Job summary
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in Deafness
Band 7 (Laycock PDS)
Contract - Permanent - 15 Hours per week
A rare opportunity to join a wonderful, large and supportive specialist SLT team working with Deaf children and their families across Camden, Islington and Haringey.
The Speech and Language Therapy Service for Children who are Deaf is looking for a highly skilled and innovative speech and language therapist with extensive experience in working with Deaf children and young people from birth to 11 years old, to support deaf pupils in Laycock Provision for Deaf Students.
Our fabulous team works with deaf children and their families across Whittington Health in Camden, Islington and Haringey. You will be part of a well-established, supportive and highly specialist team who work with pupils at Laycock Provision for Deaf Students, within Laycock Primary school, Islington, which has places for 70 deaf children offering an auditory/oral approach to teaching. The children use spoken English to communicate and make maximum use of their hearing to access spoken language.
Find out what it is like to work in our friendly, supportive teams which span hospital and community settings across vibrant and diverse North Central London first hand, visit www.whittington.nhs.uk/CYPrecruitment (you may have to copy and paste this link into your browser) to hear from some of our current staff about why they chose to join and stay at Whittington Health.
Main duties of the job
Please see the Job Description and the Persons Specification for further details about the job role.
If you are unable to access the PDF, the details of the job description can also be found in the 'Detailed Job Description and Main responsibilities' section.
About us
Medical services have been delivered on the Whittington Hospital site for over 500 years. On 1st April 2011, Whittington Health was launched as a new Integrated Care Organisation (ICO) comprising The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, NHS Islington and NHS Haringey. The Whittington and the community health services in Islington and Haringey are award winning organisations, delivering acute and community based health services to a population of 443,000 people.
The organisation is the biggest employer in the area, with over 4,500 staff; delivering healthcare not only on the acute hospital site which has 420 beds, but also from a variety of other community based health centres and through visits to patients homes across the boroughs to address the health needs of the local population. Whittington Health also works with other health, social care and voluntary sector partners to support patients and service users from their initial appointment whether it be with a community health team or at the hospital, all the way through to treatment and tailored after care.
We are one of the three main teaching campuses for the Royal Free and University College Medical School.
Our ICARE (Innovation, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence) Values not only help us shape what we do, but also how we do it and why. They are fundamental to the way we do business and care for our patients.
For more information, please access the following link: https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for delivering a comprehensive and highly specialist therapy service to deaf children in Camden and Islington. The service provides input for deaf children at Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children, and Laycock Provision for Deaf Children. The Outreach service delivers therapy to pre-school deaf children and their families at home and in nurseries and also provides support for SLTs working with deaf children on their caseload in mainstream and other special schools.
The post holder has highly specialist knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and therapy with effective communication outcomes for deaf children and young people. In addition the post holder is knowledgeable and experienced in assessing, treating and managing children and young people who have associated syndromes or special educational needs in addition to their deafness.
The post holder is responsible for organising and managing their own caseload and in building and maintaining strong relationships within the schools. They will also take the lead in supporting less experienced therapists, and helping them to make clinical decisions about therapy provision and prioritisation.
The post holder will be responsible for promoting effective communication skills between children and their families within the home environment and in nursery and school. They will support speech and language therapy colleagues, parents and other professionals within schools and nurseries, by independently planning and providing appropriate training.
The post holder is responsible for inducting, supervising, supporting and directing less experienced SLTs as well as training students. They take on deputised duties from the Clinical Coordinator, SLT service for children who are Deaf as required.
The post holder will work within a multi-agency environment, and as part of a multidisciplinary team that may include specialist teachers, the educational team from partner schools, professional staff from the community health service, psychologists, and outside agencies such as Cochlear Implant Teams.
The post holder will have excellent communication skills enabling them to overcome communication barriers, displaying an awareness and sensitivity to social, cultural and economic issues. In particular they will need to be skilled in presenting complex information to parents/families and young people themselves in a way they are able to understand. The post holder will need the ability to empathise in order to support and counsel parents/carers and children to accept the implications of presenting communication difficulties and long term impact of hearing loss.
The post holder may be required to take a clinical lead for complex cases and second opinions in children and young people with complex presentations or who have complex social backgrounds and may be known to multiple services and/or safeguarding.
The post holder will support parents and teaching staff to enable children and young people to access support in their learning environment. This may involve training and modelling of strategies to parents and professionals working with the child/young person. The post holder will be able to plan and provide a range of appropriate, evidence-based packages of care through individual and small group therapy as required.
The post holder will have knowledge of the national curriculum and will devise and provide individualised therapy targets which are dove-tailed with the educational curriculum and be able to practice clinical decision making to ensure that EHCP targets are functional, relevant and feasible.
You will be one of a team of 9 SLTs and 1 SLTA, delivering high quality and innovative therapy and teaching approaches to children with a primary communication need due to deafness, as well as those who have other additional needs as well as their deafness. We deliver clinical excellence through evidence-based packages of care.
You will require a range of experience as an SLT of working in Deaf education, including pre-school and primary aged, and across modalities. Level 2 BSL or Level 3 BSL is desirable.
In addition to organising and managing your own caseload, you will take the lead for some areas of service delivery, support and supervise less experienced therapists, and continue to build and maintain strong relationships with education colleagues, both in school and the Advisory Teachers in the community. You will receive regular supervision from the Clinical Coordinator in Deafness and you will have opportunities to work closely with colleagues within the team.
Experience and skills of supervision and support of speech and language therapist colleagues and trainee speech and language therapy students is essential.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for delivering a comprehensive and highly specialist therapy service to deaf children in Camden and Islington. The service provides input for deaf children at Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children, and Laycock Provision for Deaf Children. The Outreach service delivers therapy to pre-school deaf children and their families at home and in nurseries and also provides support for SLTs working with deaf children on their caseload in mainstream and other special schools.
The post holder has highly specialist knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and therapy with effective communication outcomes for deaf children and young people. In addition the post holder is knowledgeable and experienced in assessing, treating and managing children and young people who have associated syndromes or special educational needs in addition to their deafness.
The post holder is responsible for organising and managing their own caseload and in building and maintaining strong relationships within the schools. They will also take the lead in supporting less experienced therapists, and helping them to make clinical decisions about therapy provision and prioritisation.
The post holder will be responsible for promoting effective communication skills between children and their families within the home environment and in nursery and school. They will support speech and language therapy colleagues, parents and other professionals within schools and nurseries, by independently planning and providing appropriate training.
The post holder is responsible for inducting, supervising, supporting and directing less experienced SLTs as well as training students. They take on deputised duties from the Clinical Coordinator, SLT service for children who are Deaf as required.
The post holder will work within a multi-agency environment, and as part of a multidisciplinary team that may include specialist teachers, the educational team from partner schools, professional staff from the community health service, psychologists, and outside agencies such as Cochlear Implant Teams.
The post holder will have excellent communication skills enabling them to overcome communication barriers, displaying an awareness and sensitivity to social, cultural and economic issues. In particular they will need to be skilled in presenting complex information to parents/families and young people themselves in a way they are able to understand. The post holder will need the ability to empathise in order to support and counsel parents/carers and children to accept the implications of presenting communication difficulties and long term impact of hearing loss.
The post holder may be required to take a clinical lead for complex cases and second opinions in children and young people with complex presentations or who have complex social backgrounds and may be known to multiple services and/or safeguarding.
The post holder will support parents and teaching staff to enable children and young people to access support in their learning environment. This may involve training and modelling of strategies to parents and professionals working with the child/young person. The post holder will be able to plan and provide a range of appropriate, evidence-based packages of care through individual and small group therapy as required.
The post holder will have knowledge of the national curriculum and will devise and provide individualised therapy targets which are dove-tailed with the educational curriculum and be able to practice clinical decision making to ensure that EHCP targets are functional, relevant and feasible.
You will be one of a team of 9 SLTs and 1 SLTA, delivering high quality and innovative therapy and teaching approaches to children with a primary communication need due to deafness, as well as those who have other additional needs as well as their deafness. We deliver clinical excellence through evidence-based packages of care.
You will require a range of experience as an SLT of working in Deaf education, including pre-school and primary aged, and across modalities. Level 2 BSL or Level 3 BSL is desirable.
In addition to organising and managing your own caseload, you will take the lead for some areas of service delivery, support and supervise less experienced therapists, and continue to build and maintain strong relationships with education colleagues, both in school and the Advisory Teachers in the community. You will receive regular supervision from the Clinical Coordinator in Deafness and you will have opportunities to work closely with colleagues within the team.
Experience and skills of supervision and support of speech and language therapist colleagues and trainee speech and language therapy students is essential.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications / Training
Essential
- Diploma, Degree or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy
- Registered Member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
- Health and Care Professions Council Registration to Practice
- Evidence of successful completion of a range of specialist short courses and other CPD in specialist area (e.g. CSD courses)
- Completed certification in BSL (British Sign Language) Level 2
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Highly developed clinical skills and post-graduate experience in the assessment, differential diagnosis and treatment of deaf children who present with a range of speech, language and communication difficulties
- Ability to carry out a range of assessments to support differential diagnosis and evaluation of progress
- Excellent Interpersonal skills with regard to individual client management (including empathy, observation and interview skills).
- Ability to negotiate and deal with conflict in a range of settings
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team including excellent communication, liaison, negotiation, and influencing skills
- Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member and assume leadership responsibilities
- Excellent analytical, reflective and problem solving skills
- Ability to present effective verbal and written reports for clients, carers, colleagues and managers
- Ability to organise and prioritise caseloads of junior colleagues, assistants and students
- Ability to train school staff to carry out communication aims with children with a range of difficulties
- Ability to assist in training SLTs developing a specialism in deafness
- Ability to work calmly under pressure and be flexible to demands
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 5 years' experience working with deaf children who present with a range of speech, language and communication difficulties
- Experience implementing a range of therapeutic interventions for deaf children in a range of settings
- Experience of planning and delivering therapy in small groups
- Extensive experience of training parents, teachers, TA's and students
- Experience of collaborative, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
- Experience of working with children with complex needs, including learning difficulties and challenging behaviour in addition to deafness
- Experience of carrying out assessment and differential diagnosis including complex disorders
- Experience of writing statutory assessment/EHCP advice
- Experience of providing support and 2nd opinions to SLT colleagues
- Experience of managing demand and setting priority criteria
- Experience of implementing the principles of clinical governance in clinical practice (e.g. clinical audits)
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant national policies, legislation and guidance relevant to clinical specialism
- Understanding of child protection procedures and responsibilities
- Understanding of statutory processes regarding education for children with special education needs
- Highly specialist knowledge of a range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate the speech, language and communication skills of deaf children with a wide range of communication needs
- Well established knowledge of issues in deafness regarding language and culture
- Ability to manage complaints and prevent escalation wherever possible
Desirable
- An ability to speak a non-European language
Knowledge
Essential
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant national policies, legislation and guidance relevant to clinical specialism
- Understanding of child protection procedures and responsibilities
- Understanding of statutory processes regarding education for children with special education needs.
- Highly specialist knowledge of a range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate the speech, language and communication skills of children with complex needs.
- Well established knowledge of a range of highly specialist therapeutic interventions relevant to clinical specialism
- Ability to manage complaints and prevent escalation wherever possible
Desirable
- An ability to speak a non-European language.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Able to motivate clients and carers to participate in treatment and carry out advice
- Ability to communicate complex information to parents /carers and other professionals in a variety of clinical situations.
- To be able to communicate effectively with children of all ages/abilities and their families.
- Able to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and tact.
- Ability to work as part of a broad multidisciplinary team and across organisations
- Able to deal with conflict successfully
- Good supervision and teaching skills
Other requirements
Essential
- Ability to take majority of leave in school holidays
- Accountability - Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working
- Openness - Shares information and good practice appropriately
- Mutual respect - Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications / Training
Essential
- Diploma, Degree or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy
- Registered Member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
- Health and Care Professions Council Registration to Practice
- Evidence of successful completion of a range of specialist short courses and other CPD in specialist area (e.g. CSD courses)
- Completed certification in BSL (British Sign Language) Level 2
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Highly developed clinical skills and post-graduate experience in the assessment, differential diagnosis and treatment of deaf children who present with a range of speech, language and communication difficulties
- Ability to carry out a range of assessments to support differential diagnosis and evaluation of progress
- Excellent Interpersonal skills with regard to individual client management (including empathy, observation and interview skills).
- Ability to negotiate and deal with conflict in a range of settings
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team including excellent communication, liaison, negotiation, and influencing skills
- Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member and assume leadership responsibilities
- Excellent analytical, reflective and problem solving skills
- Ability to present effective verbal and written reports for clients, carers, colleagues and managers
- Ability to organise and prioritise caseloads of junior colleagues, assistants and students
- Ability to train school staff to carry out communication aims with children with a range of difficulties
- Ability to assist in training SLTs developing a specialism in deafness
- Ability to work calmly under pressure and be flexible to demands
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 5 years' experience working with deaf children who present with a range of speech, language and communication difficulties
- Experience implementing a range of therapeutic interventions for deaf children in a range of settings
- Experience of planning and delivering therapy in small groups
- Extensive experience of training parents, teachers, TA's and students
- Experience of collaborative, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
- Experience of working with children with complex needs, including learning difficulties and challenging behaviour in addition to deafness
- Experience of carrying out assessment and differential diagnosis including complex disorders
- Experience of writing statutory assessment/EHCP advice
- Experience of providing support and 2nd opinions to SLT colleagues
- Experience of managing demand and setting priority criteria
- Experience of implementing the principles of clinical governance in clinical practice (e.g. clinical audits)
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant national policies, legislation and guidance relevant to clinical specialism
- Understanding of child protection procedures and responsibilities
- Understanding of statutory processes regarding education for children with special education needs
- Highly specialist knowledge of a range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate the speech, language and communication skills of deaf children with a wide range of communication needs
- Well established knowledge of issues in deafness regarding language and culture
- Ability to manage complaints and prevent escalation wherever possible
Desirable
- An ability to speak a non-European language
Knowledge
Essential
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant national policies, legislation and guidance relevant to clinical specialism
- Understanding of child protection procedures and responsibilities
- Understanding of statutory processes regarding education for children with special education needs.
- Highly specialist knowledge of a range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate the speech, language and communication skills of children with complex needs.
- Well established knowledge of a range of highly specialist therapeutic interventions relevant to clinical specialism
- Ability to manage complaints and prevent escalation wherever possible
Desirable
- An ability to speak a non-European language.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Able to motivate clients and carers to participate in treatment and carry out advice
- Ability to communicate complex information to parents /carers and other professionals in a variety of clinical situations.
- To be able to communicate effectively with children of all ages/abilities and their families.
- Able to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and tact.
- Ability to work as part of a broad multidisciplinary team and across organisations
- Able to deal with conflict successfully
- Good supervision and teaching skills
Other requirements
Essential
- Ability to take majority of leave in school holidays
- Accountability - Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working
- Openness - Shares information and good practice appropriately
- Mutual respect - Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
