Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Due to additional funding, Camden Language and Communication Service (CLCS) are pleased to be able to advertise for a highly skilled and innovative speech and language therapist with extensive experience, to join our unique jointly commissioned team of speech and language therapists and specialist language and communication teachers. This post is offered as a full-time permanent post. People seeking a part-time pattern of working are also very welcome to apply.

CLCS are based in a large, light modern office in Netley campus near Euston and Warren Street stations. All maintained Camden Primary schools have access to this team who provide support at universal, targeted and specialist levels. Speech and language therapists are sited with their educational colleagues to enable continuity and coordinated support. CLCS is dedicated to developing a sustainable and effective service model that puts effectiveness and impact as the focus for client contact. We support children with Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs), Exceptional Needs Grants (ENGs) and also those without additional funding.

As well as providing highly specialist clinical work, the post holder will also be responsible for supervising colleagues, and supporting the Clinical Coordinator(s) to operationally manage the speech and language therapy team and respond to key priorities and team targets.

This post is diverse, interesting and flexible. It is likely that you may be working over different settings throughout the week, so adaptability is important.

Camden Children’s Speech and Language Therapy team are a well-established service with a good reputation for providing a quality service to our clients alongside a friendly team and workplace. The Camden Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service is part of the wider Speech and Language Therapy Service across Camden, Islington, Haringey and Barnet - managed by Whittington Health. Our service places a strong emphasis on personal and professional development, providing regular supervision and support.

Camden is a central London borough that has a culturally and socially diverse population, including vulnerable populations that require additional support and understanding. It is a vibrant place to work, with access to great amenities, transport links and links with the Speech and Language Therapy Departments at City University and University College London.

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.

The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

CLINICAL

To demonstrate highly specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of speech, language and communication difficulties in children.

To take a clinical lead as required within this within the team

To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in these clinical areas underpinned by current evidence based practice and outcome measures.

To make appropriate diagnoses and highly specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases, including differential diagnoses.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness reflecting on evidence based practice and outcome measures.

To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.

To work closely with clients, carers and families, in order to agree plan of management.

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible

To demonstrate excellent communication skills.

To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.

To employ counselling skills with children, carers/families with highly complex needs.

To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children with special and complex needs and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the client’s difficulties and implications of the same.

To monitor and review the progress of children and young people against the targets set and agreed, and to modify targets as appropriate.

To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech a