Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly innovative and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our Mainstream Team. We are looking for a therapist who is passionate about working in Secondary and who thrives on sharing their knowledge and expertise with school staff to influence and enhance the every day school environment. The post holder will work alongside Occupational Therapy and local authority Outreach colleagues to contribute towards the development of the Universal Offer to schools, based on neurodivergent affirming principles, to support better educational, health, social and developmental outcomes for children and young people within Islington. A key part of this role will be assessing, reviewing, and writing recommendations for advice towards children and young people's Education Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs).
The post holder will also take a lead on collating data on activity and outcomes and preparing reports for the Local Authority and Integrated Care Board.
The post is based in Islington; an inner-London borough which is vibrant and diverse. The Mainstream Therapies Team provides a multi-disciplinary service for children with additional needs and disabilities. We are renowned for being a friendly and supportive team, as evidenced by winning the Whittington Health AHP Awards Team of the Year in 2023, for innovation, dedication, and supportive team environment.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for delivering a comprehensive and highly specialist therapy service consisting of assessment, diagnosis and intervention for individual children as well as providing a support service to schools themselves to enable them to meet the needs of all pupils with SLCN.
The post holder is an autonomous practitioner and is responsible for organising and managing their own timetable in various schools across the Borough, working from a central base. They will need highly specialist knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of developmental language disorders, and social communication difficulties including those associated with Autistic spectrum disorders and selective mutism. They will also need to be knowledgeable and experienced in assessing, treating and managing children who have associated syndromes or special educational needs which interact with their language development. This will include emotional and behavioural problems, ADHD, and syndromes such as Down's syndrome. They will require excellent written skills and ability to efficiently write high quality advice suitable to contribute towards a child's EHCP, as well as good data collection and analysis skills, to demonstrate outcomes.
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
CLINICAL 1. To demonstrate highly specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of language and communication problems in school aged children, with a wide range of language and communication needs, providing appropriate specialist intervention and evaluating outcomes 2. To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in this clinical area underpinned by current evidence-based practice and outcome measures 3. To take a clinical lead in an area of expertise for the Islington mainstream schools service area 4. To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients 5. To make appropriate differential diagnoses and highly specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases, including differential diagnoses 6. To use / apply specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management, developing clear care plans based on best practice 7. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness reflecting on evidence-based practice and outcome measures 8. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with a wide range of language and communication needs 9. To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist 10. To work closely with clients, carers and families, in order to agree plan of management 11. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible 12. To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties. 13. To employ excellent communication skills 14. To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and / or carers to engage in the therapeutic process 15. To employ counselling skills with patients, carers / clients with highly complex needs 16. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the childs difficulties and implications of the same 17. To demonstrate the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies 18. To monitor and review the progress of children and young people against the targets set and agreed, and to modify targets as appropriate 19. To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances 20. To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements, based on research and evidence based practice. 21. To develop the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness 22. To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service 23. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports reflecting highly specialist knowledge, ensuring that they meet departmental standards and are in line with local Trust Policy, best practice, and RCSLT professional standards 24. To demonstrate knowledge of current policies and practice in education and incorporate these into the model of working as appropriate 25. To manage and prioritise a complex and specialist caseload independently, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc 26. To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management 27. To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including statutory educational assessment 28. To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, recognising and resolving potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs 29. To ensure that children and young people are referred to other services as appropriate 30. To monitor and evaluate highly specialist service delivery and provide progress reports as required 31. To demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the issues associated with clinical governance and their application to professional practice. This will include compliance with / adherence to, and implementation of service and service area policies, National and Local guidelines and RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines and competency framework 35. To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks 32. To contribute to the local Trusts systems of clinical governance, developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others 33. To be accountable for professional action and recognising professional boundaries, and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct 34. To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals
Please see attached Job description for further details on role and responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL 1. To demonstrate highly specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of language and communication problems in school aged children, with a wide range of language and communication needs, providing appropriate specialist intervention and evaluating outcomes 2. To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in this clinical area underpinned by current evidence-based practice and outcome measures 3. To take a clinical lead in an area of expertise for the Islington mainstream schools service area 4. To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients 5. To make appropriate differential diagnoses and highly specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases, including differential diagnoses 6. To use / apply specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management, developing clear care plans based on best practice 7. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness reflecting on evidence-based practice and outcome measures 8. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with a wide range of language and communication needs 9. To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist 10. To work closely with clients, carers and families, in order to agree plan of management 11. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible 12. To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties. 13. To employ excellent communication skills 14. To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and / or carers to engage in the therapeutic process 15. To employ counselling skills with patients, carers / clients with highly complex needs 16. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the childs difficulties and implications of the same 17. To demonstrate the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies 18. To monitor and review the progress of children and young people against the targets set and agreed, and to modify targets as appropriate 19. To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances 20. To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements, based on research and evidence based practice. 21. To develop the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness 22. To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service 23. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports reflecting highly specialist knowledge, ensuring that they meet departmental standards and are in line with local Trust Policy, best practice, and RCSLT professional standards 24. To demonstrate knowledge of current policies and practice in education and incorporate these into the model of working as appropriate 25. To manage and prioritise a complex and specialist caseload independently, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc 26. To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management 27. To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including statutory educational assessment 28. To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, recognising and resolving potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs 29. To ensure that children and young people are referred to other services as appropriate 30. To monitor and evaluate highly specialist service delivery and provide progress reports as required 31. To demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the issues associated with clinical governance and their application to professional practice. This will include compliance with / adherence to, and implementation of service and service area policies, National and Local guidelines and RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines and competency framework 35. To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks 32. To contribute to the local Trusts systems of clinical governance, developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others 33. To be accountable for professional action and recognising professional boundaries, and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct 34. To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals
Please see attached Job description for further details on role and responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc. Speech Path or Equivalent (including Dip. CST)
- HPC licence to practise, and Registered member of RCSLT
- Successful completion of highly specialist/expert short courses relevant to field including DLD, ASD, education practice and learning difficulties
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Of a range of highly specialist assessment tools and procedures to evaluate communication, speech & language skills in children & Young People
- Knowledge of local cultural, linguistic & demographic factors affecting client management
- Of providing supervision to less experienced staff
- Writing complex statutory assessment reports and supporting less experienced staff to write complex reports
- Of highly specialist approaches to mentoring, advising, supporting and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
- Highly specialist approaches to support clients & carers with challenging behaviour, mental health needs or in high levels of distress
- Of highly specialist approaches to therapeutic interventions relevant to children & Young People
- Of the key characteristics leading to a differential diagnosis of language and communication difficulties
- Of selecting, setting & evaluating treatment goals
skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills
- Ability to work autonomously, acting decisively on behalf of self and others, setting own priorities
- Ability to keep and organise activity and outcome data, providing this when requested
Personal qualities
Essential
- Pro-active and self directed and able to take an innovative approach
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc. Speech Path or Equivalent (including Dip. CST)
- HPC licence to practise, and Registered member of RCSLT
- Successful completion of highly specialist/expert short courses relevant to field including DLD, ASD, education practice and learning difficulties
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Of a range of highly specialist assessment tools and procedures to evaluate communication, speech & language skills in children & Young People
- Knowledge of local cultural, linguistic & demographic factors affecting client management
- Of providing supervision to less experienced staff
- Writing complex statutory assessment reports and supporting less experienced staff to write complex reports
- Of highly specialist approaches to mentoring, advising, supporting and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
- Highly specialist approaches to support clients & carers with challenging behaviour, mental health needs or in high levels of distress
- Of highly specialist approaches to therapeutic interventions relevant to children & Young People
- Of the key characteristics leading to a differential diagnosis of language and communication difficulties
- Of selecting, setting & evaluating treatment goals
skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills
- Ability to work autonomously, acting decisively on behalf of self and others, setting own priorities
- Ability to keep and organise activity and outcome data, providing this when requested
Personal qualities
Essential
- Pro-active and self directed and able to take an innovative approach
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.
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).
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.
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).
