Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

We are looking for an  enthusiastic and motivated Highly Specialist speech and language therapist to join our large Whittington Health team which includes specialists in many clinical areas.  You will gain new skills and experiences and support Barnet children and young people, their families, and schools.  We have a strong focus on working with families and achieving the best outcomes for the children and young people.

The role is based in Special schools, additional resourced provisions and mainstream schools and offers a breadth of experience and the opportunity to have impact on supporting across the team.

Main duties of the job

Clinical skills

To take a major role in the specialist assessment of children who have speech, language and communication needs in mainstream schools, Additional Resourced Provisions, and special schools.

To have specialist knowledge in specific requirements of own therapy discipline.

To manage quality of service delivery with co-workers by establishing and maintaining positive relationships with external co-workers outside of the trust through liaison, training and  education.

To develop comprehensive training programmes to support colleagues and outside agencies towards delivering an appropriate level of clinical practice across all disciplines and care providers.

See full job description for further information

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties Leadership

• Take appropriate action to identify and manage risk and to maintain safety of users, staff and others in accordance with relevant regulations, policies and procedures. 2.    Make sure you are trained and competent in the relevant policies and procedures which apply to the management of staff and other resources and abide by these policies; seeking advice as necessary from senior management and specialist staff as necessary. 3.    Communicate effectively with staff and maintain productive working relationships amongst  your staff and with others. 4.    Delegate appropriate responsibility to staff in order to ensure optimum and effective service delivery and decision making, whilst retaining overall accountability and responsibility for outcomes. 5.    Promote a culture of learning and development and facilitate arrangements for and participate in training and development of staff as agreed for the performance of their duties.

Clinical Skills

• To take a major role in the specialist assessment of children who have speech, language and communication needs in mainstream schools, Additional Resourced Provisions, and special schools.   2.    To have specialist knowledge in specific requirements of own therapy discipline. 3.    To manage quality of service delivery with co-workers by establishing and maintaining positive relationships with external co-workers outside of the trust through liaison, training and  education. 4.    To develop comprehensive training programmes to support colleagues and outside agencies towards delivering an appropriate level of clinical practice across all disciplines and care providers.

To share your clinical knowledge with other therapists within the Trust in relation to your defined clinical area by: 1.    Making your own practice fields known to colleagues. 2.    Updating colleagues on evidence base practice related to you practice field. 3.    Evaluating your own practice and participating in clinical audits. 4.    Contributing to developing outcome measures within your expert field.

To provide clinical advice and education to families and individual within your client group including: 1.    Undertaking assessments to establish required clinical needs in schools, clinics, children’s centres and the child’s home. 2.    Establishing regular health promotional initiatives for therapy related health issues, including displays and learning materials.

To manage information and act as a source of Therapy development by: 1.    Contributing to any written reports regarding your findings and  recommendations. 2.    Promoting any change in service delivery. 3.    Participating in clinic supervision and clinical audit. 4.    Continuing to self-evaluate practice.

To ensure continuing professional development is achieved in line with HCPC guidelines by: 1.    Being aware of your personal responsibilities. 2.    Managing your development time effectively. 3.    Actively prioritizing your development needs in relation to service developments. 4.    Actively participating in planned clinical supervision. 5.    Maintaining a professional diary or other form of written clinical professional development evidence.

Computer/Administration

• To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trust’s IM&T Strategy. 2.    To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patient’s records, maintaining confidentiality at all times. 3.    To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload. 4.    Be aware and report on the services performance targets in line with the service key performance indicators

Communication

• To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care. 2.    To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust. 3.    To be able to communicate complex patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working. 4.    Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision. 5.    Identify and report any service risks to the line manager in line with organisational policy.

Training

• To act as mentor to students, providing effective education, facilitating their development and promoting high standards of care. 2.    Ensure students are actively supported to enable them to achieve their learning needs. 3.    To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others. 4.    To undertake, and assist, in the planning of own mandatory training and workshops. 5.    To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy. 6.    To support new staff and their integration within the team. 7.    To support training as part of the role including changes to professional development and implementation of new policies and guidelines. 8.    To undertake training with school staff within special needs and mainstream schools around postural management.

Specific Tasks directly related to the post: 1.    To support the development of integrated pathways under the umbrella of either universal, targeted or specialist clinical pathways. 2.    To offer clinical supervision and lead professional guidance of therapists own particular discipline in the absence of the clinical lead for that discipline.

Working conditions:

• To undertake home visits – exposure to range of conditions some of which may be unpleasant 2.    To deal, on a daily/weekly basis, with saliva, mucus and oral residue of children who have swallowing, eating or drinking disorders. 3.    Occasional exposure to lice, unpleasant smells, verbal aggression.

Other 1.    To actively support the effective functioning and team work of the Service and the specific settings in which you are working. 2.    To undertake any other duties as required by the Heads of Speech & Language Therapy Services as required, providing it is within your abilities and commensurate with your grade 3.    To work in accordance to Whittington Health working policies and guidelines at all times, and approved local and national policy 4.    Adhere to the Whittington Health information security policy, in particular ensuring that there are no breaches of confidentiality as a result of your actions 5.    Majority of annual leave to be taken in school holidays where possible 6.    Hours of duty: 9.00 – 5.00 (flexible: e.g. 8.30 – 4.30) 7.    Core hours in school: 8.45 – 3.30