Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities -

Professional / Clinical responsibilities

1. To provide highly specialist, autonomous clinical case management including highly specialist assessments and intervention, adapting practice to meet individual clients circumstances, overcoming any barriers to understanding.
2. To assess, develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy intervention programmes to meet the needs of clients; adapting practice based on individual clients or families circumstances and outcomes, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
3. To develop information, specialised programmes and resources for clients, families and relevant others about speech, language and communication needs,
4. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication, interaction and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
5. To write comprehensive reports to be shared with families and a range of professionals, reflecting specialist knowledge in line with department guidance.
6. To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice.
7. To demonstrate good negotiation skills in dealing with a range of complex issues and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
8. To develop, implement and review care pathways and recommend changes in practice as appropriate.
9. To identify and make appropriate onward referrals to other agencies.
10. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of careful analysis and interpretation of complex situations utilising and guiding evidence based practice and outcome measurement.
11. To ensure that service users are able to express their views and opinions and are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans.
12. To raise local awareness of the importance of developing communication skills within service area.
13. To identify training needs and to develop, provide and evaluate appropriate specialist training to parents, carers, volunteers, educators and practitioners.
14. To plan, guide and support the work of educators and carers responsible for implementing strategies and programmes of work in support of childrens speech and language therapy goals.
15. To lead and participate in projects, activities and events including attendance at team meetings.
16. To establish appropriate partnerships with agencies and disciplines which are seeking to promote social and educational inclusion for children with speech, language, and communication difficulties.
17. To receive and communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information to clients, carers, families and other professionals. This may include those who are under stress and/or have severely challenging communication difficulties.

Management and Leadership

1. To take a delegated role or lead, as requested by SLT Leadership team, in working groups, policy development groups, specific projects and events.
2. To use highly specialist knowledge to inform line manager on issues of service delivery/ policy development, including access and equity shortfalls and service pressures.
3. To develop care protocols/packages relating to specialist area in liaison with Team Leader to improve client care.
4. To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary working and team-building.
5. To negotiate with others including health, education and social care professionals to achieve seamless services for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.
6. To use highly specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments.
7. To propose ideas for improving services to highly specialist area/whole service and to contribute to service development.

Financial and physical resources responsibilities

1. To monitor stock levels in own service area, requesting and purchasing new equipment as appropriate.
2. To develop resources of interest to specialist client group.
3. To follow procedures for ensuring the security, care and maintenance of equipment, taking responsibility for maintaining standards of infection control and safety including assessment resources and equipment loaned to clients.

Education & Professional Development

1. To engage in reflective practice with peers through participation in peer review, peer mentoring and supervision as appropriate.
2. To provide line management, supervision, mentoring, advice and support to more junior Speech and Language Therapists, Assistants, speech and language therapy students, and volunteers.
3. To facilitate the development of others problem solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support.
4. To plan, monitor and support the work of assistants, students, administration staff and volunteers.
5. To resolve verbal complaints about the Speech and Language Therapy service in liaison with SLT Leadership team.
6. To generate appropriate strategies for management of own workload.
7. To take on organisational responsibilities within, and contribute to, team meetings.
8. To develop and review induction packages, to provide induction for colleagues, including more junior members of staff.
9. To develop and provide regular specialist training on a range of topics.
10. To provide second opinions linked to clinical specialism.
11. To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to parents, visitors, students, other professionals and volunteers.
12. To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate.
13. To support students from other professional groups as appropriate.
14. To contribute to identifying and meeting training needs within the team.

Information management

1. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with HCPC/RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
2. To share information with carers, school staff and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines and client confidentiality.
3. To gather and update activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.
4. To participate in areas of risk management, quality standards and clinical effectiveness.
5. To lead team-wide initiatives to seek the views of children, parents and partner organisations on the quality and effectiveness of service provided.
6. To participate in departmental research, Clinical Governance/Audit projects, including collection and provision of research data as required.
7. To work across borough boundaries, accessing and recording information using mobile devices, and coming into offices for meetings or specific events

• Freedom to act

1. To provide leadership within specialist area and team(s).
2. To manage a complex caseload independently.
3. To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate
4. To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct and the Trusts value based behaviours.
5. To work independently accessing line management, supervision, and performance development reviews (appraisal) at pre-determined intervals.

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health and Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Willingness to undertake post qualification study
• ADOS trained and experienced

Desirable

• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of working as a Speech and Language Therapist with a paediatric caseload.
• Experience in the management of children with complex conditions.
• Experience of planning and delivering training to a range of audiences
• Understanding of the impact of local social, cultural, and linguistic factors on service delivery.
• Problem solving skills in complex situations including local resolution of complaints where possible
• Independently manages own time and prioritise tasks including caseload management
• Responsive to the changing demands of the service.
• Experience of ADOS assessment

Desirable

• Experience in contributing to policy planning and service development
• Experience of delivering ASD post diagnosis support/training

Skills

Essential

• Highly Specialist knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to client groups and settings and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits underpinned by evidence based practice.
• Knowledge of EYFS and National Curriculum, and understanding of curriculum differentiation and environmental adaptations.
• A working knowledge of relevant procedures and legal frameworks and to demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to clinical practice, including: Safeguarding Children, Code of Practice, Information Governance and other legal frameworks
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including reflective practice, audit and research methodologies.
• Knowledge of methods of involving users in improving client care
• Knowledge of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key professionals in health, education, voluntary and social services
• Knowledge and experience of clinical supervision and the ability to engage others in reflective practice
• Highly skilled in differential diagnoses on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice as appropriate. This includes supporting colleagues with their clinical decision-making in specialist area.
• Ability to use knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements and decision-making for complex cases
• Ability to engage and negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management
• Ability to use ICT for clinical and administrative tasks
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent interpersonal skills; including observation, listening and empathy sensitivity tact and diplomacy, team-working.

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).