Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

1. To demonstrate an ability to implement interventions and staff development at a whole school level including joint target setting and outcome monitoring.

2. To demonstrate clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of language and communication problems in school aged children up to 11 years, providing appropriate specialist assessment and intervention and evaluating outcomes.

3. To demonstrate specialist knowledge in this clinical area underpinned by current evidence based practice and outcome measures

To make appropriate differential diagnoses and specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases

To use / apply specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management, developing clear care plans based on best practice

To demonstrate an understanding of how to develop and differentiate the curriculum and develop communication friendly schemes of work.

To work with Early Years Services and Camden Service for Young People to support effective transition of children into and out of this service provision.

To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of children with a wide range of SLCN, including ASD.

To work closely with children, carers and families and school staff in order to agree plan of management.

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible

To employ excellent communication skills.

To demonstrate skills in motivating children and /or carers to engage in the interventions, targets and outcomes.

To employ counselling skills with parents/carers of children on the caseload.

To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the childrens difficulties and implications of the same.

To demonstrate the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies as designated by the commissioning provisions.

To monitor and review the progress of children against the targets set and agreed, and to modify targets as appropriate.

To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements, based on research and evidence based practice.

To demonstrate knowledge of current policies and practice in education and incorporate these into the model of working as appropriate e.g. the local offer.

To manage and prioritise a specialist caseload under supervision, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc

To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including Educational, Health and Social Care Plans.

To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, recognising and resolving potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs

To ensure that children are referred on to other services as appropriate.

To contribute to Whittington Healths systems of clinical governance, developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others

To be accountable for professional action and recognising professional boundaries, and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct

Liaison and Teamwork:

1. To contribute to the function of clinical teams both multi disciplinary and uni disciplinary by discussing own and others input around childrens needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan.

2. To liaise and share information with health, educational and other professionals as appropriate, observing data protection guidelines

3. To contribute to meetings, co-production meetings, annual reviews, case conferences and multi-agency team meetings, as appropriate, contributing to inter-agency / multi-agency team building and policy development where appropriate, e.g. education, social services and the voluntary sector.

4. To undertake any other duties as required by the Head of Speech and Language Therapy, which may include a change in workplace.

Administration

1. To carry out administrative duties including activity data collection, updating this accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines

2. To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients

Personal and Professional Development

To participate in annual appraisal ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service, School and organisational plans.

To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist SLT working in this field and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration

3. To contribute to team meetings and participate in in-service training as required.

Person Specification

Education, qualifications, training

Essential

• BSc. in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent (including Dip. CST)
• Health and Care Professions Council Registration to Practice
• Registered Member of RCSLT

Skills/abilities

Essential

• Ability to communicate complex information to parents /carers and other professionals in a variety of clinical situations
• Ability to take majority of leave in school holidays
• Identifies own training needs
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable

• Skills in delivering presentations and training, including basic adaptations to presentation/ training style for a range of audiences.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children and/or clients with a range of speech, language and communication needs of different ages
• Experience of implementing a range of therapeutic interventions for children with communication needs in range of settings
• Experience of writing SMART goals and outcoming them

Desirable

• Some experience of delivering training to a range of audiences e.g. teachers, teaching assistants and specialist education and health professionals

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of a range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate speech, language and communication skills relevant to a range of communication difficulties
• Knowledge of the key characteristics leading to a specialist differential diagnosis between DLD/SCD/Autism etc.
• Knowledge of a range of direct and indirect interventions relevant to communication demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches (where appropriate)

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

5 Pancras Square

London

N1C 4AG

Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)