Job summary
Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist Dysphagia & Complex Needs
The post is being offered as 1 WTE
37.5 Hours Per Week
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated band 6-7 Speech and Language Therapist in Barnet Children's Integrated Therapies Complex Needs and Dysphagia team in our early years complex needs and dysphagia team. The post is being offered as 1 WTE to join our wonderful team. Applications for band 6/7-run through are welcome - this would be a great development opportunity in a supportive team.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be based within the Barnet Complex Needs and Dysphagia SLT Team which delivers services to children aged 0 - 5 years in their homes, health clinics and in early years settings.
The postholder will hold a clinical caseload of complex children including babies / young children with dysphagia and provide both assessment and intervention. This will involve a high level of MDT working and regular liaison with specialist and tertiary services. You will work alongside SLT colleagues who carry similar caseloads and work closely together. The post holder will be expected to support the communication development and where necessary the swallowing /feeding needs of children on their caseload.
Working as a specialist in early years, the post holder will also provide training, second opinions and supervision to other therapists within the team and the wider workforce.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trustbelieves that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See job description for further details and main responsibilities
1. To carry a personal clinical caseload to a high level of professional competence and demonstrate clinical expertise.
2. To assess, differentially diagnose, plan and implement therapy for children with dysphagia and speech, language and/or communication difficulties on own caseload and supervise others to do so.
3. To work effectively with clients, carers, and colleagues around individual case management; providing advice, guidance and support as necessary and involving them in the planning and prioritisation of care wherever possible
4. To provide second opinions in your field of clinical expertise to Whittington Health clinical staff on children with dysphagia/complex communication disorders.
5. To reflect on clinical practice; adequately identifying strengths & needs of clients, reviewing their response to therapy and providing evidence of sound clinical judgement.
6. To monitor and review the progress of children on caseload and facilitate the development or modification of packages of care / targets as appropriate using evaluation/outcome measurement tools as a key part of the MDT
7. To adapt practice to meet individual client/carers circumstances, taking into account cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
8. To produce accurate, & detailed reports, therapy programmes, advice and information as necessary in a timely manner.
9. To respond to the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 completing written advice (EHCP) for children/young people who may have Special Educational Needs.
10. To refer children/young people to other Health, Education or Social Services professionals as necessary.
11. To undertake home visits, as necessary, in compliance with the local Home Visiting Safety Policy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See job description for further details and main responsibilities
1. To carry a personal clinical caseload to a high level of professional competence and demonstrate clinical expertise.
2. To assess, differentially diagnose, plan and implement therapy for children with dysphagia and speech, language and/or communication difficulties on own caseload and supervise others to do so.
3. To work effectively with clients, carers, and colleagues around individual case management; providing advice, guidance and support as necessary and involving them in the planning and prioritisation of care wherever possible
4. To provide second opinions in your field of clinical expertise to Whittington Health clinical staff on children with dysphagia/complex communication disorders.
5. To reflect on clinical practice; adequately identifying strengths & needs of clients, reviewing their response to therapy and providing evidence of sound clinical judgement.
6. To monitor and review the progress of children on caseload and facilitate the development or modification of packages of care / targets as appropriate using evaluation/outcome measurement tools as a key part of the MDT
7. To adapt practice to meet individual client/carers circumstances, taking into account cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
8. To produce accurate, & detailed reports, therapy programmes, advice and information as necessary in a timely manner.
9. To respond to the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 completing written advice (EHCP) for children/young people who may have Special Educational Needs.
10. To refer children/young people to other Health, Education or Social Services professionals as necessary.
11. To undertake home visits, as necessary, in compliance with the local Home Visiting Safety Policy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
- Degree or equivalent and Licence to Practice
- Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC
- Further study to master's or equivalent level in clinical field, including completion of short courses
- Member of relevant clinical excellence network
Experience
Essential
- oWork with babies and children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties including those associated with complex needs and/ or feeding difficulties
- oCollaborative work with parents and other professionals, across settings
- oTraining others, supervising and/or supporting others
- oKnowledge of the evidence base of area of speciality (feeding difficulties of babies and children)
- oDysphagia experience at the highly specialist level including a minimum of 2 years experience working with babies and infants with complex needs
- oExperience of working in the community
- oWork with the Clinical team lead in the day to day management of other team members including annual leave, and sickness monitoring and carrying out appraisals.
- oExperience of clinical governance framework to monitor and improve patient care
- oExperience of organising and implement training programmes for colleagues and other professionals
- oUse of outcome measures
- Involvement in audit and research
Desirable
- oClinical educator training
- oMinimum 5 yrs post Postgraduate experience of working with children in a paediatric setting
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance
- Sound understanding of confidentiality
- Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community
- oNormal Child Development of Speech & Language and general developmental milestones
- oAdvanced knowledge of appropriate range of assessments and interventions for education and in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities, utilising a range of approaches and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits to individual children.
- oReligious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management principles and models of Adult-Child Interaction
- oIn-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures (especially Code of Practice), Education Practice and Policy and Foundation Curriculum
- oUnderstanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group) especially within MDT
- oKnowledge of professional standards of record keeping
- oHolistic view of communication and philosophy to back this
- oExcellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- oGood auditory discrimination skills
- oDemonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership
- oManual dexterity sufficient to carry out physical swallowing assessment and use high and low tech assessment equipment and for signing
- oIT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes including word processing and use of email
- oAble to independently manage own and others' clinical caseload and prioritise as required
- oClear, concise verbal and written reporting skills and excellent presentation skills of complex information
- oAbility to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals' needs
- oAbility to deal with and resolve conflict demonstrating highly developed negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
- oSensitivity to others' differing needs
- oDemonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
- oWell-developed concentration skills
Desirable
- Previous NHS experience
- oCurrent issues in the delivery of community based services Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community
Skills
Essential
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Advanced knowledge of the evidence base of rehabilitation relating to specialist area.
- Excellent specific therapy assessment and treatment skills in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities utilising a range of approaches.
- Able to independently manage own and others clinical caseload and prioritise as required
- Demonstrates effective communication skills with all disciplines and agencies
- Clear, concise verbal and written reporting skills
- Excellent Interpersonal skills with regard to individual client management (including empathy, observation and interview skills).
- Excellent presentation skills of complex information
- Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals' needs
- IT skills including word processing and use of email
Other
Essential
- Able to travel around the borough independently
- oCommitment to equal opportunities
- oProfessional manner
- oFlexible approach to work
- oUses initiative
- oCommitment to Continuing Professional Development
- oAble to respond to pressure appropriately
- oAwareness of Trust values and evidence of putting these into practice
Desirable
- Car driver and access to a car
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
- Degree or equivalent and Licence to Practice
- Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC
- Further study to master's or equivalent level in clinical field, including completion of short courses
- Member of relevant clinical excellence network
Experience
Essential
- oWork with babies and children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties including those associated with complex needs and/ or feeding difficulties
- oCollaborative work with parents and other professionals, across settings
- oTraining others, supervising and/or supporting others
- oKnowledge of the evidence base of area of speciality (feeding difficulties of babies and children)
- oDysphagia experience at the highly specialist level including a minimum of 2 years experience working with babies and infants with complex needs
- oExperience of working in the community
- oWork with the Clinical team lead in the day to day management of other team members including annual leave, and sickness monitoring and carrying out appraisals.
- oExperience of clinical governance framework to monitor and improve patient care
- oExperience of organising and implement training programmes for colleagues and other professionals
- oUse of outcome measures
- Involvement in audit and research
Desirable
- oClinical educator training
- oMinimum 5 yrs post Postgraduate experience of working with children in a paediatric setting
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance
- Sound understanding of confidentiality
- Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community
- oNormal Child Development of Speech & Language and general developmental milestones
- oAdvanced knowledge of appropriate range of assessments and interventions for education and in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities, utilising a range of approaches and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits to individual children.
- oReligious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management principles and models of Adult-Child Interaction
- oIn-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures (especially Code of Practice), Education Practice and Policy and Foundation Curriculum
- oUnderstanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group) especially within MDT
- oKnowledge of professional standards of record keeping
- oHolistic view of communication and philosophy to back this
- oExcellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- oGood auditory discrimination skills
- oDemonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership
- oManual dexterity sufficient to carry out physical swallowing assessment and use high and low tech assessment equipment and for signing
- oIT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes including word processing and use of email
- oAble to independently manage own and others' clinical caseload and prioritise as required
- oClear, concise verbal and written reporting skills and excellent presentation skills of complex information
- oAbility to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals' needs
- oAbility to deal with and resolve conflict demonstrating highly developed negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
- oSensitivity to others' differing needs
- oDemonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
- oWell-developed concentration skills
Desirable
- Previous NHS experience
- oCurrent issues in the delivery of community based services Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community
Skills
Essential
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Advanced knowledge of the evidence base of rehabilitation relating to specialist area.
- Excellent specific therapy assessment and treatment skills in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities utilising a range of approaches.
- Able to independently manage own and others clinical caseload and prioritise as required
- Demonstrates effective communication skills with all disciplines and agencies
- Clear, concise verbal and written reporting skills
- Excellent Interpersonal skills with regard to individual client management (including empathy, observation and interview skills).
- Excellent presentation skills of complex information
- Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals' needs
- IT skills including word processing and use of email
Other
Essential
- Able to travel around the borough independently
- oCommitment to equal opportunities
- oProfessional manner
- oFlexible approach to work
- oUses initiative
- oCommitment to Continuing Professional Development
- oAble to respond to pressure appropriately
- oAwareness of Trust values and evidence of putting these into practice
Desirable
- Car driver and access to a car
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).
