Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

We have exciting opportunities for enthusiastic and motivated Specialist Speech and Language Therapists to work in across mainstream schools in Barnet and join our wonderful and supportive team (part-time/flexible working will be considered) ensuring that the role offers excellent work/life balance. There is also the option of up to three days in our Hearing Support Service working across our early years and school age caseloads with children with Hearing Loss.

We have been given additional funding to expand our current universal and targeted offer to support children, young people and their families. The successful candidate will be involved in setting up and working on new initiatives as well as having a caseload of children for assessment and intervention.

This successful candidate will deliver a Speech and Language Therapy Service to children and young people attending Barnet mainstream schools with communication difficulties. There is also optional rotation between language and social communication pathways in the mainstream part of the role.

You will work independently and with supervision and support, alongside a friendly, open, supportive and experienced therapy team to deliver assessment and intervention for children and young people with a range of communication difficulties, and to provide training and advice to empower their families and education staff.

Main duties of the job

Please see the Job Description and the Persons Specification for further details about the job role. If you are unable to access the PDF, the details of the job description can also be found in the 'Detailed Job Description and Main responsibilities' section.

About us

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 Trustbelieves 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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to support their team, department, and organisation to achieve the Trusts Values in their day-to-day work. The post holder will achieve this by

Providing a comprehensive Speech and Language Therapy service to children presenting with a range of speech, language and communication needs in the borough.

Independently managing a paediatric caseload and delivering integrated therapeutic packages of care

Devising child centred speech, language and communication therapy programmes and care plans for clients

Contributing to multi agency care pathways for children with special educational need

Providing feedback, guidance and training to parents/carers and other professionals regarding language and communication needs and strategies to facilitate childrens development.

Committing to collaborative working and actively supporting and liaising with other health, education, and social care professionals

Supporting peers and colleagues by being an effective team member whilst working on own initiative

Working for Whittington Health in Barnet will offer:

Excellent CPD opportunities; Informal networking across the 4 Whittington Boroughs; Commitment to excellence in practice; Very strong supervision and direct line management; Agile working in the community using mobile technology; Flexible working hours and arrangements will be considered; Shadowing opportunities; Service and Trust Induction Packages; Specialist advice and second opinions Team Meetings Appraisals Support to develop your own clinical interests Team projects co-working with other colleagues.

Key Responsibilities:

Patient care

To be responsible for clinical delivery of SLT service to a caseload of children with a range of speech, language and communication needs within mainstream schools around the borough of Barnet. Complete assessments, write individual programmes, implement groups, provide specialist advice and resources and review outcomes with a functional based focus. To work collaboratively with children, families and other professionals to achieve outcomes for individuals, providing support, programmes, ideas, advice and assessment. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures. This requires knowledge of current research and agreed best practice in working in the field of specialism. To provide a service considering the needs of clients from a range of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. To liaise with specialist teaching staff, classroom teachers and education support staff to provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy input to curriculum and programme planning. To liaise closely with the Special Needs Services staff within Barnet and with members of the Learning Support Services working with children on the caseload. To maintain close links with Speech and Language Therapy staff working in Early Years, School Age and Adult Teams within the trust to ensure smooth transition between phases as required.

Clinical Direct

To provide a comprehensive Speech and Language Therapy service to clients referred with speech, language and communication difficulties within mainstream in the borough. To take a specialist role in developing the Speech and Language Therapy service including developing care pathways and packages, developing assessment, therapy and training materials specific to this client group. To deliver appropriate formal and informal assessments for a range of clinical specialisms, including autistic spectrum disorder, Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems, language and social communication delay/disorder and complex needs. To make differential diagnosis based on this assessment and communicate complex condition related information from assessment to children, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professionals. To always maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of clients/carers when imparting complex and distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and the impact of this on individuals and their families. Following assessment and differential diagnosis, to design and develop evidence-based treatment and management programmes by working closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to client management, and providing the family with sufficient information to ensure meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence and quality of life. To deliver programmes devised through a combination of 1:1 therapy, therapy groups, and indirect therapy to be implemented within the multi-disciplinary teams available, and within the childs family. To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process. To work closely with school staff to embed inclusive speech, language and communication practice within the classroom. To organise own caseload effectively, prioritising tasks and planning short- and long-term goals together with the children, family and other professionals. To impart principles and provide training to establish the use of speech, language and communication enrichment techniques by parents/carers and fellow practitioners. To review, adapt and facilitate treatment programmes and the use of augmentative communication systems according to clients needs. To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist. To maintain a high level of concentration in all aspects of patient care at all times, in order to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of communication adaptations, and to facilitate treatment programmes and the use of augmentative communication systems communication aids according to perceived need, with regard to cultural and linguistic differences. To initiate referrals to other health professionals, specialist services and agencies. To be computer literate and ensure accurate recording of actions, updating patients records whilst maintaining confidentiality at all times. Policy/Service Development/Implementation To work within the Trust SALT service guidelines for childrens services. To contribute to the provision of speech and language therapy packages of care and clinical care pathways. To input into service redesign projects. To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Whittington Mission, Vision and Goals

We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, responsive and flexible to the changing clinical needs of the local population. We are treating more patients than ever before and are dedicated to improving services to deliver the best for our patients.

Our mission Helping local people live longer, healthier lives. Our vision Provide safe, personal, co-ordinated care for the community we serve. Our goals We have developed six key strategic goals to make sure we continue to support people to live longer, healthier lives.

To secure the best possible health and wellbeing for all our community To integrate and coordinate care in person-centred teams To deliver consistent, high quality, safe services To support our patients and users in being active partners in their care To be recognised as a leader in the fields of medical and multi-professional education, and population-based clinical research To innovate and continuously improve the quality of our services to deliver the best outcomes for our local population

Whittington Values

Our values underpin everything we do. Our staff are committed to delivering the following values in everything they do.

Our ICARE values have been created by our staff and are embedded in our appraisal and planning processes and form part of our staff excellence awards.

Probationary period

Employment at Whittington Health is offered subject to successful completion of a 6-month probationary period for all staff with the exception of GMC Registered Doctors.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

oDegree or equivalent and Licence to Practice oCurrent registered membership of HCPC

Desirable

oRoyal College of Speech and Language Therapists oMember of relevant clinical excellence network oEvidence of successful completion of specialist short courses

Knowledge, skills & Experience

Essential

oRelevant experience at Undergraduate/Post-Graduate level oDemonstrates good analytical and reflection skills oGood presentation skills, both written and verbal including ability to write clear and concise reports oWorking knowledge of relevant information technology oDemonstrates ability to be a good team member oKnowledge of relevant assessment tools oSkills in planning, assessing and implementing relevant intervention oKnowledge of relevant national policies and procedures oKnowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions oInterest in acquiring broad experience across various relevant care groups oAbility to work independently as appropriate oAwareness of the roles of other relevant professionals oAbility to work in partnership with other professionals and other agencies oAwareness of standards of record keeping

Desirable

oUnderstanding of local issues relevant to delivery of a Speech & Language Therapy service

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential

oAbility to deal with and resolve conflict with highly developed Negotiation and Problem-solving Skills oDemonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills oWell-developed concentration skills oDemonstrate trust values: innovative, compassionate, accountable, respectful, excellent oExcellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills

Other

Essential

oTo be able to travel efficiently throughout the area oCommitment to equal opportunities oProfessional manner oFlexible approach to work oUses initiative oCommitment to Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

oCar driver

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