Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

Would you like to deliver more specialist therapy to children and families? We are calling all SLT's looking for a new role. Our therapists work closely with schools and families to develop strong communication provision and provide continuous support.

"Chatterbug gives me the opportunity to build relationships with a variety of children, parents and professionals. This allows me to feel like I am making a real difference in the lives of the children. Working at Chatterbug feels like working with a family where support is always available". - SLT

Main duties of the job

In conjunction with the Consultant Speech and Language Therapist/Team Leader, you will plan, develop and deliver a Speech and Language Therapy service both working in Clinic and School based service .

About us

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 description

Job responsibilities

Brief Job Description:

To co-ordinate provision of suitable Speech and Language Therapy service in line with the needs of the client base and the Business KPIsTo identify gaps in provision and actively seek opportunities to develop the service in line with Business KPIsTo participate in and support assessment and diagnosis of children/ young people with a range of SLCN.To provide high-quality support and supervision to junior staff, including providing second opinions.To provide line management to junior staffTo encapsulate and represent the Chatterbug Ethos and ValuesTo ensure a high quality evidence based service is delivered across all Chatterbug sitesTo actively lead on and co-ordinate multiple projects ensuring these are delivered in line with the business KPIsTo work proactively at a strategic level to support the growth and development of Chatterbug by representing the organisation at a local/national level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

To assess, diagnose and provide support children with a range of SLCN including complex needs.To contribute highly specialist knowledge to multi and uni disciplinary teams to ensure a client focused assessment and approach to treatmentTo represent the service at health and education panels where requiredTo provide highly specialist assessment and advice on optimising the clients communicative environment taking into consideration the communication skills of parents / guardians, carers and other professionalsTo provide specialist clinical advice, support and second opinions for therapists and other professionals working with children with a wide range of SLCNTaking a specialist lead within the team, offering case discussions, joint assessments, joint intervention and supporting joint therapy programmes as appropriateTo develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment and programmes and to measure and evaluate outcomesTo demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures

Communication

To employ excellent verbal/written communication skillsCommunicate complex information from specialist assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals effectively.To produce detailed reports, reflecting specialist knowledge, regarding clients needs and summarising proposed treatment plansTo provide highly specialist verbal and written advice and programmes to parents / guardians, carers and other professionals regarding the management and care of children these will be accessible to a range of audiences and easy to understand.To ensure that clients / parents / teaching staff are involved in the planning and prioritisation of the treatment plans.To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews as appropriate and support other staff in the development of these skillsTo maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and service policiesTo share information with clients, carers and other professionals, observing current data protection guidelines

Teaching Skills

To develop and deliver specialist training to others in a wide range of areas, disorders, behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties and special needsTo demonstrate the ability to target training appropriately to the needs of course participantsTo demonstrate the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.To have advanced skills in motivation and coaching

Clinical Governance Requirements

To gather statistical data punctuallyTo participate in service research as requiredTo undertake Clinical Governance / audit projects within the local service as requiredTo have a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: safeguarding children, SEN procedures, and other legal frameworks

Continuing Professional Development

To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan / Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectivesTo demonstrate a passion and commitment to the profession through self guided studyTo participate in individual performance review, ensuring that the objectives set reflect the service and trust plans, including objectives relevant for SLCNTo attend relevant special interest groups, specialist short courses and advanced training in order to develop and maintain skills and knowledge as requiredTo demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines and develop local guidance in specialist area for the departmentTo attend relevant in service training and meetingsTo demonstrate knowledge of, and adherence to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines and best practice.To take responsibility for maintaining and continually developing professional skills and knowledge in SLCN

Business Development

To possess advance relationship building and networking skills which will enable you to form connections in health, education and other relevant sectors.To promote and raise awareness of Chatterbug and the services we provide and represent the organisation at a local/national level.To identify opportunities to help support the growth/ development of the organisation by bringing in new business and reducing costs where appropriateTo represent the company ethos and values and support junior staff in also emulating these.To support the business in measuring the impact and value of the service and implement service business improvement targetsTo identify and implement cost savings where appropriateTo effectively manage staff to ensure they are working in line with the business objectives and Chatterbug ethos and valuesTo proactively develop solutions for supporting the growth of the service

Clinical Leadership

To supervise the work of specialist, generalist therapists, newly qualified therapists and assistantsTo co-ordinate and participate in student placements as appropriateTo explain the role of Speech and Language Therapist to visitors, students/ volunteers, new staff and other professionalsTo take a lead role in the development, implementation and review of evidence based care pathways, utilising evidence based practice and clinical research.To provide clinical supervision and ensure a high standard of evidence based practice is provided at all timesIdentify gaps in service and problem solve appropriately

Management of Staff

To actively participate in recruitment and retention of staffTo manage and motivate staff to provide high levels of care and deliver an effective and efficient serviceTo participate in PDR/ Appraisal process as directed by the Consultant SLTTo ensure all staff uphold the Chatterbug constitution and represent the Chatterbug ethos and valuesTo challenge and identify issues and deal with these, raising any serious concerns to the Senior staff as appropriate

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice independently, with peers and mentors to identify own strengths and development needsTo demonstrate a well-developed ability to integrate information taking account of all aspects of the clients communication including verbal, non-verbal and environmentalTo anticipate and take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of relationships with parents / guardians and other professionalsTo make appropriate clinical decisions following assessment, seeking support and advice from a specialist as appropriateTo make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from specialist assessment seeking support from internal and external sources as appropriate

Responsibility for Client Care and Contact with Carers

To demonstrate the well-developed ability to manage people with communication disorders and challenging behaviour including the application of appropriate management strategiesTo work closely with clients, carers and other professionals to negotiate and agree client managementTo demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding existTo respond sensitively at all times particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implicationsTo demonstrate expert skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic processTo demonstrate expert skills in managing conflict within the clinical specialist areaTo foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties and who may be under stressTo employ counselling skills with parents and clients with highly complex needsTo adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences Extent of Responsibility for Planning and Organisational Skills To advise line manager on clinical issues of service delivery, including short falls, service pressures etcTo assume service tasks as delegated by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groupsTo use highly specialist knowledge to lead service / policy development as appropriateTo demonstrate independence in dealing with complex issues related to caseload management Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

- Valid HCPC Registration and HCPC Membership. - Bachelor's Degree - Must be able to travel Independently

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