Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Youth Justice Service

Job responsibilities

To assess the speech, language and communication skills of children known to Youth Justice and Adolescent Services.

To provide appropriate specialist intervention where required.

To make onward referrals to other services. For example: CAMHS, Child Development Centre, Audiology.

To support the professional network to adapt their practice, ensuring all required strategies are incorporated into childrens support plans.

To be able to reflect on all aspects of a childs communication and identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.

To monitor the effectiveness of recommended strategies and to adjust advice as necessary.

To adapt clinical practice to meet individual childrens circumstances on the basis of evidence from assessment.

To recommend clear packages of care based on best practice and differential diagnosis using highly specialist clinical knowledge to inform case management.

To write assessment reports, communication profiles and intervention programmes (as required) with clear strategies, advice and recommendations about next steps.

To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in working within Youth Justice Services.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and supervisors and identify own strengths and development needs.

To demonstrate excellent communication skills.

To adapt practice to meet the individual circumstances of children and their families with due regard to cultural, linguistic (including use of interpreting services) and/or learning and language difficulties or differences.

To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek to resolve using highly developed negotiation skills, seeking further support from management if necessary.

To use appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the workplace, and to report any incidences of aggressive behaviour in line with Local Authority and NHS policies.

To ensure that children, their parents/carers (where possible) and the professional network are involved in the planning and delivery of their care.

To listen to the concerns of children, their parent/carers (where possible) and the professional network and provide appropriate support and signposting.

To demonstrate highly developed negotiation skills across a range of issues and to negotiate with others around case management.

To maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of children and their families, especially when sharing outcomes of assessments or recommendations for onward referrals.

To demonstrate empathy with children, their families and colleagues ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly when the likelihood of communication breakdowns are higher.

To acknowledge childrens journeys up until the point of involvement with the Youth Justice or Adolescent Services and use trauma informed practices when interacting with children and their families.

To demonstrate highly developed negotiation skills across a range of issues and to negotiate with others around case management.

To evaluate own delivery and to be accountable for own professional actions and decisions, recognise own professional boundaries and seek advice from colleagues as required.

To follow the CNWL serious incident escalation pathway when required and seek advice from the CNWL Safeguarding Nursing Team.

To report all incidents, in a timely manner, and access learning following incident investigation outcomes.

To have due regard for own personal safety and that of children, their families and other professionals. In particular, to have regard for Local Authority and NHS lone worker, moving and handling, health and safety and infection control policies.

To follow local safety management policies and procedures and being aware of potential conflict between children and families using services. For example, consulting keep apart lists and the professional network when booking appointments.

To report, in a timely manner, all safeguarding concerns, following the latest safeguarding guidance and polices.

To share information, in a timely manner, with relevant professionals.

To contribute to case conferences and reviews as required.

To record all concerns and discussions/supervisions regarding safeguarding issues in the childs clinical records.

To attend safeguarding supervision with the Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children (Hillingdon) on a 3 monthly basis.

To work independently and to access NHS clinical supervision on a regular basis (every 6-8 weeks). NHS clinical supervision should be recorded on the relevant system.

To collate evidence of professional development related to the RCSLT CPD log.

To work within legal frameworks relevant to the role. For example: SEND reforms, London Safeguarding Children Procedures and Youth Justice Guidance.

Qualifications

Essential

• oRecognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent (minimum of 2:2 or equivalent)
• oFurther training courses relevant to the post. For example in the areas of :Sauma Informed Practices, social Emotional and Mental Health
• oHealth and Care Professions Council licence to practice.
• 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 CEN relevant to post

Experience

Essential

• oExperience of working with secondary age children with speech, language and communication difficulties and differences and cooccurring social, emotional and mental health needs
• oExperience of working in an MDT
• oExperience of developing and delivering a range of training
• o Experience of leading on projects to improve/develop the service
• oExperience of completing clinical audits, collating findings and presenting this information to others

Desirable

• oExperience of working within the Youth Justice Service
• oExperience of working alongside Children'' Social care professionals
• oExperience of managing a speech and Language service
• oExperience of presenting information at management/board meetings

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• oIn-depth knowledge of assessment tools, and experience of using them relevant to school age children with SLCN. and SEMH
• oIn-depth knowledge and experience of a range of appropriate therapy approaches, and experience in using them with children with SEMH and SLCN
• oKnowledge of the principles of clinical governance
• oKnowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to school age children with SLCN
• o Good knowledge of the roles of other professionals relevant to school age children with SLCN
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping

Desirable

• oExperience of systm1, child view or Liquidlogic Childrens' systems (LCS) as the electronic record

Other

Essential

• Good IT skills

Desirable

• Car driver

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.
• Good analytical and reflection skills
• Well developed concentration skills
• Good presentation skills; both written and verbal.
• Evidence of being able to work independently, be organised and able to prioritise and meet deadlines

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).