Speech & Language Therapist

Overview

The postholder will be responsible for providing a clinical Speech and Language Therapy service through a tiered model (universal, targeted, and specialist provision) for school-aged children who have special educational needs (SEN) related to autism spectrum condition, learning disability, physical disability, sensory impairment and social and emotional behaviour difficulties. They will have access to regular clinical supervision from a senior therapist and management support from the team lead.

The post holder will jointly work with a senior therapist with a supervised dysphagia caseload, working towards developing their own dysphagia competencies in this clinical area, following the RCSLT dysphagia competencies framework. The post holder will work in a multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment including working with specialist teachers, social workers, therapy assistants, psychologists, dieticians, paediatricians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other professionals.

The post holder is an autonomous practitioner and is responsible for organising and managing a defined caseload of children.

• Provide a universal and targeted speech and language therapy service which includes advising, training and upskilling of parents, carers, and school staff to support children with complex communication needs.
• Provide direct interventions including assessment, liaison, and episodes of face-to-face therapy for individual/groups of children and young people as well as work within the MDT.
• Devise and provide individualised care plans evaluated through outcome measures and employ specialist communication strategies as appropriate.
• Liaise with educational colleagues to undertake joint planning and reviewing of targets, contribute to EHCP processes and staff training.
• Provide support to less experienced colleagues.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills with empathy, and be aware of barriers to communication in a diverse caseload; work in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
• Be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service and maintain up-to-date case notes and reports reflecting highly specialist knowledge in line with local Trust Policy and RCSLT standards.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current policies and practice in education and incorporate these into the model of working.
• Manage and prioritise a complex and specialist caseload independently, advising line manager on issues of service delivery and shortfalls.
• Demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management and contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required.
• Demonstrate good negotiation skills and resolve potential breakdowns and conflicts; ensure appropriate referrals to other services as needed.
• Monitor and evaluate specialist service delivery and provide progress reports; ensure compliance with governance and Trust policies, national and local guidelines, and RCSLT standards.
• Develop knowledge of safeguarding, SEN procedures, working with vulnerable groups, and other legal frameworks.
• Be accountable for professional action, boundaries, and working within departmental, national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
• Work independently and access appraisal through a Personal Development Review at predetermined intervals.

• Comply with the Trust's Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols; staff have a duty to safeguard and promote welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Familiarise with London Child Protection Procedures and protocols, London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures, and local information-sharing protocols.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and reporting lines; participate in required training and supervision; comply with professional boundaries and codes of conduct.
• Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

• Demonstrate clinical expertise in assessment, treatment and management of language and communication difficulties in children and young people, providing specialist intervention and evaluating outcomes.
• Demonstrate specialist knowledge in SEN including learning disability, autism, sensory and physical disabilities, underpinned by current evidence-based practice and outcome measures.
• Demonstrate developing specialist knowledge in AAC assessment and interventions.
• Carry out supervised practice in paediatric dysphagia until full competencies for autonomous practice are achieved.
• Demonstrate highly developed perceptual skills in assessing and treating young people with SEN; make appropriate clinical decisions based on assessment and seek advice as appropriate.
• Develop knowledge and skills in managing children with SEN, seeking training, support and supervision from clinical…