Highly specialist speech & language therapist - Early Years Team

Job responsibilities

To assess, develop and implement highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy intervention

To provide appropriate highly specialist intervention / assessment and evaluate outcomes.

To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children 0-19.

To facilitate relevant professionals/parents to carry out speech and language therapy programmes/strategies/advice

To monitor the effectiveness of speech and language therapy programmes/strategies/advice being delivered by other relevant professionals/parents and adjust as necessary

To make a differential diagnosis, including complex cases, on the basis of evidence from assessment.

To develop clear packages of care based on best practice and differential diagnosis and to use highly specialist clinical knowledge to inform case management.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.

To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in own highly specialist clinical area.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and supervisors and identify own strengths and development needs.

To manage caseload independently and to prioritise workload using highly specialist

To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek to resolve using highly developed negotiation skills, seeking further support from team leader if necessary

To ensure that children / young people, their families and schools / nurseries are involved in the planning and implementation of their care

To maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of children & their families, especially when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the childs difficulties and its implications.

To attend case conferences & core group meetings for children / young people on the caseload, where appropriate

To submit safeguarding reports to case conferences ad reviews

To record all concerns and discussions/supervision regarding safeguarding issues in Systmone clinical notes

To attend safeguarding supervision for all children / young people with a Child Protection Plan at least every 12 weeks

To provide safeguarding supervision (when trained) for team members on a rotational basis.

To work independently and to access clinical supervision sessions on a regular basis & actively contribute to own appraisal on an annual basis.

To collate evidence of professional development related to the RCSLT CPD log

To demonstrate highly developed negotiation skills across a range of issues and to negotiate with others around case management in highly complex cases.

To deal with complaints sensitively avoiding escalation where possible, and to inform the team leader in a timely fashion.

To communicate highly complex information from assessments and ongoing therapy to children / young people, families and other professionals.

To write outcome focused reports, and programmes/target sheets reflecting highly specialist knowledge which meet the needs of the child / young person

To support the development of, and adhere to, service plans and policies giving constructive feedback as appropriate.

To advise team leader on issues of service shortfall or pressure.

To assume delegated leadership responsibilities and tasks as requested by TL.

To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines.

To report all incidents in a timely fashion and access learning following incident investigation outcomes & complaints. Attend training to complete incident investigations.

To support other team members in the reporting of incidents in a timely fashion

To work within legal frameworks including: SEND reforms e.g Statutory EHCP assessments, London safeguarding procedures and policies.

To attend, contribute to and present at Team and Departmental meetings.

Qualifications

Essential

• oRecognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent (minimum of 2:2 or equivalent)
• oFurther training courses relevant to the post
• oAttendance at special interest group/ clinical excellence group
• oHealth and Care Professions Council licence to practice.
• o Registered member of relevant organisation eg Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and other relevant bodies
• o Successful completion of highly specialist/expert short courses including ASD, Education practice

Desirable

• oFirst class honours degree or equivalent
• oSuccessful completion of highly specialist advanced post graduate study at MSc or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• oExtensive experience of working in a mainstream/special school as a therapist
• oTraining and experience of working with children with eating and swallowing difficulties
• oExperience of working within multidisciplinary /multi-agency team. Detailed knowledge of multi-disciplinary team approaches
• oExperience of managing/supervising more junior staff and students and participating in appraisal
• oEvidence of continuing professional development
• oExperience of assessing children using the ADOS assessment too
• oExperience of working with other agencies
• oManagement experience, undertaking delegated departmental duties at Band 6 level or above

Desirable

• oExperience of leading audits
• oParticipate in research / evaluation of practice Knowledge of basic qualitative & quantitative research approaches and of the key elements of writing a research protocol.
• oLeadership of and /or [participation in a special interest group across disciplines

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• oAbility to prioritise and manage time effectively
• oAbility to mentor and support junior therapists and students promoting clinical excellence in self and others
• oAbility to clearly communicate assessment findings giving verbal and written reports that deliver complex information to carers, young people and other health professionals
• oKnowledge of advanced approaches to support clients & carers with challenging behaviour , mental health needs or in high levels of distress
• oDemonstrate knowledge of standards of practice and guidelines e.g. HCPC Professional Conduct Guidelines
• oDemonstrate an awareness of current legislation and act in accordance e.g. Child protection
• oImplementation of national initiatives and legislation relating to Health and Social Care in relation to children with developmental concerns and disabilitie
• oAbility to be actively involve in development and implementation of clinical policies and procedures.
• oEvidence of knowledge of conditions likely to be encountered in Community Paediatrics and their impact on a child's functional abilities, independence and development e.g. Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Co-ordination Disorders, ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Severe Learning Disabilities and Developmental Delay.
• oWorking knowledge and understanding of a highly specialist range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate the strengths and needs of young people (birth -19) who present with a wide range of needs (as relevant to professional discipline)

Other

Essential

• Be proficient in data management and information governance and comfortable with learning new clinical record keeping systems
• Demonstrate ability to analyse performance data and high quality performance reports
• Be computer literate with working knowledge and ability to use appropriate computer software

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).