Specialist Speech

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a B6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist ( wte) based at Stone Lodge Academy School, Ipswich. You will hold your own caseload and take a lead role in assessing the needs of students, developing and delivering therapy plans as well as reassessing needs and contributing to the Annual Review process. The successful candidate will also manage the work of the Speech and Language Assistant and support the school's communication assistants to carry out SLT programmes to ensure students make the best possible progress, in relation to the stated outcomes within their Education and Health Care Plans.

We use a flexible approach which includes training for staff and parents as well direct and indirect working with the students across a range of environments.

You will also support students not in school or as part of a post 16 offer.

We offer supervision and continuing professional development opportunities which includes regular pathway and whole team meetings. A passion for working with children and young people with complex needs is essential for this post. The successful candidate will be part of the school aged complex needs pathway in our large and friendly Suffolk-wide community paediatric team.

Main duties of the job

Work with students with complex needs with a range of speech, language and communication needs including supporting use of AAC in classroom settings, assessing, planning & delivering interventions.

Use assessment findings & liaise with family & education staff to update EHCP targets & write Annual Review reports.

Support delivery of face to face / virtual training packages (school/home).

Use a holistic approach to setting & updating targets.

Liaise and update families & carers, offer advice, support and signposting & ensure they are upskilled as therapy partners.

Work flexibly, compassionately and creatively to meet the requirements of working in a special school setting.

Where required assess & write therapy plans for students not currently in a school placement.

Safeguard students & follow required policies.

Adhere to record keeping standards using SystmOne.

Provide SLT student placements and support NQPs.

Supervise less experienced staff including appraisals.

Participate in your own development through supervision, self-reflection and IPR (appraisal) process.

Contribute to or lead on delegated projects.

Access supervision and mandatory training.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description for more information

Clinical:

To provide a specialist level of expertise in the assessment and management of children and young people presenting with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties.

To determine differential diagnosis, level of need and treatment options, taking account of case history information, and using informal and formal assessment methods.

To communicate assessment outcomes verbally and in written reports to referrers, clients, parents and carers, education staff, health colleagues and other professionals. Communication should be completed in a timely manner taking into account confidentiality and the complex, sensitive nature of the information conveyed and the needs of the recipients.

To formulate and implement the most appropriate therapeutic interventions to improve the speech, language and communication profile of service users following departmental criteria, clinical guidance and evidence-based practice.

To upskill, engage and motivate the therapy partner (parent, carer, or teaching staff) and in some cases the young person themselves to carry out therapeutic activities in between sessions, to ensure best outcomes.

To use therapy outcome measures according to departmental guidance to evaluate therapeutic progress and to assist with clinical decision making.

To discharge children or young people in a timely manner when they have met the departmental criteria.

To use interpreters and translation services to facilitate access to the service for those using English as an additional language.

To assess and advise on the provision of alternative augmentative communication systems (AAC) adhering to departmental protocols, requesting the involvement of external agencies where required.

To support and promote the use of AAC where appropriate for the child or young person.

To actively seek second opinions from senior colleagues in all aspects of clinical management.

Education and development

To support parents and carers, students and other professionals through education, informal or formal training as requested or as agreed with the leadership team.

To provide supervision and clinical experience for speech and language therapy students on placement as required.

To participate in career promotion opportunities and offer shadowing to prospective speech and language therapy students as required.

To act as a mentor for new members of staff or those returning from a period of absence.

To carry out one to one supervision sessions and appraisals as required

To guide and signpost the learning and development of supervisees, students, and therapy assistants.

To attend all mandatory training required.

To take responsibility for the development and maintenance of own clinical skills by continuing professional development and to disseminate any information from courses attended to colleagues.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on clinical practice, seek and understand feedback provided, make action plans for improvements and carry these out to enhance personal and professional development.

Leadership

To be an ambassador for the service, the profession, colleagues, and the Trust by following and demonstrating professional and Trust values.

To work in accordance with departmental and service objectives.

To use initiative to identify and share ideas for improvements.

To take a shared approach to teamwork, understanding your own role and the value of diversity.

To support other team members

To enable others to solve problems and signpost to support where appropriate.

To proactively manage difficulties as they arise, creating action plans and implementing them.

To use active listening skills to deal with complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.

To be compassionate to those in distress or complex situations and maintain productive and effective relationships.

To actively challenge and where necessary report any incidence of abuse or discrimination in line with policies and procedures.

Core Duties

To work independently at a specialist level, seeking supervision/support as required for cases or issues outside of own clinical scope highly complex or novel.

To be accountable for own professional conduct, recognising professional boundaries and to seek support as appropriate.

To ensure effective partnership working, at all times, with other members of the Health team, Early Years, Education and Social Care in the best interests of the child or young person.

To be responsible for own administration work including timetabling, record keeping, and report writing via SystmOne. To adhere to Data Protection / Information Governance and Confidentiality Policies.

To participate in triaging of new referrals into the service as required.

To record statistical information as required by West Suffolk Foundation Trust & Integrated Community Paediatric Services

To practice good time management skills to maintain a balance between clinical and non-clinical duties as per departmental guidance.

To assist in quality measures such as checking the written work of new or newly qualified staff such as reports or SystmOne notes and providing constructive feedback.

To be involved in departmental projects clinical audit, clinical governance as required.

To participate in supervision and appraisal system, identifying development needs and drawing up a personal development plan with relevant appraiser.

To seek immediate support from pathway or service lead for breaches of policy or HCPC standards.

To be knowledgeable of and adhere to relevant WSFT policies and procedures, including incident reporting, sickness, manual handling, lone working and leave policies.

To be responsible for the carriage, care, maintenance and security of equipment being used and informing the Pathway Lead of any issues arising.

To attend departmental and pathway meetings as mandated.

To be able to travel countywide if required to carry out role.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

oRecognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification oRegistered with the Health & Care Professions Council oMember of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Desirable

oMember of a Clinical Excellence Network oEvidence of further post graduate short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc oRecent Placement Educator Training

Experience

Essential

oExperience and working knowledge of Paediatrics as specialist area oKnowledge and experience of a wide range of paediatric SLC assessment methods. oKnowledge and experience of using a range of paediatric therapy techniques and approaches to a specialist level. oUse of outcome measures oExperience of training others oSupervision of junior staff and students oSupporting others with caseload management

Desirable

oPrevious Band 6 experience or evidence of working at a specialist level oExperience of working in a range of community settings

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

oKnowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and experience of writing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports oKnowledge of Safeguarding CYP oDigitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating oGood presentation skills, written and verbal oGood organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload oAbility to work under pressure oSupervision Skills

Desirable

oExperience of record keeping via SystmOne oTriaging skills oLeadership skills coaching, negotiation & problem solving, supporting change

Personal Qualities

Essential

oHolistic approach oFlexible, able to manage changing circumstances oSelf-aware & motivated oAbility to work in a team oAble to travel across the Trust

Desirable

oGrowth mindset

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