Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Evelina Community

We are looking for a Band 6 speech and language therapist to come and join our ever expanding Children’s Community Speech and Language Therapy team. We are a department that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workforce. We value difference and welcome everyone.

We have a team of innovative, enthusiastic clinicians, delivering a range of Speech and Language Therapy services in partnership with parents, Education, Health colleagues, Social Services, Local Authority, Youth Offending Services and the voluntary sector working across Lambeth & Southwark.

We currently have afull-time permanent post available for a Band 6 speech and language therapist, split across our Schools and Early Years & Community teams.

In Schools, we have a wide variety of settings available across primary, secondary, special school and further education. Work will be focused on working collaboratively with education staff, supporting the development of functional communication, successful transition within and between settings, promoting the importance of self-esteem, independence skills, choice and decision. We have settings in Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth and Croydon that commission our school service.

TheEarly Years & Communityteam is focused on input to community clinics, children's centres, and nurseries. You will work as part of a cluster of therapists across a geographical area delivering universal, targeted and specialist work.

As a specialist therapist, you will be expected to be involved in service development work with support from senior therapists and departmental Clinical Leads.

We provide separate line management and clinical supervision to ensure strong clinical performance and development opportunities. Experienced specialist therapists may be involved in clinical supervision to junior colleagues (with support from Leadership) and offer second opinions to colleagues as needed.

The Children & Young People's Community Speech & Language Therapy department is part of Evelina London Children's Healthcare, within Guy's and St Thomas'.

The service provides specialist advice, assessment & intervention for children with Speech, Language & Communication Needs /Eating & Drinking difficulties (0-25years) in clinics, children’s centres, child development centres, early years settings, schools, colleges & within the home.

**We can offer you**:

- Varied and interesting work with a diverse population
- A professionally led, data and evidence based service
- Excellent supervision and support, alongside a commitment to learning and development
- Separate line management and clinical supervision to ensure strong clinical performance and development opportunities
- A range of training and shadowing opportunities
- Mobile and flexible home-working supported by 4G enabled laptop/device and smartphone
- Yearly opportunity to be considered for Sessions swaps to different clinical areas
- Support from a friendly and sociable team - including a team choir, craft and other activities
- Access to a full range of health and wellbeing activities within the Trust, e.g. sports and social club, swimming pool, Cycle to Work scheme, psychological support

Duties and Responsibilities
- Professional / Clinical responsibilities
1. To assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy intervention programmes to meet the needs of clients; adapting practice based on individual clients’ or families’ circumstances and outcomes, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences
2. To develop information and resources for clients, families and relevant others regarding the management and care of clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties
3. To write comprehensive reports to be shared with families and a range of professionals, reflecting specialist knowledge
4. To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice
5. To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management
6. To implement care pathways and recommend changes in practice as appropriate
7. To identify and make appropriate onward referrals to other agencies
8. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
9. To raise local awareness of the importance of developing communication skills within service area.
10. To identify training needs and to develop, provide and evaluate appropriate specialist training to parents, carers, volunteers, educators and practitioners.
11. To participate in and contribute to projects, activities and events including attendance at team meetings
12. To establish appropriate partnerships with agencies and disciplines which are seeking to promote social and educational inclusion for children with speech, language, and communication difficulties.

Management and Leadership
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