Specialist Paediatric Speech & Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To provide speech and language therapy to a caseload of children and young people with language and communication difficulties in preschool, school, clinic and home settings as part of wider packages of care to support children and young people to participate fully in their family, school and community.

To provide assessment as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Work as a part of the speech and language therapy team providing supervision and support to less experienced colleagues and supporting the development of the service.

This role will involve managing a caseload within specialist areas of practice within the post holders scope of practice.

Key Accountabilities

To manage own caseloads in identified settings independently.

To work effectively as part of the service team, multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team.

To manage own time effectively and prioritise tasks appropriately.

In partnership with children/young people and carers to assess, evaluate, develop and implement individualised treatment plans for children/young people using advanced clinical reasoning skills, evidence based practice and utilising a wide range of therapeutic approaches.

To develop and implement specialist care packages identifying appropriate treatment from a range of options.

To explain complex condition related information to others and the consequent impact on the childs development and ability to learn. Some of this information may be distressing and this will require empathy.

To work closely with carers / parents / other professionals / children where appropriate, in the planning and prioritisation of therapy plans and programmes. This includes motivating others to participate in therapy intervention.

To complete reports and maintain clinical records in line with professional and organisational standards.

To attend relevant meetings and case conferences as required.

To be fully aware at all times of individual responsibility for safeguarding children/young people and to work effectively to meet national and local standards and procedures.

To demonstrate a working knowledge of CQC standards and Organisational policies and how they apply to everyday clinical practice.

To be responsible for a varied caseload of children and young people aged 0-18 years of age within the post holders agreed scope of practice, for example, voice work, fluency work, dysphagia work, work with children and young people with learning difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) work, Specific Language Impairment (SLI) work, Hearing Impairment work and/or Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) work.

To help to lead on teamwork, learning and development within the paediatric speech and language therapy team and to participate in that of the multidisciplinary team of which the service is part.

To communicate with a network of Education, Health and Social Care professionals and the voluntary sector.

Supplementary Accountabilities

To supervise, train, advice and support less experienced speech and language therapy staff, assistants, student speech and language therapists.

As an experienced practitioner to identify the needs of, plan, develop, co-ordinate and deliver training to the wider multidisciplinary team across Health, Education, Social Care services and the Voluntary sector.

To participate in the SBC staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development plans.

To participate in and lead on elements of the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, both individually and with the team and organisation.

To identify, recommend and work with the service manager and other team members on implementing improvements to service delivery and clinical practice, linking with the formulation and implementation of CQC and OFSTED service improvement plans and wider SBC standards for service provision and development.

Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in the areas of Paediatrics, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and groups of children and young people.

To ensure that a high standard of clinical practice and patient care is maintained and to ensure that other speech and language therapists in the team do likewise, through ongoing competency assessment and evaluation of treatment outcomes.

To be responsible for maintaining a professional development portfolio showing evidence of own competency to practice through all CPD activities.

To work closely with the therapists in preschool settings to prepare children and their parents for the transition of care from the community to the school setting as required.

To work with partner agencies on developing the transition of care primary to secondary school and into adult services.

To participate in safeguarding activities, training and support as required.

To participate in the assessment and provision of SEN support to children and young people as required.

Decision Making

Makes decisions about packages of specialist speech and language therapy care required by a child or young person

Makes decisions about when a referral to specialist care and or for safeguarding assessment is required

Make decision about the statutory level of support required for a child to meet SEN needs

Creativity and Innovation

Actively identify bespoke packages of speech and language therapy care to meet a child or young persons needs

Presentation of a variety of approaches to problem solving

Flexibility to meet the varying demands of the role

Contacts and Relationships (how the role relates to the work of others i.e. officers, groups, committees, general public, members, partner organisations, internal and external contacts of the council)

Working closely together with other members of the paediatric speech and language therapy team to provide seamless co-ordinated care to families.

Working closely with education, health and social care colleagues to ensure effective communication and connectivity in order to make better use of the resources, facilities, relationships and partnerships.

Other Key Features of the role (working environment / emotional / conditions i.e. regular outside work, unpleasant or hazardous conditions, practical demands such as standing, carrying or working in constrained positions, potential verbal abuse and aggression from people, or risk of injury)

Carry out assessments and treatments of paediatric conditions with moderate physical effort on a daily basis, including floor based activities and equipment.

Work alone in the environment patient homes, schools, nurseries and voluntary organizations, assessing and managing risk

To deal sensitively with children and families who have high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by the complexities of caring for a child with profound long term physical and or learning disabilities. These cases may be few in number but are very time consuming and emotionally demanding.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified Speech and Language Therapist current registration with the HCPC
• Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Experience

Essential

• To have a recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of caseload management
• Experience of communicating effectively in sensitive and challenging situations
• Either considerable experience at band 5 or previous experience at band 6

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.

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

Swindon Borough Council

Address

Wat Tyler House

Princes Street

Swindon

Wilts

SN1 2JG

Employer's website

https://www.swindon.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)