Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

To implement individual and group interventions as recommended by the Speech and Language Therapists, making modifications using own initiative as necessary to suit childs needs and environment

To decide on appropriate activities to meet the aims of individual or group interventions. To modify and use supports as necessary for the child or group.

To work independently giving advice about therapy programmes to parents and education staff

To record activity within sessions in case notes, written and electronic.

To provide advice to others regarding the intervention plan of children with developmental difficulties, within your boundaries of competence

To contribute to discussion about the effectiveness of provision by using outcome measures

To contribute to reports and programme planning taking into account child strengths and needs

To adapt practice to meet individual child and education circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences and mode of communication including signs and symbols

To ensure that child and/or their families views are communicated to the therapist /Advisory teacher for consideration in future management plans

To participate in intensive therapy courses as required

• Policy/service development/implementation

To be aware of and adhere to service and team plans and policies

To comment on proposed service/policy developments as appropriate

To attend Team meetings and any relevant meetings as directed by supervising therapist/advisory teacher

• Financial and physical resources

To monitor stock levels in own service area and discuss with the Therapists requests for new equipment as appropriate

To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients

To make resources to support intervention for individual children and settings they attend

• Human resources

To guide the work of less experienced Assistants working with clients with therapeutic needs on a day to day basis through demonstration of activities, observation, advice/support and training as appropriate

To participate in student placements for Therapists and other professions as appropriate

To explain the role of Therapy Assistants to visitors, students and volunteers

To participate in the induction of new Paediatric Therapists and Assistants

• Information resources

To contribute to up to date and accurate case notes in line with professional standards and local trust policies

To observe data protection guidelines in sharing information with others

To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines as requested

• Research and development

To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects

To collect and provide research data as required

• Freedom to act

To work within a management plan guided by a Therapist/Advisory teacher making modifications using own initiative to suit clients needs and circumstances

To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct

To work under the supervision of a Therapist accessing appraisal within a Personal and Professional Development Review Framework at pre-determined intervals

1. b) KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Communication and relationship skills

To contribute to multi disciplinary and uni disciplinary teams by discussing own input around clients needs

To communicate communication related information to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions through the implementation of a management plan devised by a Therapist

To work with other professionals within health, education and the voluntary sector contributing to the National and Local objectives

To work closely with clients, carers/families and other professionals, contributing to decision making/target setting relevant to the patient/client management

To attend case conferences/discussions/educational reviews and other multi-disciplinary meetings to provide information related to the implementation of the management plan devised by a Therapist/Advisory teacher

To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist using a range of augmentative communication eg signs and, symbols as appropriate

To develop skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic and developmental process

To develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations

To deal with complaints following the Trusts Complaints Process passing onto a Therapist

To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties

To attend staff meetings, team meetings and other meetings within the Therapy Services/other teams as appropriate

To employ excellent communication skills

• Knowledge, training and experience

To demonstrate an understanding of child development and apply to daily care of children

To demonstrate/develop knowledge of specific therapeutic techniques and develop skills to assist/carry out these techniques under the supervision of a therapist/Advisory teacher

To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan developed within an appraisal framework

To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain skills and knowledge required of a Therapy Assistant working in the field of children with speech, language and communication needs

To participate in the development and delivery of training (formal and informal) to others with support from the Therapist

To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in the field of children with disabilities and additional needs

To attend relevant courses and meetings

To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, Special Educational Needs procedures

• Analytical and judgmental skills

To develop the ability to reflect on relevant aspects of the childs development and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance functional effectiveness using support from a Therapist as appropriate

To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and take steps to resolve it, seeking advice from a Therapist when necessary.

To contribute to the development of clear care/management plans based on best practice

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor

To contribute to the evaluation of training provided

• Planning and organisational skills

To arrange appointments in order to maintain an effective service

To plan activities to meet the aims of the management plan devised by the Therapist making modifications using own initiative as appropriate

• Physical skills

To demonstrate auditory, perceptual and physical skills related to individual client intervention making modifications using own initiative as appropriate

1. c) EFFORT AND ENVIRONMENT

• Physical effort

To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of children/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others

• Mental effort

To maintain concentration in all aspects of patient intervention for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients development, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.

To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions

• Emotional effort

To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers in particular when discussing distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and implications of the same

To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies

• Working conditions

To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis

To develop appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the workplace

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• oClinical experience of speech, language communication in clinical and educational

Training courses attended

Essential

• Attended training courses relevant to post

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrates basic knowledge of SLCN and SLT interventions

Desirable

• Experience of training others

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications outlined as essential in PS

Desirable

• Child development/education provision qualifications

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sites within the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Greenwich

SE18 3RG

Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)