Job responsibilities
About Us
Epilepsy can be one of the most frightening and isolating conditions a child can experience. The loss of any sense of safety, trapped in an unpredictable world, not knowing when their next seizure will happen, where it will happen, who will be there and if they will be hurt.
Living in this unpredictable world takes its toll on a childs physical and mental health, as well as impacting their education and social life. It can limit opportunities for the rest of their life.
Children with epilepsy have a right to be heard. We are here for them.
Together we can create a society where children and young people with epilepsy have a voice and can live happy, fulfilled lives. Through research that improves diagnosis and treatments, campaigning for childrens rights, and providing innovative tools, information, and practical support for living day-to-day life.
Together we create possible.
Job Purpose
The speech and language therapist is responsible for assessment, intervention and consultation, to facilitate development of students communication and eating and drinking skills.
Key Task and responsibilities:
Team-working
- To meet the needs of all students on your caseload effectively by working in partnership with other disciplines, especially the Therapy and Psychology teams.
- To demonstrate awareness of the roles of all other Therapy and Health disciplines.
- To work collaboratively with other disciplines in education and residential services for the effective management of students wherever appropriate.
- To direct the work of a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Technician where available, in supporting and delivering therapy programmes for students on the post holders caseload.
- To provide support for Speech and Language Therapy trainees on Clinical Placement.
Specialist Clinical Work Complex special needs
For newly qualified practitioners/Band 5, this will be an appropriate, managed caseload.
- To manage a delineated caseload of students with epilepsy and/or autism spectrum disorders together with other complex developmental or acquired needs attending the School, Further Education College or Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit through assessment, intervention and consultation.
- To provide an opinion on the suitability of Young Epilepsy to meet a prospective students needs.
- To provide a baseline and ongoing assessment and review of each new students communication and/or eating/drinking skills and the environment in which these skills are used.
- To evaluate the impact of epilepsy or other complex neurological problems on a students current communicative competence, taking into account variability and potential loss of skills.
- To provide detailed recommendations which are suitable for incorporation into the students education or care programmes.
- To deliver and inform parents of the aims of regular therapy sessions.
- To pass on skills in communication related to a specific student.
- To identify situations beyond the post holders current clinical competence and refer on/seek advice as needed.
Dysphagia trained therapists only
- To provide assessment, differential diagnosis and appropriate intervention for students with dysphagia, taking account of all relevant factors
- To support staff to follow good practice and maintain the safety of students
- To raise safeguarding matters in a timely manner to ensure student safety
- To refer complex eating/drinking difficulties to a more senior SLT as required.
- To make onward referrals to external agencies as required (e.g. video fluoroscopy)
Specialist Clinical Work AAC
- To co-ordinate provision of suitable Augmentative and Alternative Communication support for students with complex needs on the post holders caseload by diagnostic assessment, selection of appropriate therapy from a range of options and offering advice as necessary.
- To direct the work of the AAC technician in providing resources and/or training as required.
- To instigate the provision of suitable equipment where needed.
Staff Training
- To train staff and carers on topics related to communication and/or eating and drinking by presenting workshops, induction or talks and to offer these to external staff as appropriate.
- To run training sessions for internal staff in association with other SLTs on topics related to SLT area.
- To run training sessions for internal staff on topics related to SLT area of specialism.
- To participate in staff induction as required.
- To offer external training courses in association with members of the SLT team or other staff at Young Epilepsy as appropriate.
General
This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable and appropriate tasks.
All Young Epilepsy staff share a commitment to the participation and engagement of children and young people and their voices.
All duties must be carried out in accordance with Health and Safety regulations as given by the Young Epilepsy Health and Safety policy and procedures.
Young Epilepsy and St Piers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Young Epilepsy expects all employees to share our commitment to creating and promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.
