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 e.g. 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 07929789476 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 description
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.
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
- oEvidence of continuing professional development via RCSLT log or portfolio
- oEligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (Band 5 only)
Desirable
- oMember of a Clinical Excellence Network (Band 6 only)
- 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 (Band 6 only)
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
- oExperience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals. (band 5 only)
Desirable
- oPrevious Band 6 experience or evidence of working at a specialist level
- oExperience of working in a range of community settings
- oUse of outcome measures (Band 5 only)
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
- oWell-developed concentration skills (Band 5 only)
Desirable
- oExperience of record keeping via SystmOne
- oTriaging skills (Band 6 only)
- oLeadership skills e.g. coaching, negotiation & problem solving, supporting change (Band 6 only)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- oHolistic approach (Band 6 only)
- oFlexible, able to manage changing circumstances
- oSelf-aware & motivated
- oAbility to work in a team
- oAble to travel across the Trust
Desirable
- oGrowth mindset
- oPragmatic (Band 5 only)
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
St Helen's House
571 Foxhall Road
Ipswich
IP3 8LX