Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communications

1. To work closely and often for extended periods with clients referred for SLT and with their families/carers; these clients will have a range of complex difficulties. Some clients will have additional needs such as hearing impairment, learning difficulties, psychological or emotional difficulties. Clients may not have English as their first language and interpreter services will be required.

1. To communicate to clients and their families/carers information about highly complex communication difficulties, to ensure they understand and consent to assessment and can participate fully in decision making regarding management. This may include giving unwelcome or difficult to accept information e.g. around the seriousness, implications or long-term nature of the difficulty.

1. To develop and use collaborative styles of working that emphasise interdisciplinary consultation and joint working, such as in educational context and with children with highly complex needs. To negotiate packages of therapy care with clients/carers who may initially be reluctant.

1. To provide written reports, presenting complex information in a clear and accessible way; reports may be provided to carers, schools, GPs, medical consultants and other AHPs. Verbal feedback is also frequently given to other professionals and SLT colleagues

1. To build and maintain good working relationships and communication with a wide range of other professionals within Health, Education, Social Services and other sectors.

Responsibility for Patient Care

1. To deliver quality, safe care for all patients; To autonomously manage a caseload of paediatric clients which will include children with complex and significant communication difficulties.

1. To independently identify assessment needs and carry out and interpret appropriate and detailed assessments of complex, specialist speech sound and phonological disorders. To make differential diagnosis on the basis of complex evidence from assessment; to assess the wider communication environment for clients e.g. school, home etc. The post holder will work in a range of settings, including clients homes, schools and clinics.

1. To identify and deliver specialist care plans for highly complex cases, seeking support as appropriate (e.g. team leader), and to use discretion in generating and implementing appropriate strategies for caseload management. To evaluate the outcomes of SLT intervention using measurable, specific outcomes, to review management and adapt care plans accordingly.

1. To demonstrate reflective practice, reflecting on practice both independently and with peers; to demonstrate problem-solving skills in a peer-review/support context and identify own strengths and opportunities for development.

1. To provide specialist advice to clients, carers, school staff, Allied Health Professional (AHPs), medical staff and others regarding the management/treatment of patients with communication difficulties.

1. To direct clients/carers to appropriate voluntary agencies and external services for support and information.

1. To assist patients/service users/carers/relatives during incidental contacts.

1. To organise own workload effectively, prioritising tasks and planning ahead by setting both long/short-term goals for children with complex Speech, language and communication needs.

1. To work with Speech and Language Support Assistants and junior members of staff providing programmes of therapy to be used with individual clients and supervising their implementation.

1. To organise and plan own day to day workload or activities in order to meet the demands of the job role.

1. To delegate lesser complex cases to junior members of staff with support and mentoring when needed

1. To monitor and maintain equipment and stock kept for own use; this will include test materials and disposables, therapy materials, audio and video recording equipment.

1. To ensure any equipment or material that is loaned to clients or families is safe, well maintained and appropriately used.

1. To ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, resources and consumables at all times.

1. To be familiar with and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures, including mandatory training.

1. To be familiar with and adhere to national and local clinical guidelines. To develop and implement policies and procedures in paediatric speech and language therapy.

1. To ensure attendance at all mandatory training and to attend regular staff meetings with at least 75% attendance.

1. To be aware of, comment on and/or actively participate in changes on policies, procedures or service developments.

1. To oversee development of own specialist pathway, evaluate effectiveness and link in with the whole SALT department and wider MDT working.

1. To embrace and support line management and the department in making service improvements effective within the workplace.

1. To be aware of and observe all HR policies and know where to access these. To provide leadership, supervision and management to other members of the team; undertaking additional training as appropriate e.g. carrying out PDRs.

1. To support new or less experienced work colleagues

1. To act as clinical supervisor for SLT undergraduate students.

1. To participate in the training and induction of SLTs, assistants/ volunteers.

1. To deliver and develop specialist training (e.g. AAC training, Speech Sounds training) in settings (nurseries, schools, SLT department) to AHPs, carers, schools staff, childminders etc.

1. To act as mentor for newly qualified staff and contribute to their RCSLT Competency Framework; to provide advice and support to assistants and volunteers.

1. To offer second opinions and support junior member of staff for more complex cases

1. To maintain comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date case notes for clients, adhering to professional and PCT standards.

1. To undertake data collection as required by the PCT and submit timely and accurate data as required; this will include information about patient contacts, caseload figures and activity levels.

1. To undertake and participate in surveys/ audits as required by the SLT co-ordinator or manager.

1. To participate in and submit data for research being carried out by others, e.g. university research projects; this is unlikely to be a regular or frequent requirement of the post.

1. To reflect on own practice, identifying areas of strength and need; to be aware of the value of formal clinical supervision and to participate in formal and/or informal supervision.

1. To keep up to date with emerging evidence bases to support assessment and planning for children with Speech sound disorders; To be willing to access specialist training to develop own clinical skills and knowledge

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised SLT degree qualification or equivalent
• Health and Care Professions Council Registration and full Registered Membership of RCSLT
• NQP competencies completed

Desirable

• Relevant post-graduate training/courses

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions appropriate to the client group/s
• Post-graduate professional development

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience as a qualified SLT working in a range of settings and with different client groups.
• Experience of administration and organisation for caseload management
• Experience training parents/carers and a range of professionals.

Desirable

• Experience of coaching or line management of staff including basic HR tasks
• Will have been involved with previous service improvements

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent verbal communication, both written and spoken
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Ability to carry out detailed assessments, differential diagnosis and development of care plans for children with complex and significant SLCN
• Excellent organisational skills, including ability to prioritise
• Evidence of well-developed analytical and reflection skills
• Willingness to undertake further clinical and professional training
• Excellent keyboard and IT skills

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rowan House

Grange rd South

Hyde

SK14 5NU

Employer's website

https://www.tamesidehospital.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)