Job summary
We have an exciting new opportunity for a B6 or B5 speech and language therapist to join our team of school age complex needs therapists working 2 days at the Bridge School Ipswich: a school for pupils aged 3-19 and 3 days at Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy for pupils with a range of learning and communication needs. If you are passionate about supporting the communication skills of children with complex needs and have an interest in AAC, then we would love to hear from you.
We work in partnership with our colleagues in Early Years and Education to provide the best service possible for children and young people with speech language needs across the county. Both schools have strong links with health and social care.
The closing date for this vacancy may change if we receive a strong response. Please ensure that you apply for any post you are interested in as soon as possible.
Main duties of the job
Work with students with complex needs with arange of speech, language and communication needs including supporting use of AAC in classroom settings
Carry out assessments appropriate to a complex paediatric client group
Select and successfully interpret a range of appropriate formal and informal assessments
Plan & deliver therapy interventions based on assessment findings and communication needs
Evaluate student progress to update EHCP targets, write Annual Review reports as required
Liaise with families & carers to keep them updated and offer advice / support for communication skills and to ensure they are upskilled as therapy partners
Have a good understanding of your role in terms of Safeguarding for CYP
Keep daily, accurate records of sessions undertaken using SystmOne as per professional and service standards
Have good organisational skills to be able to own plan sessions, re-organise where necessary and manage time effectively
Work closely in partnership with families, educational staff and the wider professional team to support effective outcomes for children and young people
Supervise Speech and Language Therapy Assistants and/or junior colleagues where required
Participate in your own development through supervision, self-reflection and IPR (appraisal) process
Access supervision and mandatory training
Take an active or delegated lead role in supporting wider service development projects
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 job description for further details.
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
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
- Recognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
- Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council
- Member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- Evidence of continuing professional development via RCSLT log or portfolio
Desirable
- Member of a Clinical Excellence Network
- Evidence 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
- Recent Placement Educator Training
Experience
Essential
- Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics as specialist area
- Knowledge and experience of a wide range of paediatric SLC assessment methods
- Knowledge and experience of using a range of paediatric therapy techniques and approaches to a specialist level
- Experience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals
- Knowledge and experience of the impact of a SLCN difficulty for the Child or young person and their family / carers
- Experience of training others
Desirable
- Previous Band 6 experience or evidence of working at a specialist level
- Experience of working in a range of community settings
- Experience of MDT working
- Experience of developing a training offer
- Use of digital methods for therapy
- Use of outcome measures
- Contribution to clinical education
- Supervision of junior staff and students
- Supporting others with caseload management
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of child development ages and stages and application to speech language and communication diagnosis and treatment
- Knowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and experience of writing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports
- Knowledge of Safeguarding CYP
- Good presentation skills, written and verbal
- Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
- Good organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload
- Ability to demonstrate good analytical and reflection skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Well developed concentration skills
- Aware of relevant policies & procedures pertaining to working in a health care environment e.g health & safety legislation, clinical governance, equality & diversity
Desirable
- Experience of record keeping via SystmOne
- Triaging skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills: including observation, active listening and empathy skills
- Developing negotiation and problem solving skills
- Able to cope with exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
- Flexible approach to working to manage changing circumstances
- Ability to work in a team
- Able to travel across the Trust
Desirable
- Experience with managing difficult / changing circumstances
- Experience of project work or leading small teams
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants .
Employer details
Employer name
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Bridge Special School and Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy
Ipswich
IP8 3ND