- To carry a personal caseload and/or contribute to MDT therapy packages such as group therapy sessions or parent education sessions, maintaining a high level of professional competence and demonstrating specialist clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of speech, language and communication problems associated with complex needs.
- To monitor and review the progress of CYP on the caseload and facilitate the development or modification of packages of care/targets as appropriate using evaluation/outcome measurement tools.
- To work effectively as part of the MDT with clients, carers, and colleagues around individual case management; providing specialist advice, guidance and support as necessary and involving them in the planning and prioritisation of care wherever possible.
- To reflect on clinical practice; adequately identifying strengths & needs of clients, reviewing their response to therapy and providing evidence of expert clinical judgement including in cases which are complex and challenging.
- To have completed additional training around the needs of CYP with dysphagia and to have at least one year experience of assessment/treatment of CYP with eating and drinking difficulties in order to communicate and deliver a highly effective service to CYP with complex needs.
- To be able to analyse conflicting information and provide clear guidance and detailed reports on children seen.
- To promote awareness about speech and language therapy in Camden.
- To facilitate and support specialist provisions and families in providing appropriate communication environments to develop CYPs language and interaction skills.
- To demonstrate specialist knowledge and clinical effectiveness underpinned by current evidence based practice and outcome measures.
- To make appropriate specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases, including differential diagnoses.
- To work closely with clients, carers and families, with empathy, tact, reassurance and active listening to fully discuss assessment results, treatment options, and agree a plan of management.
- To communicate complex information to carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
- To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of neurodivergent CYP with complex needs and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and implications of the same.
- To undertake home visits, as necessary, in compliance with Home Visiting/ Lone Working Safety Policy.
- To contribute to clinical teams by discussing own and others input, ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan that reflects the holistic needs of the C/YP and their parents/carers.
- To discuss diagnosis and potential outcomes with parents/carers and work collaboratively in decision making regarding referral on and intervention.
- To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
- To demonstrate excellent communication skills.
- To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
- To employ counselling skills with CYP, carers/families with highly complex needs.
- To liaise regularly with Senior Management within the Complex Needs Teams and with the MDT team to agree and review effective service delivery to CYP with complex needs.
- To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service.
- To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports reflecting highly specialist knowledge, ensuring that they meet departmental standards and are in line with local Trust Policy, and RCSLT professional standards.
- To demonstrate knowledge of current policies and practice in the education and health sector and incorporate these into the model of working as appropriate.
- To attend further training as necessary to maintain and further develop the skill and knowledge required of a specialist SLT.
- To keep up to date with current clinical developments through reading, attendance at courses, meetings and Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs).
- To provide training to SLTs developing a specialism in Complex Needs and those working with some C/YP with complex additional needs on their caseload.
- To manage and prioritise a specialist caseload, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
- To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including statutory educational assessment.
- To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, recognising and resolving potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs.
- To ensure that CYP are referred to other services as appropriate.
- To demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the issues associated with clinical governance and their application to professional practice. This will include compliance with / adherence to, and implementation of service, service area and Trust policies, National and Local guidelines and RCSLT Professional and Clinical and Guidelines.
- To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.
- To contribute to the local Trusts systems of clinical governance, developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others.
- To be accountable for professional action and recognising professional boundaries, and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
- To work independently accessing appraisal within a Professional Development Plan (PDP) at pre-determined intervals.
- To have due regard for personal safety and that of CYP /carers, adhering to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others.
- To reflect and adhere to infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal with specific issues related to client contact: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a daily basis.
- To provide advice and second opinions to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field, regarding the management and care of CYP with complex needs.
- To provide support and advice to less experienced speech and language therapists, and/or Therapy Assistants and volunteers.
- To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups related to clinical specialism.
- To carry out administrative duties including activity data collection, updating this accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.
- To maintain up to date records of annual leave and other absence.
- To participate in the clinical education of students, undertaking assessment of the placement as appropriate, and attending teaching sessions and meetings organised by the education establishments.
- To initiate and undertake Research/Clinical Governance /audit projects within area of expertise.
- To be able to be flexible within the service for Whittington Childrens Speech and Language Service and as required by the Speech and Language Therapy Services Manager, this may include a change in workplace. Person Specification
- BSc. Speech Path or Equivalent (including Dip. CST)
- HPC licence to practise, and Registered member of RCSLT
- Successful completion of specialist post graduate study relevant to communication and specific speech and language disorders , SLI, SLCN and SEBD etc.
- Successful attendance of specialist/expert short courses and other CPD in specialist area eg: AAC or Dysphagia courses etc.
- Post Qualification Intermediate Level Certificate in the Management of children with Eating and Drinking Difficulties
- A minimum of 2 years' experience working with children with complex needs who present with a range of speech, language and communication difficulties and feeding needs.
- Experience implementing a range of therapeutic interventions for children with complex needs in range of settings
- Experience of planning and delivering therapy in small groups
- Experience of training parents, teachers, TA's and students
- Experience of collaborative, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
- Experience of working with children with complex needs, including learning difficulties and challenging behaviour
- Experience of carrying out assessment and differential diagnosis including complex disorders
- Experience of writing statutory assessment/EHCP advice
- Experience of managing demand and setting priority criteria
- Experience of implementing the principles of clinical governance in clinical practice ( clinical audits)
- Specialist knowledge of a range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate the speech, language and communication skills of children with complex needs.
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant national policies, legislation and guidance relevant to clinical specialism
- Understanding of child protection procedures and responsibilities
- Understanding of statutory processes regarding education for children with special education needs.
- Well established knowledge of a range of specialist therapeutic interventions relevant to clinical specialism
- Ability to manage complaints and prevent escalation wherever possible
- An ability to speak a non-European language.
- Able to motivate clients and carers to participate in treatment and carry out advice
- Ability to communicate complex information to parents /carers and other professionals in a variety of clinical situations.
- To be able to communicate effectively with children of all ages/abilities and their families
- Able to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and tact.
- Ability to work as part of a broad multidisciplinary team and across organisations
- Able to deal with conflict successfully
- Flexibility
- Ability to reflect on practice
- Ability to reflect on and indicate training needs
- Ability to take majority of leave in school holidays
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - London, United Kingdom - Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
Description
Job summary
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 5-6 Run Through)
Are you looking for a diverse, interesting and rewarding job for 2024?
We are looking for a dynamic and highly motivated speech and language therapist to join us in a full time post in the Camden Complex Needs team.
You must be able to work sensitively with complex neurodivergent children and young people. You will be committed to Person Centred Practice and highly skilled at working collaboratively with families and our multi-disciplinary colleagues in health, education and social care.
We offer excellent professional development opportunities with a strong emphasis on clinical supervision, individual performance appraisal and joint working with experienced clinicians. You would be welcomed into a friendly team with a positive, solution focused approach.
As a service, we are committed to supporting the well-being of our colleagues. We are supportive of flexible working patterns and are committed to ensuring equal opportunities and access for all.
Some staff feedback on what they liked about working in Camden SLT and as part of Whittington Health NHS Trust included:
"supportive and open culture from management and the service"
"friendly colleagues"
"well-being is prioritised and supported"
"emphasis on reflective practice and innovative ideas"
"inclusive culture"
"staff collaborating and working together within SLT and the wider multi-professional teams"
"so many different therapists - lots of expertise"
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 descriptionJob responsibilities
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Previous Experience
Essential
Knowledge
Essential
Desirable
Communication Skills
Essential
Other requirements
Essential