Speech and Language Therapist

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity to join our expanding team in a Band 5 SLT development role. The successful candidate will have the opportunity of transitioning to a Band 6 specialist role within 18 months of joining the team, following an individualised development plan based on performance and clinical competencies.

You will work with mainstream school-age children and young people, providing assessment and therapy, with a supportive team of therapists and assistants. The integrated Bexley Joint Communication Team is made up of Therapists, Assistants and a Specialist Teacher (from Bexley Local Authority). The role also includes opportunities to deliver training, providing advice to schools and parents and delivering therapy.

You will have completed the NQP Goals and Competencies.

You will develop skills to support the development of junior members of the team and students. You will have a strong understanding of the role of SLT, be able to work autonomously, have high level communication skills, a flexible problem-solving approach and demonstrate you are efficient with your caseload and time management. You will have experience of using standardised SLT assessments, delivery of evidence based interventions.

Main duties of the job

To provide an assessment, diagnostic and treatment service for children referred to the Speech & Language Service within the Borough of Bexley.
To implement programmes in a variety of locations depending on need, including mainstream school settings.
To be responsible for the planning, delivery and evaluation of evidence-based therapy interventions to enable functional improvement. To monitor and review the progress of therapy programmes implemented and facilitate modifications of interventions/targets as appropriate.
To ensure maximum involvement of the client, family/carer, education staff and other professional staff where appropriate in planning care and the therapy programme.
To work with class teachers, SENCo and Teaching Assistants in promoting the child's speech, language and communication development through joint planning.
To support the establishment and development of standard service speech language and communication packages in the mainstream schools such as Chatterbox, Talk Boost, Speech and Language Link and BLAST.
To provide therapy planning and intervention within a multidisciplinary framework wherever possible, working alongside SLT Assistants, Advisory Teachers and Educational Psychologists.
To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessment seeking support and advice from supervisor where appropriate.

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.

We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

We're Kind
We're Fair
We Listen
We Care

Date posted

03 March 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,163 to £37,875 a year pa inc

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

277-5084029-CYP

Job locations

Speech and Language Therapy, Outpatients Department

Park Crescent

Erith

DA8 3EE

Job description

Job responsibilities

There is the opportunity for professional development, and the support of a team of therapists and assistants. You will have access to administrative, managerial and clinical support. Continuing professional development is supported and the development of clinical interests is encouraged.

The Bexley Childrens Speech and Language Therapy service offers a range of services with specialist teams across EYs, ASD, Hearing Impairment, Dysfluency, Specialist Resourced Provisions and SEMH. We work closely across teams to provide clinical support and second opinions. We also have opportunities to develop training skills to enhance skills and knowledge for staff working with children with SLCN.

To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice from supervisor where appropriate.
To manage and prioritise a defined caseload independently accessing planned supervision to support the process.
To manage and prioritise own workload, accessing planned supervision to support this process.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor
To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants, with the support of colleagues.
To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
To be aware of and adhere to service and team plans and policies.
To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
To supervise the work of assistants/therapy support staff/administration and clerical staff and learning support assistants.
To explain the role of Speech & Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate through mentoring, peer support, clinical and managerial supervision.
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
To participate in the co-ordination, development and delivery of training programmes and information packages for colleagues in health, education, voluntary sector organisations and parents/carers.
To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and implications of the same.
To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the clients, carers and colleagues when managing distressing situations such as child protection issues and exposure to terminal illness.
To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the appropriate management strategies.
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request 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.

COMMUNICATION

To communicate effectively and with empathy with the child, parents and carers to impart information regarding diagnosis and/or prognosis, treatment plans and predicted outcomes in an understandable format enabling children, parents and carers to be involved in the decision making process at the beginning of and throughout their care. Utilize specialised verbal and non- verbal communication skills where appropriate.

To apply advanced interpersonal skills to enable change within complex and multifaceted social/family situations regularly involving multicultural customs and language barriers.

To impart sensitive advice/information to health, social care and colleagues in education in the overall management of the child presenting with complex problems. This will include the preparation of reports for presentation at relevant Social Care, Educational and Medical Case Conferences including child protection issues, with guidance from senior therapists.

To respond to the requirements of relevant Education legislation by providing advice as part of any re-assessment process and taking part in Annual and Transfer Reviews as appropriate. To write detailed official reports regarding the childs Speech, Language and Communication and the Speech and Language Therapy advice for Education Health Care plans with the support of an experienced therapist. To ensure that reports (medical, statutory and legal) adhere to standards as stated by the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and local guidelines.

To ensure accurate, reliable and contemporaneous documentation of client electronic and manual records and that all administrative processes are maintained according to agreed policies.

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

To deal with initial verbal complaints sensitively in discussion with your line manager, avoiding escalation and attempting to resolve, following the Trusts complaints process.

To ensure the Trust policies relating to absence / leave are adhered to.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice from supervisor where appropriate.
To manage and prioritise a defined caseload independently accessing planned supervision to support the process.
To manage and prioritise own workload, accessing planned supervision to support this process.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor
To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants, with the support of colleagues.
To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
To be aware of and adhere to service and team plans and policies.
To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
To supervise the work of assistants/therapy support staff/administration and clerical staff and learning support assistants.
To explain the role of Speech & Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate through mentoring, peer support, clinical and managerial supervision.
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
To participate in the co-ordination, development and delivery of training programmes and information packages for colleagues in health, education, voluntary sector organisations and parents/carers.
To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and implications of the same.
To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the clients, carers and colleagues when managing distressing situations such as child protection issues and exposure to terminal illness.
To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the appropriate management strategies.
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request 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.

COMMUNICATION

To apply advanced interpersonal skills to enable change within complex and multifaceted social/family situations regularly involving multicultural customs and language barriers.

To ensure accurate, reliable and contemporaneous documentation of client electronic and manual records and that all administrative processes are maintained according to agreed policies.

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

To deal with initial verbal complaints sensitively in discussion with your line manager, avoiding escalation and attempting to resolve, following the Trusts complaints process.

To ensure the Trust policies relating to absence / leave are adhered to.

Person Specification

Registration

Essential

HCPC Registration
Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy Registration

Qualifications

Essential

Speech & Language Therapy Degree

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with children in any setting

Training

Desirable

Evidence of short courses

Person Specification

Registration

Essential

HCPC Registration
Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy Registration

Qualifications

Essential

Speech & Language Therapy Degree

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with children in any setting

Training

Desirable

Evidence of short courses

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).