Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE: Speech and Language Therapy Assistant
BAND: 4
REPORTS TO: Highly Specialist Lead Speech and Language
Therapist
BASE: Brian Oliver Centre, Brooklands Hospital, Marston Green
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST
Organisational Values:
The post holder will:
Compassion in Action - We listen, are respectful and respond with empathy, humanity and kindness to the emotions and needs of our patients, service users and carers.
Working Together - We put patients at the centre of everything we do. We communicate with and involve patients, service users, families, carers, and the communities we serve and respond to their feedback.
Respect for Everyone - We provide person-centred care and treat everyone with dignity and compassion at all times. We will see each person as unique and valuable. We respect the contribution everyone makes.
Seeking Excellence - We work in partnership with patients, service users and carers to agree and achieve the best possible outcomes.
To work with individual adults (or groups) as directed by the Speech and Language Therapist
To liaise with professionals, clients and carers
To plan, run and record SLT sessions. This could be independently, with another assistant or with a therapist or other member of the MDT.
To plan the delivery of an intervention programme written by the speech and language therapist independently where appropriate
To work independently across a variety of settings e.g. individuals homes, day centres, workplaces, leisure facilities etc under the guidance of a speech and language therapist, undertake observational and informal assessments
To undertake in in-service training and other training courses as identified and agreed
To maintain up-to-date clinical records/case-notes
To be involved in supporting AAC users alongside speech and language therapists as appropriate
To write individual communication profiles with therapist supervision as appropriate
To attend case conferences following discussion with supervisory therapist
To participate in student placements following discussion with therapist
To attend staff and team meetings
To devise and develop resources for group and individual work including communication books/symbols/ training materials
To prepare and organise resource materials
To participate in clinical supervision.
To maintain quality standards of the Speech and Language Therapy Service in Learning Disabilities
To comply with the NHS Code of Conduct and any other professional code of conduct relevant to the post
Communication
To liaise with clients, SLTs, professionals, parents and carers.
To use a range of communication systems e.g. face to face, telephone, written, which may include Assistive and Augmentative communication (AAC).
As appropriate, to communicate factual information to families and professionals, using persuasion, reassurance, tact and sensitivity to overcome barriers to understanding.
To communicate with individuals with learning disabilities and speech, language and communication difficulties, using an appropriate method of communication.
To exchange information regarding clients with colleagues.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills/ Freedom to Act
- To work within service and trust guidelines.
- To use own initiative when delivering a package of care under the guidance and supervision of a speech and language therapist (SLT).
- To make judgements regarding modifications to therapy programmes to suit individuals and their circumstances. To discuss any modifications with the speech & language therapist.
Planning and Organisational Skills
- To organise individual and group clinical interventions following discussions with the SLT.
- To plan the sequence of activities to be delivered within therapy sessions (short term).
- To organise the equipment and prepare resources to deliver therapy sessions for own and SLTs work.
- To maintain client records and information/data systems, in accordance with service/trust policies.
- To raise concerns about timetabling with the appropriate SLT/Team Lead.
Physical Skills
- To use standard keyboard skills e.g. for writing reports, letters, accessible info, inputting data.
- To travel across a range of settings as & when required to transport clinical equipment and case records following service/trust policies and procedures.as when required
- To use auditory perception and processing skills to underpin clinical work.
- To use, as appropriate and following training, Makaton or other relevant signing communication systems.
- To employ, as appropriate, following training, any physical management strategies as and when required.
Responsibility for Patients/Clients
To work directly with individual with LD (or groups) as directed by the Speech and Language Therapist.
To liaise with professionals, clients and carers as appropriate for each individual case as part of a care package.
To be involved in the planning, running and recording of SLT sessions independently/with another assistant/with a therapist
To plan the delivery of an intervention programme written by the SLT.
Under the guidance of a speech and language therapist, undertake observational, and informal assessments.
In conjunction with the SLT to modify programmes, activities and/or strategies to suit clients circumstances during the implementation of a package of care.
To maintain up-to-date clinical records/case-notes.
To be involved in supporting AAC users alongside speech and language therapists.
To attend case conferences following discussion with supervisory therapist.
To devise and develop resources for group and individual work including communication books/symbols.
To prepare and organise resource materials to meet clients needs.
Policy and Service Responsibilities
- To follow service and trust policies as appropriate to own role.
- To comment on policies/procedures as appropriate to own role where policy/procedure might compromise patient care or enhance service delivery.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
- Contribute to the maintenance of clinical resources by alerting team lead to inappropriate levels of easily accessible resources.
- To contribute to the physical maintenance of resources.
- To contribute to the cost-effective use of resources.
Responsibility for Staff
- To provide peer support for newly appointed assistants.
- To provide observation sessions for students under the direction of a SLT.
- To assist with the delivery of training alongside a SLT.
Responsibility for Information
- To maintain up-to-date clinical records/case-notes, recording own observations.
- To complete standard reports/letters as appropriate to patient care.
- To record activity for trust and service data collection systems.
- To contribute information, from own role, for the annual service report.
Research and Development
- To assist in clinical audit appropriate to own role.
- To participate in SLT research projects within own role responsibilities.
Physical Effort
Light physical effort e.g. sitting at difficult angles and at wheelchair height for a moderate percentage of time, every day.
Moderate physical effort e.g. transporting large, wheeled cases of clinical equipment, and case-notes, several times across several locations, on a daily basis, lifting these cases in/out of cars as & when required
Mental Effort
Concentration is required when delivering therapy.
Work pattern is predictable with infrequent interruptions.
Emotional Effort
Occasional requirement to receive and process sensitive information from parents/carers/other professionals and inform appropriate SLT/Team Lead.
Occasional work with clients who present with challenging behaviour, complex mental and physical needs.
Occasionally providing therapy to individuals in emotionally demanding families.
Working Conditions
Travelling to several locations during each day using driving.
Frequent use of a computer to make resources, type letters/reports and enter data.
Occasional encounters with unpleasant smells, verbal/physical aggression or body fluids.
OTHER DUTIES
1. The post holder will be required to use a computer, either a stand alone or as part of a networked system, and will be responsible for the quality of information. The amount of time spent on this type of work will depend on the job.
2. The Trust embraces the principles of Improving Working Lives and all staff will be required to adhere to the standards laid down in this initiative.
3. The post holder will be required to take part in an annual performance appraisal, where this job description will be reviewed, and objectives set.
4. The Trust has a No Smoking Policy that prohibits any smoking whilst at work.
5. To follow and adhere to the Trusts Health and Safety Policies and instructions and be responsible for your own and others health and safety in the work place.
6. The post holder is expected to contribute to the creation of a working
environment where everyone feels respected, valued and treated with dignity.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended in consultation with the post holder. It should be reviewed whenever major changes have been agreed to the post and should be reviewed as part of the annual appraisal process to ensure it remains an accurate reflection of the duties and responsibilities undertaken by the post holder.
