Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

**Communication and Language Specialist**

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

Job Title**:Communication and Language Specialist**

Service/Department**:ChatterBug Speech and Language Therapy**

Location**:Birmingham**

Accountable/Responsible to**:Senior SLT**

Salary **£22,383 Pro Rata (39 weeks TTO, actual salary £15,237.88)**

ChatterBug Limited is a National Social Enterprise providing a range of Speech and Language Therapy services. We believe in providing high quality, evidenced-based input that provides real results. At the core of our service, we have four values that form our ChatterBug Constitution and guides how we conduct ourselves. These are:

- **Open**_
- **Connected**_
- **Dependable**_
- **Fortitude**_

**Job Purpose**:
To work face to face in a supportive role alongside Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) working in Youth Offending teams, a variety of mainstream and specialist educational settings as well as with the Local Authority. Day to day you will be delivering group and/or one-to-one therapy, completing observations and screening assessments, liaising with educational staff and other professionals and working closely with the lead SLT in planning and delivering SALT input. This will include training and supporting other professionals to also deliver programs and implement universal strategies and targetted input. Your role will also include the preparation and maintenance of therapy/training materials and equipment for the service and service users. You will also play a role in promoting the importance of Speech, Language and Communication skills in the local community.

**Duties and Responsibilities**

**Clinical**
- To carry out therapy programmes devised by Speech and Language therapists either with individual children or in small groups, often working independently, and reporting session outcomes to the lead or supervising therapist.
- To complete screening assessments with training and support
- To become proficient in recognising children with a range of communication difficulties, and delivering treatment plans, whilst being supported by a Speech and Language Therapist.
- To carry out visits in schools/colleges and occasionally home visits as identified by a Speech and Language Therapist.
- To undergo an initial period of in service training and continue to receive appropriate training.
- To keep Speech and Language Therapists fully informed of a clients progress.
- To respect the confidentiality of all information to which she/he has access.
- To maintain departmental quality standards in working practices and be aware of clinical pathways and guidelines.
- To have a flexible approach in the support of the Speech and Language Therapy team.
- To represent the service at meetings where required, under the guidance of a Speech and Language Therapist e.g. school review meetings, service promotion events.
- To provide universal and targeted level advice on optimising the client’s communicative environment taking into consideration the communication skills of parents/guardians, carers and other professionals.
- To provide universal and targeted level advice and support to professionals working with children with communication needs and typically developing children to ensure optimum development.
- To become proficient in using signs, symbols or other non-verbal communication systems.
- To assist the therapist in devising and implementing a range of non-verbal communication systems (such as signs or symbols).
- To highlight to the supervising therapist where appropriate onward specialist referrals for children may be required e.g. to Audiology
- To provide administrative support preparing, photocopying and maintaining supply of therapy materials/equipment and augmentative communication materials.

**Communication**
- To have very good verbal/written communication skills.
- Communicate information about treatment to clients, carers and other professionals effectively.
- To provide verbal advice to parents/guardians, carers and other professionals regarding the management and care of children - this will be appropriate to a range of audiences and easy to understand.
- To ensure that clients/parents/ teaching staff are involved in the delivery of the treatment plans.
- To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with service policies.
- To share information with clients, carers and other professionals, observing current data protection guidelines.

**Teaching Skills**
- To deliver pre written training to others related to Speech, Language and Communication.
- To demonstrate the ability to reflect on and evaluate the training provided with guidance from a lead Speech and Language Therapist.
- To support/coach/skill and advise others in the delivery of treatment programmes e.g. parents/carers and education practitioners.

**Clinical Governance Requirements**
- To gather and submit statistical data punctually.
- To have a working knowledge of relevant procedures including safeguarding