Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Mainstream Schools

Job responsibilities

• To provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to children in mainstream schools who have an identified speech, language, communication need.
• To be responsible for providing specialist assessment, diagnosis & therapy packages into allocated schools.
• To train and support school staff & parents, in order for them to implement therapy advice effectively.
• To support schools with the early identification of children with speech, language and communication needs.
• To prioritise the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Children at all times
• To support the service to achieve Key Performance Indicators and maintain Target Activity Levels
• To take part in/lead on audits and projects for the team/service
• To contribute to, and provide feedback about, possible developments in the team
• To provide buddying and informal support for less experienced staff
• To provide formal supervision for less experienced staff, as needed

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Qualifications

Essential

• oRecognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent (minimum of 2:1 or equivalent)
• oFurther training courses relevant to the post
• oHealth and Care Professions Council registered
• oRegistered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Desirable

• oFirst class honours degree or equivalent
• oExtensive training relevant to the post
• oMember of relevant CEN

Experience

Essential

• oExperience of working in a mainstream/special school as a therapist
• oExperience of delivering training
• oExperience of supervising a student
• oExperience of providing informal support to less experienced colleagues
• oExperience of setting up groups for school staff to continue to run

Desirable

• oExperience of leading on a project to improve/develop the service
• oExperience of providing formal support to junior colleagues
• oExperience of developing and delivering training

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• oIn-depth knowledge of assessment tools, and experience of using them relevant to school age children with SLCN.
• oKnowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to school age children with SLCN
• oGood knowledge of the SEND procedures
• oIn-depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapy approaches, and experience in using them with school age children with SLCN particularly including: ASD, learning difficulties, language difficulties, speech difficulties, stammering, selective mutism
• oKnowledge of the principles of clinical governance
• oExperience of contributing to an audit
• oGood knowledge of the roles of other professionals relevant to school age children with SLCN.
• oGood knowledge of standards of record keeping.

Desirable

• oExperience of leading a clinical audit

Other

Essential

• oGood IT skills
• oCar driver and owner to travel during the day

Desirable

• oExcellent IT skills

Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with professionals, children and their families
• Excellent empathy skills
• Evidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member
• Good negotiation and problem solving skills

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).