Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job overview

We are delighted to offer this 8a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapy post based within our Central Bedfordshire Team. Delivering high quality support into special schools, providing outreach support to complex cases in mainstream schools and leading on important service projects relating to complex needs.

The post is suitable for an experienced and confident therapist with specialist skills in the area of Complex communication needs, AAC and dysphagia with demonstrable experience of effective working within schools, and of multidisciplinary working.

You should have the ability to work flexibly, and demonstrate initiative and confidence around clinical decision making.

If you have skills and experience in the areas above, then please do get in touch for an informal discussion  – we would love to hear from you !

The service provides:

Full Trust and service induction.

Formal and informal training for the role, including shadowing opportunities.

Regular clinial supervision and a mentoring

Excellent Continued Professional Development opportunities including in house training and external courses.

Reflective clinical forums and buddying systems.

Regular whole service and locality team meetings.

For further information or to arrange a visit please contact: Lisa Delafield, Deputy Service Manager – [email protected]

Main duties of the job

Use highly specialist clinical skills to effectively manage a caseload of children with complex difficulties in speech, language, communication and/or eating and drinking (dysphagia) and AAC in line with the service delivery model.

Work closely with families and schools to provide effective SLT support.

Independently and effectively identify, assess, and diagnose and treat communication/swallowing impairments.

To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment and design appropriate treatment based on analysis of profile of need.

Be responsible for developing the school’s Communication charter, identifying appropriate universal targeted and specialist levels of support.

Work with the wider special schools team, schools and parents to co-produce and implement an agreed universal, targeted and specialist SALT offer in special schools, taking responsibility for the implementation and communication of this offer.

Provide second opinions or support to junior colleagues as appropriate.

Provide outreach support to complex cases in mainstream schools in Central Bedfordshire, establishing a pathway for this provision.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Demonstrate specific speech and language therapy support programmes and the use of equipment to specific teachers or groups of staff.

Contribute to relevant research, audit, and development work within the schools, relating to the Speech Language and Communication curriculum.

Attend relevant meetings as required within school or as part of wider SLT team.

Work collaboratively and liaise with a wide range of professions across a variety of locations and agencies.

Attend and report to case conferences/review meetings etc. for patients on the caseload with support as requested for situations where conflict management/negotiation may be required.

Use good interpersonal skills to listen well and counsel patients and carers, so providing support and empathy without prejudice.

Establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff, which are characterised by open communication, trust, and respect.

Communicate effectively with patients with communication problems where difficulties in understanding exist, using observation, listening and empathy.

Use negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations

Be able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical.

Assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development, advising on the implementation of AAC systems and relevant areas of the curriculum.

Work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.

Participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence for clinical specialism.

Demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.

Have a robust working knowledge of relevant statutory legislation and policy  including: Safeguarding Children, The Children and Families Act  2014,  delivery of SLT relating to SEND procedures, and other relevant legal frameworks.

Participate in the implementation of service/Trust Clinical Governance Plan.

Take delegated lead on the implementation of team objectives or projects in liaison with peers.

To advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, and service pressures, and clinical risk.