Speech and Language Therapist

Job responsibilities

• To assess and evaluate children and their communication context.
• To develop appropriate communication targets, and mentor staff and parents in skill building and development of nurturing language learning environments.

• To provide information and advice to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication difficulties.
• To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.

• To ensure that patients and their families are involved in the planning of their care plans wherever possible.
• To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.

• To demonstrate skills in motivating clients, and adults supporting them.
• To contribute to interagency/MDT collaborative working.
• To manage and prioritise own caseload
• To employ clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and therapy outcome measures.
• To gather activity data accurately and regularly.
• To participate in risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.
• To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.

• To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge, including contributions to EHCPs.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust/agency policies.
• To share information with others observing data protection guidelines.
• To work with the team to continually evaluate service delivery and propose changes to working practices/procedures as appropriate.
• To collect and provide research data as required e.g. research for groups, own evidence-based practice, peer meetings, service development
• To supervise work of assistants and volunteers where appropriate.
• To supervise students on placement.
• To be a clinical supervisor for more junior therapists
• To be a mentor/ buddy for new staff.
• To participate in the development and delivery of training packages.

The post is city wide and the majority of appointments are school based. A significant amount of travel is therefore involved.

Candidates applying will need to demonstrate well-developed collaborative working practices and the ability to work flexibly and problem-solve at a high level. A good understanding of working within a culturally diverse demographic will also be required.

All sessions sit within the mainstream schools team where you are able to access support from clinical leads in a range of specialisms.

Inclusive Recruitment & Selection

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.

We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net

We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net

Trust Values

The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:

• Compassion leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect
• Accountability striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility
• Respect value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion
• Excellence delivering a high-quality standard of care

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Relevant professional qualification (1st degree level or equivalent)
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists and Health Professions Counci

Desirable

• 2:1 BMed degree, or Distinction at Masters level
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

• NQP competencies completed
• Experience of working independently post completion of NQP competencies.
• Experience of having worked with primary aged children from referral through to discharge across a range of clinical areas.
• Experience of working collaboratively with carers and educational professionals.
• Experience of providing reports and advice on client management to other health professionals, carers and non-specialist health colleagues
• Experience of writing EHCP reports and attending EHCP planning meetings

Desirable

• Experience of using System 1.
• Experience of using Communicate in Print software.
• Experience of the following clinical interventions and approaches: ? SCERTS ? Attention Autism ? PECS ? Core vocabulary ? Shape coding ? Cued articulation
• Experience of working with children at risk of exclusion

attributes

Essential

• Resilience in coping with a busy, complex caseload, and carers/ professionals who are under emotional strain.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• n depth knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions for relevant client groups and ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.
• Knowledge of national and local education and health policies and legislation relevant to client group, including the Sheffield Support Grid and Graduated Response
• Knowledge and understanding of universal, targeted and specialist provision
• Knowledge of professional and clinical guidelines relevant to the client group.
• Competent in use of IT for everyday communication and openness to learning new skills
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with an ability to manage specialist and complex caseload independently
• Excellent analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent presentation skills, oral and written
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, audit and required standards of record keeping.
• Understanding and use of evidence based practice
• Due to the requirement to undertake visits and transport non-portable equipment, the post holder is required to have access to their own transport

Desirable

• Knowledge of communication friendly classroom audits.

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).