Speech and Language Team Manager

Job responsibilities

The speech and language therapy Team Manager is responsible and accountable for the strategic, operational and professional management and leadership of the speech and language therapy service to children and young people with EHCPs in Redbridge.

The post holder will ensure coordinated and effective provision of SALT services. They will demonstrate by example excellent clinical practice exhibiting advanced clinical skills including assessment, differential diagnosis and provision of second opinion.

The post holder is responsible for recruitment, performance appraisal, performance management and instigating disciplinary procedures and mentoring process within the SALT service.

The post holder will ensure effective resource management within the department.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Management

To be accountable for and take the strategic lead for the speech and language therapy service ensuring the service is effective and works collaboratively to provide care for children and families with EHCPs in Redbridge.

To ensure that service plans and policies are developed and implemented collaboratively

To take a lead on the development and implementation of a range of objectives or projects relating to the integrated SALT Service, ensuring that these reflect local education priorities and demographic drivers.

To write service reports, providing appropriate information, action plans and methodology for evaluating outcomes, reflecting national and local strategic priorities for the client group in liaison with Head of Therapies.

To demonstrate established negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations, which may involve diffusion of hostility and aggression

To co-ordinate and develop cohesive care pathways/protocols, ensuring they are equitable to the children of Redbridge and consistent across the SALT service

To advise the Head of Therapies on issues of service delivery including demand and capacity gaps

To implement and enforce robust systems of data collection and analysis reflecting the full range of activity of the service accurately and regularly

To identify the need for, and lead on interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development. e.g.: multi-professional working in special schools

To be responsible for the audit and procurement of equipment across teams ensuring that these are within available budget

The post holder is responsible for recruitment, induction, performance appraisal, performance management and instigating disciplinary procedures and mentoring process within the SALT service.

To be responsible for performance appraisal systems for all staff within the service

To be responsible for staff development via the Knowledge and Skills framework and ensure that staff are undertaking necessary levels of CPD in order to maintain professional registration with the Health Professionals Council and RCSLT

To ensure the learning needs of staff and skill mix reflect service and organisational priorities, and commissioning specialist training as appropriate

To develop the management skills of Band 7 SALTs

Clinical leadership

To lead clinical practice by example exhibiting advanced clinical skills including assessment, differential diagnosis, second opinions and designing and implementing treatment programmes.

To hold a small statutory caseload one full clinical day per month as minimum

To make expert clinical decisions following assessment of complex cases and to communicate these decisions across professional and organisational boundaries as appropriate.

To demonstrate advanced skills in dealing with complex issues, generating appropriate strategies for caseload management.

To demonstrate ability to reflect on all aspects of the childs communication and to identify appropriate strategies to enhance communicative effectiveness.

To develop care plans that take into account a range of factors including evidence, best practice and views of the child and others involved with child.

To adapt practice sensitively to meet individual families circumstances, showing due regard for cultural and linguistic differences, emotional state and need for knowledge.

To ensure the delivery of high-quality care packages to be delivered by specialist and other non-specialist staff (e.g. teachers, Early Years staff). Excellent interpersonal skills will be required in leading and motivating other staff groups.

To maintain up to date, accurate and contemporaneous case notes in line with the RCSLTs professional guidelines and local Trust policies.

To provide expert advice to parent/carers and other professional colleagues regarding the difficulties of children on the caseload.

To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist (e.g., English not being the language spoken at home, clients with severe communication difficulties, parents /carers with learning disabilities).

To provide training to parents/carers and other professional colleagues as appropriate, adapting training so that it meets the needs of course participants

To recognise potential conflict, demonstrating a high level of negotiation and problem-solving skills.

To co-ordinate a programme of research/clinical governance /audit projects within area of specialist expertise.

To facilitate and organise student placements according to each universities specifications

Human Resources

To provide line management and supervision to the SALT team

The post holder is responsible for recruitment, induction, performance appraisal, performance management, disciplinary procedures and mentoring process within the SALT team

To be responsible for staff development and ensure that staff are undertaking agreed levels of CPD in order to maintain professional registration with the Health Professionals Council and RCSLT

To ensure the learning needs of staff and skill mix reflect service and organisational priorities.

To ensure staff complete statutory and mandatory training as required.

To co-ordinate and deliver core and specialist training across a range of subjects and clinical specialism, ensuring that this is available to all staff.

To ensure that staff within service area understand and maintain required standards of case notes and recordkeeping in line with Speech and language therapy professional standards and local policies.

To facilitate others problem-solving skills within clinical mentoring and learning networks.

To participate in meetings as required

Performance and Information Management

To lead on performance and activity management, meet reporting deadlines, analyse data and compile monitoring reports / information to the Local Authority in the management of the services performance

To maintain and ensure use of electronic / manual recording systems in use within the department.

To review and manage service productivity, taking necessary actions to ensure local / national targets are met

To advise the Head of Therapies on issues of service delivery including demand capacity gaps

Governance

To ensure that robust systems of governance, quality improvement and risk management are in place within the services.

Support the investigation of complaints/incidents/enquiries and near misses and that issues arising from the investigation are suitably addressed and also used as an opportunity to improve and learn within services

Ensure robust systems of information management are in place

Ensure that breaches of Governance standards are dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner in accordance with relevant policies

This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However the duties of the post may change and develop over time and this job description may, therefore be amended in consultation with the postholder.

All employees of the Council should undertake and conduct their work with due regard to the corporate accountabilities (available on the Redbridge Council website). These include responsibilities for outcomes regarding Equality, Conduct & Behaviour, Health & Safety, Data Protection, Safeguarding and Customer Care.

The key responsibilities and duties of the role are neither exclusive nor exhaustive. All workers 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 role description as required by the line manager, which are broadly commensurate with the job level and scope of competence.

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum education/ qualifications:Professional Speech and language therapy qualification as recognised by the HCPC
• Current HCPC registration.
• Current RCSLT membership.
• Evidence of CPD
• Extensive Speech and language therapy practice experience in an education or health setting.

minimum behaviours

Essential

• General-:
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting.
• Ability to manage time and caseload effectively on an independent basis.
• Self-confidence and flexibility.
• Ability to supervise students.
• Ability to supervise Therapists and Assistants.
• Communicating and influencing others-:
• Ability to persuade and influence others.
• Ability to adapt communication styles to effectively and relevantly interact with a range of audiences e.g other professionals, parents, young people, etc.
• Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills in accordance with professional standards and guidelines
• Demonstrated skills in communicating highly complex, delicate or personal information where there are issues of how and what to convey.
• Demonstrated skills in effectively communicating as part of inter/multidisciplinary team.
• Working together-:
• Collaborative approach.
• Able to work with class teachers, school leaders and governors.
• Proactive approach to problem solving, involving all parties in decision making to support identified children and young people.
• Analysis and judgement-:
• Knowledge of SEND Code of Practice.
• Ability to assess classroom and whole school situations.
• Ability to use data to support decisions.
• Ability to interpret and use specialised assessment data to form a profile of learning needs and strengths.
• Driving improvement-:
• Evidence of delivering service improvement in an educational context.
• Adaptability-:
• Creative and flexible approach.
• Evidence of changing and adapting approaches in light of events
• Leadership and managing people (for those with line management responsibility)
• Ability to supervise and lead others
• Ability to lead team meetings
• Ability to communicate and implement change
• Ability to monitor systems and make plans for improvement
• Leadership and managing people (for those with line management responsibility) -:
• Ability to supervise and lead others
• Ability to lead team meetings
• Ability to communicate and implement change
• Ability to monitor systems and make plans for improvement

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of managing staff
• Experience of advising/providing second opinions.
• Experience of undertaking appraisal and planning CPD for less experienced staff.
• Experience of developing and delivering core and specialist training
• Experience of presenting to a range of audiences, including service users, professionals and at conferences
• Evidence of in depth experience in specialist area including active networking with other specialists regionally and nationally
• Experience of evidence-based practice and research methodology, including research methodology
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of national policies and procedures relevant to childrens services
• In depth and expert knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
• In -depth knowledge of assessment tools
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance /audit
• Understanding of multi-agency working and the roles of other professionals
• Knowledge of local and professional standards and policies
• Thorough knowledge of structure and working practices of the local authority
• Proven leadership skills
• Excellent negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrates advanced analytical and reflection skills
• Exceptional concentration skills
• Excellent ability to work as key member of a multi-professional team
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills and an ability to manage team dynamics
• Highly developed presentation skills, both written and verbal including the use of IT systems
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Specialist clinical technical skills relevant to the specialist area of practice acquired through advanced training and significant experience
• Ability and willingness to travel around the Borough and beyond as required

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).