes
- Experience working with pre-school children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs
- Experience of working collaboratively with parents/carers and other service and agencies
- The application of specialist knowledge of local, cultural, linguistic & demographic factors to the management of an early years caseload
Desirable
- Experience of mentoring and supporting less experienced SLTs and students
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- BSc. Speech Path or Equivalent (including Dip. CST)
- HCPC licence to practise, and registered member of RCSLT
- Successful completion of specialist short courses relevant to field including PCI ACT, Makaton, Hanen, CEN's Bilingualism, Promoting Communication in Early Years, Solihull, Elklan, Solution focussed brief therapy
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to communicate complex, sensitive information
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
- Skilled in delivering presentations and training and adapting style for a range of audiences
- Skilled in selecting, setting & evaluating specialist treatment goals
Desirable
- Able to critically evaluate published research within a specific area of clinical expertise
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of a specialist range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate communication, speech & language skills in pre-school children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs
- Knowledge of the key characteristics leading to a differential diagnosis relevant to a range of speech, language and communication disorders, including social communication disorders, DLD and selective mutism
- Knowledge of a specialist range of therapeutic interventions relevant to pre-school children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches
- Knowledge of early identification and preventative programmes and experience in delivering these programmes
- Experience working with pre-school children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs
- Experience of working collaboratively with parents/carers and other service and agencies
- The application of specialist knowledge of local, cultural, linguistic & demographic factors to the management of an early years caseload
Desirable
- Experience of mentoring and supporting less experienced SLTs and students
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).
