Job summary
Barnet CIT is taking part an exciting new project called Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC). We are forming a team of speech and language therapy assistants to deliver a service to children and families to support and develop communication skills. The team of assistants will be supported by senior speech and language therapists. The successful candidates will receive training and support to deliver screening assessments and interventions to children and provide training, modelling and coaching to school staff.
The role of the ELSEC Speech and Language Therapy Assistant is to provide universal and targeted clinical services to children and families as part of an integrated Early Language Support service in Barnet. This is a two-year pilot project, which has been funded by NHS England and the Department for Education.
ELSEC will test the impact of early identification and support for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in Early Years and Primary School Settings, over 2 academic years.
Main duties of the job
- To support the Children's Integrated Therapy Team staff to deliver services for children with communication needs according to departmental protocols.
- To help the team with both administrative, and clinical work, thereby supporting the smooth running of the team.
- To support children's integrated therapists in the role of early identification and prevention for children with therapeutic needs through observation, providing information, directing to services
- To deliver therapy activities or assessment screenings under the guidance of therapists, to individuals or groups of children and/or parents/staff in Clinics, Schools, Nurseries and Children's Centres reporting back progress and informing the Integrated therapy team.
- To be responsible for making resources, maintaining equipment, keeping clinical notes, and keeping clinical and office spaces in good condition.
- To be responsible for organising and prioritising your own work and adhering to Trust policies and procedures, especially in relation to child safeguarding.
- To have a duty to report any accident/incident via Trust procedures.
- To monitor and record children's progression towards therapy aims.
- To deliver planned training in Clinics, Schools, Nurseries and Children's Centres.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See attached job description for further information:
Clinical Skills
- Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.
- To develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.
- To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients under the supervision of an integrated therapist.
- To be able to screen and support plans of care to meet the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. This will include continuously evaluating and discussing outcomes with an integrated therapist and when appropriate carrying out observations and informal assessments (appropriate to skills and experience) to contribute to ongoing clinical decision making by the therapist.
- To be able to support referrals to other health professional specialist services and agencies.
- To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.
- To work frequently without direct supervision in a variety of community settings e.g. community clinics, nurseries, childrens centres, schools, homes, etc.
- To use judgement to modify and adapt activities to suit each situation.
Computer/Administration
- To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trusts IM&T Strategy.
- To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.
Communication
- To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care.
- To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust.
- To anticipate barriers to communication (internal and external) and take action to improve communication (in self and others)
- To develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations.
- To be able to communicate patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.
- Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision
- To be proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communication to meet needs of clients and others
Training
- To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
- To undertake, and assist, in the planning of own mandatory training and workshops.
- To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.
- To support new staff and their integration within the team and to actively provides learning and development opportunities to others
- To support training as part of the role including changes to professional development and implementation of new policies and guidelines.
Specific Tasks directly related to the post:
- To work alongside Speech and Language Therapists using a range of therapy/interventions
- To teach children and carers and staff in a variety of settings, providing direction and guidance, on a range of therapy and activities, as part of own clinical work or as directed as necessary by the integrated therapist.
- To use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate treatment programmes to children who may have barriers to communicating or understanding.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See attached job description for further information:
Clinical Skills
- Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.
- To develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.
- To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients under the supervision of an integrated therapist.
- To be able to screen and support plans of care to meet the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. This will include continuously evaluating and discussing outcomes with an integrated therapist and when appropriate carrying out observations and informal assessments (appropriate to skills and experience) to contribute to ongoing clinical decision making by the therapist.
- To be able to support referrals to other health professional specialist services and agencies.
- To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.
- To work frequently without direct supervision in a variety of community settings e.g. community clinics, nurseries, childrens centres, schools, homes, etc.
- To use judgement to modify and adapt activities to suit each situation.
Computer/Administration
- To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trusts IM&T Strategy.
- To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.
Communication
- To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care.
- To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust.
- To anticipate barriers to communication (internal and external) and take action to improve communication (in self and others)
- To develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations.
- To be able to communicate patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.
- Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision
- To be proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communication to meet needs of clients and others
Training
- To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
- To undertake, and assist, in the planning of own mandatory training and workshops.
- To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.
- To support new staff and their integration within the team and to actively provides learning and development opportunities to others
- To support training as part of the role including changes to professional development and implementation of new policies and guidelines.
Specific Tasks directly related to the post:
- To work alongside Speech and Language Therapists using a range of therapy/interventions
- To teach children and carers and staff in a variety of settings, providing direction and guidance, on a range of therapy and activities, as part of own clinical work or as directed as necessary by the integrated therapist.
- To use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate treatment programmes to children who may have barriers to communicating or understanding.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Relevant prior experience related to Job description and working with children
Desirable
- NVQ level 2/3
- Minimum of 5 GCSE's or equivalent
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Good organisational skills
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- At least two years experience working with Children and Young people
- Evidence of continued development and learning in a therapy area
- Ability to communicate with children with impaired communication,
- Able to demonstrate empathy and motivate children with impaired cognitive abilities or physical senses
Desirable
- General Knowledge of child development
Other
Essential
- To be aware and demonstrate the trust values
- To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
Demonstration of Trust Values
Essential
- Innovation
- Compassionate
- Accountable
- Respectful
- Excellent
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Relevant prior experience related to Job description and working with children
Desirable
- NVQ level 2/3
- Minimum of 5 GCSE's or equivalent
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Good organisational skills
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- At least two years experience working with Children and Young people
- Evidence of continued development and learning in a therapy area
- Ability to communicate with children with impaired communication,
- Able to demonstrate empathy and motivate children with impaired cognitive abilities or physical senses
Desirable
- General Knowledge of child development
Other
Essential
- To be aware and demonstrate the trust values
- To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
Demonstration of Trust Values
Essential
- Innovation
- Compassionate
- Accountable
- Respectful
- Excellent
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.
