Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To deliver high quality support and guidance to Southend mainstream schools and settings to develop their universal and targeted provision for children and young people with speech language and communication needs.

To supervise a team of speech and language therapy assistants delivering targeted services to schools

To monitor and develop universal and targeted support for schools including data capture and reporting.

To contribute to service and policy development.

Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities

This will involve:

Provide regular supervision and line management to the speech and language therapy assistant team to ensure effective practice, encourage reflection, and support career development.

Participating in training programmes and associated work experiences to facilitate progression opportunities.

Coordinate caseloads and allocate resources effectively to ensure timely and high-quality service delivery.

Foster a positive and supportive team culture, promoting collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

Use a range of evidence and performance data to refine and improve future service design.

Support the creation of innovative projects aimed at improving outcomes and support for children and young people with SLCN.

Maintain accurate and up to date records of intervention and outcome measures.

Deliver training sessions and workshops to school staff, parents and care givers on strategies to support SLCN development in children.

Provide guidance and support to teaching staff and teaching assistants in implementing speech and language therapy techniques within the classroom setting.

Work with schools and settings to promote better understanding and improvements to support systems, learning environments, curriculum adjustments and approaches aimed at improving outcomes and the educational experience for children and young people with SLCN. Provide universal and targeted support to schools and settings, children and young people with SLCN, and their families.

To work closely with Specialist Teaching Service and other learning service areas to monitor and evaluate the impact of outreach provision to ensure it meets individual and local needs.

Maintain current knowledge and expertise in government legislation and guidelines pertaining to schools, children, and young people with SEND, as well as their families, and effectively communicate this information as necessary.

Collaborate closely with schools, children, young people, and their families to address educational challenges, ensuring accurate identification of service requirements, valuing their perspectives, and actively engaging them in enhancing future service design.

To implement and understand the services complaints procedure, to deescalate and manage initial complaints from families, carers, and other professionals.

Work within Southend City Councils safeguarding policy and framework. Monitor and manage potential risk within area of responsibility. Employees should be aware of and are required to act in such a way that promotes the health and well-being of children and young people with SEND and vulnerable learners.

This Job Description is a guide to the level and range of responsibilities the post holder will be expected to undertake. It is neither exhaustive nor inclusive and may be subject to changes to meet legislative requirements in relation to the SEND Code of Practise, changing circumstances and business demands of the service.

You are expected to operate flexibly to support delivery of services and from time to time will be required to undertake responsibilities outside the normal remit of your role description as required by the line manager, which are broadly commensurate with the job level and scope of competence.

These duties will be subject to regular appraisal and any amendments will be made in consultation and agreement with the post holder.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registration with Health Professions Council as a speech and language therapist.
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
• Registered member of RCSLT.

Desirable

• Membership of relevant CEN

Experience

Essential

• Working with children and young people with speech language and communication needs in educational settings
• Clear, advanced clinical reasoning based on evidenced-based practice within paediatrics.
• Specialised knowledge of SLCN in mainstream schools
• Experience of training school staff and assistants and skills in presentation to deliver both formal and informal training.
• Working collaboratively with parents/carers and other professionals
• Knowledge and experience of assessment (including standardised) and treatment techniques in paediatrics.
• Experience of service development
• Experience of offering clinical supervision
• Evidence of team/leadership responsibilities
• Experience of undertaking appraisal and planning CPD for less experienced staff
• Specialised knowledge of assessment tools, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
• Demonstrate clear clinical reasoning based on evidence-based practice.
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit
• Understanding and application of standards of record keeping and reporting.
• Working knowledge of the roles of other professionals in Health, Education and Social Care involved with CYP.
• Demonstrates well developed ability to analyse and reflect upon complex information.
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Evidence of excellent organisational skills
• Prioritisation skills
• Able to work independently as an autonomous practitioner.
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities.
• Negotiation, problem solving concentration, analytical and reflection skills.
• Demonstrate advanced skills in prioritisation, communication, and time management.
• Good interpersonal skills which reflect the Values and Behaviours of Southend City Council.
• Able to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity in all circumstances.
• Evidence of commitment to equality and diversity.
• Ability to travel to meet the needs of the post.
• Advanced computer skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registration with Health Professions Council as a speech and language therapist.
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
• Registered member of RCSLT.

Desirable

• Membership of relevant CEN

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).