We have a vacancy for a highly specialist speech and language therapist for deaf children and young people to work in the Deaf Communication team as part of the Children’s Community Speech and Language Therapy team.
Our team delivers a range of Speech and Language Therapy services to the community of Lambeth & Southwark in partnership with parents, health, education and social services.
Responsibilities
* Manage a caseload of deaf children and young people across Lambeth and/or Southwark.
* Advise and lead on service development in the Deaf Communication team with support from the clinical lead SLT in deafness.
* Provide training, support and second opinions to parents/carers, the wider SLT team and relevant professionals.
* As a senior therapist, take on service development work supported by departmental Clinical Leads.
* Offer line management and clinical supervision to junior colleagues with support from Leadership.
* Provide second opinions to colleagues as needed.
Professional / Clinical responsibilities
* Assess communication skills and develop and implement specialist Speech and Language Therapy programmes of treatment to meet the needs of clients.
* Adapt practice to meet individual patients’ and family circumstances, respecting cultural and linguistic differences.
* Identify children with additional needs and make appropriate onward referrals to other agencies.
* Ensure that children and parents can express their views and are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible.
* Communicate with severely–profoundly deaf children who may use British Sign Language as their primary mode of communication.
* Develop information and resources for parents, carers and other professionals about early communication with deaf children and related areas.
* Write comprehensive reports to be shared with families and a range of professionals, reflecting specialist knowledge.
* Provide specialist advice, intervention and develop care pathways for deaf children and young people.
* Guide and support educators and carers responsible for implementing strategies and programmes of work in support of children’s speech and language therapy goals.
* Identify training needs and develop, provide and evaluate appropriate training to parents, carers, volunteers, educators and practitioners at a local level.
* Keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice.
* Demonstrate good negotiation and planning skills across a range of issues including complex case management.
* Demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues and generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
* Demonstrate clinical effectiveness by using evidence‑based practice, reflective practice and outcome measures.
* Establish appropriate partnerships with agencies and disciplines seeking to promote social and educational inclusion for deaf children.
Management and Leadership
* Take a delegated lead in specific projects and events as appropriate and as requested by the team leader.
* Assume delegated tasks as requested by the team leader, including participation in working groups and policy development groups.
* Advise line manager on issues of service delivery, including access and equity shortfalls and service pressures.
* Develop care protocols/packages relating to the specialist area in liaison with the Team Leader to improve patient care.
* Contribute to inter‑agency/multi‑disciplinary working and team building.
* Negotiate with others, including health and social care professionals, to achieve seamless services for children with hearing loss.
* Use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments.
Financial and Physical Resources Responsibilities
* Monitor stock levels in own service area and request and purchase new equipment as appropriate.
* Be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained—including equipment loaned to clients.
Education & Professional Development
* Engage in reflective practice with peers through participation in peer review, peer mentoring and supervision as appropriate.
* Provide management, supervision, mentoring, advice and support to more junior Speech and Language Therapists, assistants and volunteers.
* Facilitate the development of others’ problem‑solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support.
* Plan, monitor and support the work of assistants, administration staff and volunteers.
* Resolve verbal complaints about the Speech and Language Therapy service in liaison with the team leader.
* Generate appropriate strategies for own workload management.
* Take on organisational responsibilities within, and contribute to, team meetings.
* Develop and review induction packages, and provide induction for more junior members of staff.
* Develop and provide regular specialist training on a range of topics.
* Explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to parents, visitors, students, other professionals and volunteers.
* Support students from other professional groups as appropriate.
* Provide full SLT student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate.
* Contribute to identifying training needs within the team.
* Participate in projects, activities and events, including attendance at and contributions to team meetings.
Information Management
* Maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
* Share information with carers, school staff and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines and client confidentiality.
* Gather and update activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.
* Participate in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.
* Contribute to team‑wide initiatives to seek the views of children, parents and partner organisations on the quality and effectiveness of service provided.
Benefits
* Varied and interesting work with a diverse population.
* A professionally led, data and evidence‑based service.
* Excellent supervision and support, alongside a commitment to learning and development.
* Separate line management and clinical supervision to ensure strong clinical performance and development opportunities.
* A range of training and shadowing opportunities.
* Extensive range of hardcopy and online resources; including team‑working applications, therapy applications and online assessments.
* Mobile working – access to a dedicated device (tablet/laptop/mobile phone) enabling access to Trust networks throughout your working day.
* Support from a friendly and sociable team – including a team choir and craft and other activities.
* Access to a full range of health and wellbeing activities within the Trust, e.g. sports and social club, swimming pool, Cycle to Work scheme, psychological support.
* EDI initiatives.
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