Support Practitioner Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To carry out specified observation (auditory and visual) and information gathering to contribute to the SLTs assessment.
2. To promote key messages about early communication development to parents/carers within a range of venues and stay and play sessions.
3. To devise (when appropriate), implement and carry out or model therapeutic interventions which have been set by the SLT with patients with targeted communication needs.
4. To demonstrate input to early years settings and parents / carers.
5. To independently provide training and follow up support for Early Years Settings and wider colleagues on communication and language interventions.
6. To design, prepare and organise therapy activities, resources, training materials and equipment for own or others therapy, within the programme agreed by the supervising SLT.
7. To plan a timetable of activities for therapy sessions.
8. To use own initiative within sessions and to work independently and unsupervised when appropriate.
9. To recognise appropriate opportunities to independently extend advice and strategies for patients and recognise when to refer patients back to the SLT for this advice.
10. To recognise potential conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support from your supervisor or line manager to find a resolution.
11. To form productive working relationships with service users who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties and to motivate them to engage in work programmes.
12. To contribute to overall caseload management by updating waiting lists appropriately with and without
13. To provide mentoring and support to colleagues as required.
14. To complete case notes, collaborative working documents and other record keepingrequirements following clinical sessions, liaison meetings and patient contacts.
15. To deal with queries and questions received by email or phone from parents/carers or professionals.
16. To support the administrative work of the Speech and Language Therapy service and initiate appropriate administrative tasks when required.

Communication

1. To provide direct feedback to patients, parents / carer, other professionals on the sessions carried out.
2. To liaise with other professionals, support staff, parents / carers, ensuring that they understand the therapy approach or programme of work, under indirect supervision by a therapist or Senior Support Practitioner.
3. To be sensitive and communicate respectfully and effectively, particularly where difficulties in understanding exist.
4. To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff, which are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.
5. Key Relationships:

Internal

1. Speech and Language Therapists
2. Support Practitioners
3. SPA and Trust Administrators

External -

1. Patients Children 0-5 years of age
2. Parents / Carers
3. Education Services
4. Family Hub and Flying Start Staff
5. Early Years Practitioners
6. 0-19 Team (Health Visitors / School Nurses)
7. Referrers
8. Other Health Services (e.g. Paediatricians / Occupational Therapy)

6. To attend and contribute as appropriate to Locality Meetings, Clinical Forums and Paediatric service meetings and other professional and / or relevant meetings.

Budgetary Responsibility

1. To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
2. Does not hold budgetary responsibility but is aware of the need to plan non- payexpenditure.

People Management

1. Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal andKSF process.
2. To attend relevant training and development in order to further develop skills inimplementing and knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy approaches andprogrammes.
3. To actively participate in reflective clinical supervision in order to develop and enhancepractice.

Clinical and Practice Governance

1. Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records andinformation in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
2. Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed, or transferredelectronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance andInformation Security policies.
3. The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
4. The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
5. Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required byCambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
6. The post holder much participate in clinical and safeguarding audits as required.
7. The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.
8. The post involves working with small children frequent requirement for sitting on child -size chairs or on the floor in a restricted position.
9. To apply skills in physically working with patients with disabilities with support.
10. To transport equipment required for sessions or training, to a variety of locations.
11. To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns andsudden change in patient need.
12. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children with special needs,learning disabilities and / or communication difficulties and their carers.
13. To demonstrate standard keyboard skills and use IT effectively to extend and completeprogrammes and activities.
14. To have the ability to travel by car throughout Luton and / or Bedfordshire when required,including a full driving licence and access to own transport (unless you have a disability asdefined by the Equality Act 2010).

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• NVQ III / BTech in SLT or Relevant prior experience in Speech and Language Therapy or Relevant practical work experience related to the job description and working with children in the Early Years.
• Demonstrates willingness to learn and develop via training and induction.

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy work.
• Experience of working with children and / or young people

Desirable

• Awareness of Safeguarding issues

Skills

Essential

• Good oral communication skills based on fluency of the English language - spoken and written.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to listen well.
• Literate in IT / Computer Skills and able to use a range of applications to support workload.
• Able to demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues.
• Able to organise work load and manage time
• Demonstrates the ability to reflect on practice with peers / clinical supervisor.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

Address

Various locations across Luton

9 Mersey Place

Luton

LU1 1HH

Employer's website

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