Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

Do you want to be part of a forward thinking, innovative team? Are you interested in applying your clinical skills to the rich and diverse community of Ealing? Do you want to work for an SLT service that is committed to Equality Diversity and Inclusion and Staff Wellbeing?

This permanent position would provide the opportunity to work with a varied caseload across our community paediatric service, including opportunities in our dysphagia team (if already trained in dysphagia). The successful applicant will further develop and consolidate their speech and language therapy knowledge in a highly supportive environment whilst learning and advancing their skills within Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy.

Please note that applicants must be able to commit to working a minimum of 22.5 hours per week (3 days/0.6 wte) within the Ealing Speech and Language Therapy team.

Main duties of the job

This exciting post will provide a varied opportunity for assessment and intervention for children with a range of communication needs referred into the service. Opportunities to deliver training and workshops to parents and professionals will also be integral to this post. As part of Ealing Services for Children with Additional Needs (ESCAN) the posts will also involve regular collaborative working with other professionals.

You will be part of a forward thinking department that provides a range of services and is always striving to be innovative and put research into practice to improve patient outcomes: Developing our team members in their career path is the corner-stone of this. This will be an ideal opportunity for a therapist looking to develop their skills in paediatric speech and language therapy who also has values that align with those of our organisation and is passionate about making a difference to children and young people.

The needs of the communities we serve can change, requiring the service to evolve and develop. In light of this, the duties required in this role may also change in line with the service and therefore the successful candidate needs to be flexible to accommodate this.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To demonstrate specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence based practice.
• To continue to develop in the assessment, diagnosis and management of a designated specialist caseload of children with communication with support: this includes complex cases
• To learn how to cater for children in the community and/or attending a specialist setting with a range of communication difficulties
• To reflect on practice with peers and identify strengths and needs.
• To show evidence of sound clinical judgement, evidence based practice and outcome measures.
• To communicate verbally and in writing, with parent/ carer/ client assessment findings, diagnosis and therapy intervention plan. This may include breaking bad news in a sensitive manner.
• To write appropriate reports and case notes, reflecting specialist knowledge.
• To negotiate with parents/clients/other professionals around case management with support as necessary and to recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve.
• To employ negotiation skills in the management of conflict with patients, carers and colleagues.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• To attend and contribute to relevant Speech and Language Therapy Team meetings and participate in team projects.
• To attend and participate in departmental study/development days.
• To work collaboratively as a member of multidisciplinary teams by discussing speech and language therapy input around client needs.
• To supervise assistants and volunteers as directed.
• To contribute to the teaching / training of parents, carers and other professionals.
• To be able to target training appropriately to the needs of course participants.
• To mentor newly qualified speech and language therapists.
• To provide full student speech and language therapy placements.
• To comment on proposed service/policy developments.
• To monitor service delivery and own specialist service delivery and report to line manager
• To be responsible for implementing agreed changes in working practice
• To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
• To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to clients.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
• To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines.
• To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.
• To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects, collecting and providing research data as required.
• To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries.
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
• To undergo appraisal at pre-determined intervals within departmental and Trust guidelines.
• To identify and attend relevant training and development in line with appraisal and service needs.
• To keep up to date with new developments within the profession.
• To develop a working knowledge of Clinical Governance and its application to professional practice.
• To monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of client’s communication. This may require prolonged periods of concentration.
• Any other duties commensurate within the band.

This job description gives a general outline of the post and is not intended to be inflexible or a final list of duties. It may therefore be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details on the role. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you show how you meet each of the criteria of the person specification providing illustrative examples where possible; as this is what you will be shortlisted against.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.