Job overview
Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist Dysphagia & Complex Needs
The post is being offered as 0.4 WTE
15.00 Hours Per Week
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated band 6-7 Speech and Language Therapist in Barnet Children's Integrated Therapies Complex Needs and Dysphagia team in our early years complex needs and dysphagia team. The post is being offered as 0.4 WTE to join our wonderful team. Applications for band 6/7-run through are welcome - this would be a great development opportunity in a supportive team.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be based within the Barnet Complex Needs and Dysphagia SLT Team which delivers services to children aged 0 - 5 years in their homes, health clinics and in early years settings.
The postholder will hold a clinical caseload of complex children including babies / young children with dysphagia and provide both assessment and intervention. This will involve a high level of MDT working and regular liaison with specialist and tertiary services. You will work alongside SLT colleagues who carry similar caseloads and work closely together. The post holder will be expected to support the communication development and where necessary the swallowing /feeding needs of children on their caseload.
Working as a specialist in early years, the post holder will also provide training, second opinions and supervision to other therapists within the team and the wider workforce.
Working for our organisation
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See job description for further details and main responsibilities
1.To carry a personal clinical caseload to a high level of professional competence and demonstrate clinical expertise.
2.To assess, differentially diagnose, plan and implement therapy for children with dysphagia and speech, language and/or communication difficulties on own caseload and supervise others to do so.
3.To work effectively with clients, carers, and colleagues around individual case management; providing advice, guidance and support as necessary and involving them in the planning and prioritisation of care wherever possible
4.To provide second opinions in your field of clinical expertise to Whittington Health clinical staff on children with dysphagia/complex communication disorders.
5.To reflect on clinical practice; adequately identifying strengths & needs of clients, reviewing their response to therapy and providing evidence of sound clinical judgement.
6.To monitor and review the progress of children on caseload and facilitate the development or modification of packages of care / targets as appropriate using evaluation/outcome measurement tools as a key part of the MDT
7.To adapt practice to meet individual client/carer’s circumstances, taking into account cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
8.To produce accurate, & detailed reports, therapy programmes, advice and information as necessary in a timely manner.
9.To respond to the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 completing written advice (EHCP) for children/young people who may have Special Educational Needs.
10.To refer children/young people to other Health, Education or Social Services professionals as necessary.
11.To undertake home visits, as necessary, in compliance with the local Home Visiting Safety Policy.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
2. Degree or equivalent and Licence to Practice
3. Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC
4. Further study to master’s or equivalent level in clinical field, including completion of short courses
5. Member of relevant clinical excellence network
Experience
Essential criteria
6. •Work with babies and children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties including those associated with complex needs and/ or feeding difficulties
7. •Collaborative work with parents and other professionals, across settings
8. •Training others, supervising and/or supporting others
9. •Knowledge of the evidence base of area of speciality (feeding difficulties of babies and children)
10. •Dysphagia experience at the highly specialist level including a minimum of 2 years experience working with babies and infants with complex needs
11. •Experience of working in the community
12. •Work with the Clinical team lead in the day to day management of other team members including annual leave, and sickness monitoring and carrying out appraisals.
13. •Experience of clinical governance framework to monitor and improve patient care
14. •Experience of organising and implement training programmes for colleagues and other professionals
15. •Use of outcome measures
16. Involvement in audit and research
Desirable criteria
17. •Clinical educator training
18. •Minimum 5 yrs post Postgraduate experience of working with children in a paediatric setting
Knowledge/skills
Essential criteria
19. An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance
20. Sound understanding of confidentiality
21. Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community
22. •Normal Child Development of Speech & Language and general developmental milestones
23. •Advanced knowledge of appropriate range of assessments and interventions for education and in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities, utilising a range of approaches and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits to individual children.
24. •Religious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management principles and models of Adult-Child Interaction
25. •In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures (especially Code of Practice), Education Practice and Policy and Foundation Curriculum
26. •Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group) especially within MDT
27. •Knowledge of professional standards of record keeping
28. •Holistic view of communication and philosophy to back this
29. •Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
30. •Good auditory discrimination skills
31. •Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership
32. •Manual dexterity sufficient to carry out physical swallowing assessment and use high and low tech assessment equipment and for signing
33. •IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes including word processing and use of email
34. •Able to independently manage own and others’ clinical caseload and prioritise as required
35. •Clear, concise verbal and written reporting skills and excellent presentation skills of complex information
36. •Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals’ needs
37. •Ability to deal with and resolve conflict demonstrating highly developed negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
38. •Sensitivity to others’ differing needs
39. •Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
40. •Well-developed concentration skills
Desirable criteria
41. Previous NHS experience
42. •Current issues in the delivery of community based services Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community
Skills
Essential criteria
43. Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
44. Advanced knowledge of the evidence base of rehabilitation relating to specialist area.
45. Excellent specific therapy assessment and treatment skills in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities utilising a range of approaches.
46. Able to independently manage own and others clinical caseload and prioritise as required
47. Demonstrates effective communication skills with all disciplines and agencies
48. Clear, concise verbal and written reporting skills
49. Excellent Interpersonal skills with regard to individual client management (including empathy, observation and interview skills).
50. Excellent presentation skills of complex information
51. Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals’ needs
52. IT skills including word processing and use of email
Other
Essential criteria
53. Able to travel around the borough independently
54. •Commitment to equal opportunities
55. •Professional manner
56. •Flexible approach to work
57. •Uses initiative
58. •Commitment to Continuing Professional Development
59. •Able to respond to pressure appropriately
60. •Awareness of Trust values and evidence of putting these into practice
Desirable criteria
61. Car driver and access to a car
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:
62. Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
63. Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
64. Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
65. Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
66. Participate in required training and supervision.
67. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.