Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

The role of the ELSEC Speech and Language Therapy Assistant is to provide universal and targeted clinical services to children and families as part of an integrated Early Language Support service in Barnet. This is a two-year pilot project, which has been funded by NHS England and the Department for Education.

ELSEC will test the impact of early identification and support for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in Early Years and Primary School Settings, over 2 academic years.

To support the Children’s Integrated Therapy Team staff to deliver services for children with communication needs according to departmental protocols.

To help the team with both administrative, and clinical work, thereby supporting the smooth running of the team.

To support children’s integrated therapists in the role of early identification and prevention for children with therapeutic needs through observation, providing information, directing to services

To deliver therapy activities or assessment screenings under the guidance of therapists, to individuals or groups of children and/or parents/staff in Clinics, Schools, Nurseries and Children’s Centres reporting back progress and informing the Integrated therapy team.

To be responsible for making resources, maintaining equipment, keeping clinical notes, and keeping clinical and office spaces in good condition.

To be responsible for organising and prioritising your own work and adhering to Trust policies and procedures, especially in relation to child safeguarding.

To have a duty to report any accident/incident via Trust procedures.

To monitor and record children’s progression towards therapy aims.

To deliver planned training in Clinics, Schools, Nurseries and Children’s Centres.

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.

**See attached job description for further information**:
Clinical Skills

Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.

To develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.

To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients under the supervision of an integrated therapist.

To be able to screen and support plans of care to meet the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. This will include continuously evaluating and discussing outcomes with an integrated therapist and when appropriate carrying out observations and informal assessments (appropriate to skills and experience) to contribute to ongoing clinical decision making by the therapist.

To be able to support referrals to other health professional specialist services and agencies.

To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.

To work frequently without direct supervision in a variety of community settings e.g. community clinics, nurseries, children’s centres, schools, homes, etc.

To use judgement to modify and adapt activities to suit each situation.

Computer/Administration

To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trust’s IM&T Strategy.

To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patient’s records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.

Communication

To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care.

To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust.

To anticipate barriers to communication (internal and external) and take action to improve communication (in self and others)

To develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations.

To be able to communicate patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.

Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision

To be proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communication to meet needs