Speech and Language Therapist (Development Role B5-6)

Job overview

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to work within our  Intensive Support Service.

The intensive support service provides specialist multidisciplinary community intensive support to adults with learning disabilities who are in crisis due to escalation in behaviours of concern and/or deterioration of their mental health. The focus of the service is to support individuals to remain in their home, to prevent, where possible, the breakdown of care arrangements/placement and prevent admission to hospital.

The service acts as a gateway to the inpatient assessment and treatment service and works in close liaison with inpatient services to facilitate appropriate admission ad timely discharge from services. The team operates 9am-5pm 365 days of the year and works with service users in a variety of health and social care settings across Norfolk and Waveney.

You will be forward thinking and able to demonstrate clinical knowledge in the area of adult learning disabilities based on current evidence. You will autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions with individuals with both communication difficulties and dysphagia.

Main duties of the job

To work within the Norfolk  and Waveney Intensive  Support Service offering SLT assessment and intervention for service users with a learning disability, mental health issues and complex needs. This will be undertaken in partnership with:

• The individual ·       The individual’s carers / family members ·       Members of the multidisciplinary team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Job Responsibilities (Band 5):

To manage a small defined caseload, using evidence-based person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To provide this service-to-service users, who present with communication and/or dysphagia difficulties.

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team.

Job Responsibilities (Band 6):

To manage a diverse caseload, using evidence-based, person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.

To provide this service to service users with communication and/or dysphagia difficulties

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team.

Working Relationships of the Job (Band 5 and 6):

To work with other members of Norfolk Learning Disabilities Service.

To work with service users and carers within Specialist Learning Disability Services.

To work with other stakeholders including Health Facilitation, Community Learning Disability Teams, Primary and Secondary Care Services.

To link with other SLTs.

Communication Requirements of the Job (Band 5 and 6):

To monitor and evaluate treatment to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

To establish effective communication networks with service users and carers, team members, AHP colleagues and other agencies.

To participate and work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to decisions with regard to client care programmes.

To provide support and deliver education to clients, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team.

Clinical Responsibility (Band 5):

To assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users, including those with profound learning disabilities, additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour.

To select and apply SLT assessments for a designated caseload, addressing communication and/or dysphagia needs.

To work with service users and carers to identify SLT requirements as part of the overall care plan.

To plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the service user and carer.

To monitor, evaluate and modify interventions with service users to ensure effectiveness of intervention and positive outcomes.

To instruct and advise Assistant Therapy Practitioners (ATP) in the appropriate provision of interventions.

To have knowledge and understanding of the application of alternative and augmentative communication.

Clinical Responsibility (Band 6):

To assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users, including those with profound learning disabilities, additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour.

To assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users presenting with dysphagia.

To be responsible for assessment, differential diagnosis, formulation of treatment plans, writing assessment reports, providing appropriate intervention, evaluating treatment outcomes and reviewing and discharging service users

To be responsible for managing a defined caseload.

To work with and be available to other SLTs and ATPs for support and joint consultation as required.

To be an autonomous practitioner.

To work with service users and carers to identify SLT requirements as part of the overall care plan.

To have knowledge and understanding of the application of alternative and augmentative communication.

To have the skills needed to facilitate group work.

To undertake risk assessments and manage clinical and organisational risk.

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility (Band 5):

To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and reliable attendance

To demonstrate basic leadership skills.

To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff as appropriate.

To apply knowledge and skills to make decisions in the absence of senior staff.

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility (Band 6):

To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and reliable attendance.

To co-ordinate day-to-day activities of junior staff where applicable.

To demonstrate good leadership skills.

To participate in the induction, training and education of students and other staff as appropriate.

To participate in supervision of junior staff as appropriate.

To apply knowledge and skills to make decisions in the absence of senior staff.

Financial responsibility (Band 5 & 6):

To be responsible for maintaining stock, advising on resources to carry out the job.

To be responsible for the safekeeping and use of equipment and materials.

Service Development and Improvement (Band 5):

To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols.

To participate in the delivery of the SLT development plan.

To ensure Health & Safety Regulations and Data Protection Act Regulations are observed and instituted.

To take part in Risk Assessment and to attend mandatory training sessions.

Service Development and Improvement (Band 6):

To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols.

To participate in the delivery of the dysphagia pathway development plan.

To ensure Health & Safety Regulations and Data Protection Act Regulations are observed and instituted.

To take part in Risk Assessment and to attend mandatory training sessions.

To critically appraise and review current literature on relevant topics.

To take part in the annual appraisal process and develop a personal development plan.

To undertake professional and educational activities to develop knowledge and ensure maintenance of professional and clinical standards.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills (Band 5 & 6):

To apply increasingly complex skills and knowledge in order to establish professional competence and fitness to practice as a Specialist SLT.

To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio.

To comply with the HCPC and RCSLT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and national and Trust procedures.

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

Planning and Organisational Skills (Band 5 & 6):

Plan own diary and appointments with the service users and their carers in conjunction with the Specialist Learning Disability Community Service.

Physical Working Conditions and Environment (Band 5 & 6):

To work within the team base, clinic, community and in-patient setting as appropriate.

Information Resources (Band 5 & 6):

To ensure that up to date written electronic records and reports are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards.

To record appropriate statistical activity.