Speech and Language Associate Practitioner
We are delighted to offer this opportunity to work as a Speech and Language Therapy Associate Practitioner within CNWL Allied Health Professional (AHP) Support Workers. The AHP Support Workers are vital in CNWL’s therapies teams and have varied roles across many clinical services, as Assistants and Associate Practitioners to Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dietitians and Podiatrists. Roles also include Activity Coordinators and Fitness Instructors.
Overview
The successful applicant will independently model and coach identified interventions for children with speech, language and communication needs in Early Years under the guidance of a qualified therapist. This includes delivering training to parents and Early Years staff, monitoring progress, and developing low-technology communication aids as appropriate.
Main duties and responsibilities
* To independently model and deliver identified interventions to children in Early Years, including intensive interaction and group work, under the guidance of a qualified therapist.
* To independently deliver identified training to parents of children with communication needs under the guidance of a qualified therapist.
* To independently deliver identified training to Early Years staff on strategies and interventions to support children with speech, language and communication needs.
* To independently monitor the progress of identified children (informal assessments, observations and discussions with early years staff and parents) under the guidance of a qualified therapist and to feedback findings.
* To devise, design and produce low-technology communication aids and model their use.
* To produce resources for intervention and maintain resources appropriate to the clinical environment and child’s needs as requested by therapists.
* To support with the running of any school holiday group sessions run by the team.
* To prioritise the safeguarding of vulnerable children at all times.
Responsibilities and duties (Expanded)
* To independently model and deliver identified interventions to children in Early Years, with supervision from a qualified speech and language therapist.
* To offer identified training to Nursery/School staff and parents on strategies and interventions to support children with speech, language and communication needs.
* To support qualified speech and language therapists to deliver training to staff and parents as needed, including organizing this as required.
* To monitor progress and feed back findings to the speech and language therapist.
* To communicate with parents, carers, Early Years/school staff and other professionals, informing the speech and language therapist of any concerns or progress noted.
* To maintain timely records (e.g., SystmOne) documenting input at the earliest opportunity, typically by end of the working day or the next working day at the latest.
* To liaise with other members of the speech and language therapy team to ensure continuity of care.
* To provide written and verbal communication at all levels with clients’ carers/parents and other professionals, including external agencies.
* To keep up to date with developments within the service and apply them to working practice.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Recognised Degree qualification or equivalent
Desirable criteria
* First class honours degree or equivalent
* Further training courses relevant to the post
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
* Relevant experience of working with pre-school children in a work setting
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working as a speech and language therapy assistant
* Experience of working with autistic children
* Experience of working with children with special needs
* Experience of delivering training
* Experience of running group interventions
* Experience of providing intensive interaction sessions
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to pre-school children with SLCN
* Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to pre-school children with SLCN
* Knowledge of appropriate therapy strategies for children with SLCN including speech, language, stammering, social communication
* Awareness of the roles of other professionals relevant to pre-school children with SLCN
* Knowledge of standards of record keeping
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working with a range of children with SLCN
* Experience of modelling strategies to parents and school/early years staff
* Experience of working within a MDT
* Experience of using SystmOne as the electronic record
Seniority level
* Entry level
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Health Care Provider
Industries
* Hospitals and Health Care
Note: This description excludes irrelevant boilerplate and location-based job suggestions that do not pertain to the role.
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