Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

Are you a Band 6 speech and language therapist or an experienced Band 5 therapist? Are you passionate about supporting SEND children and young people to reach their communicative potential in their educational setting?

Additional investment in our service means that we are excited to be recruiting into new roles including this post working with children and young people (CYP) in specialist educational placements in Ipswich and the wider surrounding geographical area.

We are looking for a full-time B6 Speech and Language Therapist to work within a range of specialist units attached to mainstream schools and settings including Reception / KS1 and KS2 units and to take a lead role in the management of speech and language therapy into the units in the East of the county. Due to the more complex nature of the caseload this post will include managing CYP with Education, Health and Care Plans therefore previous experience of EHCPs is desirable. Empowering therapy partners is at the centre of our provision therefore this role includes opportunities to deliver training to parents/carers and education staff.

An ability to travel to different locations within the working week is required.

Applications will be considered for part time / job share, please indicate on the application form your preference please call to discuss.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

- Take a lead role for the management of speech and language therapy into the units in the East of the county, to ensure equity of offer and best practice.

- To build relationships with staff within these units and be a point of contact for them.

- Work with children and young people with a broad range of speech, language and communication needs.

- Deliver face-to-face sessions to individual and groups of children within specialist settings.

- Provide assessment and plan/deliver therapy interventions for children attending the units.

- Design and support delivery of training packages to educational staff (both face to face and virtually)

- Work closely in partnership with families, educational staff and the wider professional team to support effective outcomes for children and young people.

- Work specifically with the specialist unit staff to promote and embed communication strategies across the environment of the unit.

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:

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 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

oFlexible approach, 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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