Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Job overview
Band 7 (0.4wte) Community Paediatric Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
We are looking for a highly specialist speech and language therapist to work within our preschool complex needs (PSCN) team, providing assessment, differential diagnosis and intervention for children from birth to 5 years of age. This post has a communication focus, so preschool dysphagia experience would be useful but is not essential.Experience of the EHCNA process is essential. The post will be based in Stowmarket CDC and includes multi-disciplinary team working, including joint therapy sessions currently held on Thursdays. The post holder must be able to manage the highly specialist caseload independently, oversee the work of an assistant and have the ability to travel to rural locations.
There will be regular supervision and support sessions. We are an inclusive service and promote neuro-affirmative practises.
Interviews scheduled: 31^st March 2025
Main duties of the job
You will:
Independently manage a caseload of preschool children with a range of complex needs (PSCN). Provide assessments & deliver one to one interventions in a variety of community settings. Work closely with other MDT professionals which will include delivering joint therapy sessions.Upskill and empower therapy partners (parents, carers or educational staff) via direct and indirect work including face to face and virtual training groups (experience of Teams is desirable). Participate fully in the EHC process, which includes assessment & report writing for initial plans & reviews.
Use your knowledge and skills regarding eating/drinking issues to make onward referrals, signpost and support as required. You will work at a highly skilled level, be able to support less experienced colleagues and lead with students. You will support innovations in the team and actively participate in whole team & pathway meetings.
Familiarity with Systm One is advantageous however training is available
Working for our organisation
#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?
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the job description attached
Education and development
To maintain and develop clinical excellence and professional competence through continuing professional development, and to reflect on and evaluate learning undertaken
To maintain up to date working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, and other legal frameworks
To share and promote learning within SLT Team, and more widely if required
To provide in-service training sessions as appropriate to relevant staff
To develop, organise, plan and deliver specialist training sessions for teachers/parents/carers and other professional staff
To provide specialist clinical advice to other professionals
To provide clinical and managerial supervision including appraisals to junior staff- To actively provide second opinions/supervision to other therapists
To contribute to the identification of training needs within the team
To develop workforce / staff where applicable such as managing development posts for specialist area or pathway, apprentices and supporting individual staff development needs within area of expertise by offering shadowing / on-site learning, coaching or signposting to self-directed learning.
Person specification
Education & Qualification
Essential criteria- • Recognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
- • Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council
- • Member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- • Evidence of continuing professional development via RCSLT log or portfolio
- • Evidence of further post graduate short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload
- • Masters level additional relevant qualification
- • Committee role or other active role within a Clinical Excellence Network
- • Certified trainer for relevant specialist areas e.g. Attention Autism/Makaton/ADOS/TOMs
- • Coaching / leadership or mentoring courses or qualifications
Experience
Essential criteria- Evidence of carrying out a significant number of clinical assessments
- Evidence of planning and delivering a significant number of therapy interventions with clients/families
- Evidence of working within educational / home settings
- Experience of using outcome measures
- Experience of delivering in-service training within a range of settings
- Experience in supervising junior staff and students
- • Experience of working clinically with children/young people in relevant settings
- • Experience of offering second opinions / supporting differential diagnosis
- • Experience of being Lead Educator for student placement Educator Training
- • Experience of management supervision / appraisals
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria- In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions
- Up to date Safeguarding
- Enhanced written and verbal communication skills, including record keeping, interpersonal and training others
- Good organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload for self and team
- Good awareness of relevant policies & procedures pertaining to working in a health care environment e.g health & safety legislation, clinical governance, equality & diversity
- Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
- Able to triage
- Experience of record keeping via SystmOne
- Coaching / mentoring or team leadership skills
- In depth knowledge of child development ages and stages and application to diagnosis and treatment
- Knowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and experience of writing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria- • Able to cope with exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
- • Flexible, able to manage changing circumstances
- • Ability to work in a team
- Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
- • Experience with managing difficult / changing circumstances
- • Able to lead e.g. small teams, project work or equivalent