Job summary
Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Preschool/ Acute
This post offers a great opportunity to join our highly skilled multi-disciplinary therapy team of Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists working with children with a range of speech, language and communication, eating and drinking difficulties and Special Educational Needs (SEN). as well as contributing to team training initiatives and other innovative project work.
The department offers:
- Easy access to specialists in all clinical areas
- Designated admin and planning time
- Defined acute/ preschool caseloads
- Involvement in innovative project work in acute and community settings
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be an autonomous practitioner providing a highly specialist speech and language therapy service to pre-school aged children with dysphagia, autism and complex needs in community settings and opportunities to develop highly specialist skills in the assessment and management ofinfants/children admitted to theAcute Ward (Jack's Place) and Neonatal Unit at Northwick Park Hospital with dysphagia and communication difficulties.
The post holder will work closely and collaboratively with the wider MDT and neonatal therapies team (medical staff, nursing staff, physiotherapy), with children/young people (CYP), with parents/carers and families and with colleagues in Health, Education, Social Services or with the therapy service in the child's local area to ensure best practice and implementation of SLT care plans and delivery of services to these specific client groups.
The post holder will contribute to departmental meetings, clinical audit/research and projects. They will provide advice and deliver training to other, professionals and parents/carers on all aspects of speech, language and communication. They will provide clinical education and training to Speech and Language therapy students and will supervise the work of SLTAPs.
About us
You will be joining a team of over 40 Paediatric Therapists offering access to specialists in all clinical areas, excellent support systems with personal appraisal, objectives and training plans designed to meet your specific needs/CPD requirements. Flexible working hours are available and flexibility within the role will be considered.
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification for main duties and responsibilities required in this post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification for main duties and responsibilities required in this post.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent and Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Health Professions Council registration - Licence to Practice
- Postgraduate training in Paediatric Dysphagia
- Evidence of completion of specialist short courses relevant to children with complex communication difficulties, special needs/disability
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Membership of relevant CEN groups
Desirable
- Neonatal SLT competencies
- Supervision training
- Advanced training up to Masters level equivalent in AAC, e.g. Signalong, PECS
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Proven extensive post-qualification experience working within paediatric dysphagia in under 5s
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Extensive post graduate experience of assessment, treatment and management of infants, children and young people with complex communication difficulties and dysphagia, physical difficulties and AAC, working with parents/carers and families, writing clinical notes and reports.
- Experience of writing advice for children with EHCP's, managing own caseload, teaching other professionals/parents, clinical audits, clinical supervision of SLTs and SLTAPs, teaching and supervising SLT students, leading audit/research projects
Desirable
- Experience of working within an acute setting with neonates and infants/children with dysphagia
Skills, Abilities and Attributes
Essential
- Good written and spoken English and competent IT skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and established negotiation and problem-solving skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills and well-developed concentration skills
- Good organisational skills and ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own workload and others
- Demonstrates ability to be a team player
- Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities
- Well-established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to infants/CYP with physical disabilities and speech, language and communication, eating and drinking difficulties.
- Well-established knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the above client group including alternative/augmentative communication systems available to CYP.
- Working knowledge of the roles: of other professionals in the multidisciplinary team involved with the Pre-School caseload and of other professionals and of the speech and language therapist in the acute setting
- Understanding of challenges of working with non-English speaking service users and those from diverse cultures
- Established knowledge of national policies and procedures, in particular safeguarding children, SEN and Disability act, for children, the children's bill and foundation stage and National curriculum's.
- Understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit.
Desirable
- Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to neonates and infants with complex medical difficulties
Other
Essential
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent and Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Health Professions Council registration - Licence to Practice
- Postgraduate training in Paediatric Dysphagia
- Evidence of completion of specialist short courses relevant to children with complex communication difficulties, special needs/disability
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Membership of relevant CEN groups
Desirable
- Neonatal SLT competencies
- Supervision training
- Advanced training up to Masters level equivalent in AAC, e.g. Signalong, PECS
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Proven extensive post-qualification experience working within paediatric dysphagia in under 5s
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Extensive post graduate experience of assessment, treatment and management of infants, children and young people with complex communication difficulties and dysphagia, physical difficulties and AAC, working with parents/carers and families, writing clinical notes and reports.
- Experience of writing advice for children with EHCP's, managing own caseload, teaching other professionals/parents, clinical audits, clinical supervision of SLTs and SLTAPs, teaching and supervising SLT students, leading audit/research projects
Desirable
- Experience of working within an acute setting with neonates and infants/children with dysphagia
Skills, Abilities and Attributes
Essential
- Good written and spoken English and competent IT skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and established negotiation and problem-solving skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills and well-developed concentration skills
- Good organisational skills and ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own workload and others
- Demonstrates ability to be a team player
- Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities
- Well-established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to infants/CYP with physical disabilities and speech, language and communication, eating and drinking difficulties.
- Well-established knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the above client group including alternative/augmentative communication systems available to CYP.
- Working knowledge of the roles: of other professionals in the multidisciplinary team involved with the Pre-School caseload and of other professionals and of the speech and language therapist in the acute setting
- Understanding of challenges of working with non-English speaking service users and those from diverse cultures
- Established knowledge of national policies and procedures, in particular safeguarding children, SEN and Disability act, for children, the children's bill and foundation stage and National curriculum's.
- Understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit.
Desirable
- Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to neonates and infants with complex medical difficulties
Other
Essential
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).
