Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

• To provide leadership and maintain a caseload within the speech and language service to Early Years and Dysphagia. A trained dysphagia therapist is desirable however it is not essential although, the successful applicant will be required to complete dysphagia training within the first 12 months.

CLINICAL

• To work within and adhere to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Practice, relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines.

• To demonstrate and support evidence based practise and development of processes and procedures within the special schools team, in conjunction with the Team Leader.

• To be responsible for all aspects of the management of an identified specialist caseload of children with complex communication needs. Including assessment, diagnosis, intervention, training for parents/carers and professionals, contribution to multidisciplinary team working, provision of EHCPs.

• To be responsible for the assessment and management of children presenting with feeding and swallowing difficulties following suitable qualification.

• To provide leadership and support to other SLTs within the team, including clinical supervision, second opinions and other support as deemed necessary.

• To participate and provide training and clinical supervision for the speech and language therapy team

• To take a leadership role within the Neurodevelopment Pathway in conjunction with the Team Leader.

• To undertake specialist assessment of children and young peoples social communication needs including ADOS assessments following suitable training.

• To complete detailed reports highlighting social communication concerns and to feedback professional findings at multi-disciplinary panel meetings, contributing to diagnoses.

• To be involved in the provision of support, guidance and information to parents and other professionals regarding speech, language and communication.

• To ensure the views of the child or young person are considered at all times.

• To participate in the clinical education of speech and language therapy students.

• To work in the community as a lone practitioner in line with the BTHFT lone worker policy.

• To provide support to the Team Leader and SLT Service Leader

COMMUNICATION

• To communicate information in accessible formats to parents / carers, children / young people and other professionals and agencies.

• To have an awareness of the systems and processes of other agencies in order to work collaboratively with these agencies.

• To refer children and / or families to other appropriate agencies as required.

• To demonstrate excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.

• To gain compliance of children & young people in their treatment when there may be significant barriers to understanding due to learning disability, behavioural and emotional problems and/or sensory loss.

• To facilitate and maintain effective two-way verbal and non verbal communication with children & young people, their parents / carers and other agencies to ensure understanding of the importance and relevance of speech and language therapy gaining the best outcomes for the child. This will need to take into account the level of understanding of the child and carers to ensure that information is communicated in accessible formats.

• To communicate complex and / or sensitive information in understandable form to parents / carers, which may be unwelcome or difficult to accept e.g. complex diagnoses, child protection matters.

• To communicate information effectively and work collaboratively with partner agencies and professionals in health, social services, education and the voluntary sector to ensure the protection of vulnerable children. This may include some sensitive information.

• To use IT to communicate via e-mail, to obtain info from the internet / intranet and to obtain / input data on information systems.

• To provide detailed professional reports (written and verbal) when required; including to multidisciplinary panels.

• To communicate effectively with other members of the paediatric speech and language therapy team, admin staff and Team Leader to ensure smooth and efficient delivery of the paediatric speech and language therapy service.

PROFESSIONAL

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work.

• To actively promote and ensure that all aspects of clinical management offered to children is of a high clinical standard and evidence based in line with professional codes of conduct and local policies and procedures.

• To ensure that clinical governance and risk management guidelines and policies are followed and to undertake appropriate risk assessments, taking follow up action as required e.g. completion of Untoward Incident Report form / reporting identified risks to supervising therapist etc.

• To assess capacity and gain informed consent to treatment working within the legal framework for children and young people in line with Trust policy and procedure.

• To actively engage in the Trust appraisal system and to undertake the actions within the Personal Development Plan identified from this appraisal.

• To demonstrate an ongoing commitment to continuing personal and professional development and to maintain an up-to-date portfolio of evidence of this work.

• To contribute to the education of support staff to enable them to develop competencies.

• To participate in the departmental clinical supervision process as both a supervisor and a supervisee.

• To evaluate and measure own practice through the use of outcome measures and audit, either individually or as part of a team.

• To work as lone practitioner in a variety of community settings within Trust policies and guidelines.

• To assist in the identification and promotion of evidence-based best practice and to participate in the development of evidence-based clinical pathways.

• To assist Team Leader and SLT Service Lead with aspects of service management across the speech and language therapay service e.g. triage, pathway development, development of evidence practice etc.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Honours Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered member of HCPC
• Attendance at relevant post-graduate training
• A demonstrable commitment to CPD activity with evidence of same.

Desirable

• Registered member of RCSLT
• Hanen "It Takes Two To Talk" certification
• Signing training
• PECS training

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Extensive range of paediatric experience post-qualification
• Experience in using a wide range of assessment tools & methods (formal & informal
• Significant experience of working with children with complex additional needs
• Experience of delivering group and individual therapy
• Experience of planning / delivering parent workshops
• Experience of formulating patient-centred treatment plans in conjunction with patients & carers.
• Experience of setting outcome-focussed therapy goals
• Experience in supporting and advising parents / carers & other professionals re: strategies to help children with communication difficulties
• Experience of contributing towards statements of SEN & EHCPs
• Experience of attending child and family centred meetings e.g. TAF / CAF / GIR
• Experience of delivering training to others (parents or professionals)
• Experience of working with speech and language therapy assistants
• Experience in the clinical education of speech and language therapy students
• Sound knowledge of current evidence based guidance in relation to children and young people with SEND including Autism
• Experience of working within special school or other additional needs settings

SKILLS / ATTRIBUTES

Essential

• Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills to include observation, active listening & empathy
• Excellent caseload management skills
• Sound knowledge of the elements of clinical governance & general NHS issues e.g. safeguarding, consent etc.
• Sound knowledge of current best practice within speech and language therapy for children with additional needs
• Ability to work alone as well as part of a team.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to use initiative
• Ability to lead within a given situation
• Ability to travel across the geographical area covered by the post.
• Flexible approach to therapy

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

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Annes Health Centre

Durham Ave

Lytham St Annes

FY8 2EP

Employer's website

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