Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist - Ipswich, United Kingdom - West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Description

Job summary

The community preschool complex needs pathway has an exciting, fixed-term

opportunity for a Band 6 (or Band 5) speech and language therapist (SLT) to join the team for 12 months.

The post holder will provide assessment and intervention for children with complex presentations, and their families. Our core service includes an online training offer to therapy partners families and settings as well as face to face working. The postholder will work independently as well as within a team of SLTs, SLTAs and associated professionals to provide an integrated service.

We are seeking an SLT with an established (or developing) skill set in working with children with complex language and communication difficulties (Band 6) or one who is keen to develop their skills in this area within a supportive team (Band 5). Please specify in the supporting information which banding you are interested in being considered for.

We envisage this role will be based mainly in the Ipswich Child Development Centre (St Helen's House) to include targeted visits to preschool settings and satellite clinics as required. Other CDC locations such as Stowmarket or Bury St Edmunds could be considered for the successful applicant.

We are an inclusive service and promote neuro-affirmative practises.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will:

Undertake SLT assessments of children with complex or additional needs, and prioritise, plan and deliver packages of care in accordance with our clinical pathways, supported by a senior therapist.

Set clear achievable goals in consultation with families.

Empower therapy partners (parents, carers, key workers) to support and develop early communication skills.

Keep clinical records up to date via SystmOne & provide reports at key intervals as required by the service.

The postholder will be:

Familiar with a range of approaches for supporting early communication skills including Intensive Interaction, use of objects and pictures for communication and able to implement these as required.

Knowledgeable/experienced regarding assessment methods for children in the early stages of communication development

Able to use Microsoft Teams to present training to parents/carers and other therapy partners

Experienced in delivering training to therapy partners

Experienced working within and discussing children in a multi-disciplinary team including health and education partners

Applications will be considered for part-time / job share, please call to discuss. If you have the necessary skills, experience and qualities, please contact Kimberley Downing Pathway lead for Preschool Complex Needs on to discuss.

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 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.

Education & Qualification

Essential

Desirable

Experience

Essential

Desirable

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Desirable

Personal Qualities

Essential

Desirable