Specialist Speech & Language TherapistNHS

Job summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our large, friendly and innovative paediatric Speech and Language Therapy team. We can offer the opportunity to work alongside a diverse range of skilled clinicians and support staff across a well-established service. We place equal importance on delivering excellent outcomes for children and young people and ensuring the wellbeing, development and support of our workforce.

As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist you will provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children with complex communication disorders. This includes children across a range of settings (e.g., mainstream schools, special schools, designated provisions), but in particularly pre-school age children known to our Child Development Centre (CDC). You will work closely with a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist within this role.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, in particularly those with complex developmental needs. They will manage an independent paediatric caseload, develop and evaluate evidence-based therapy programmes, and work closely with families, education staff and multidisciplinary teams to achieve positive outcomes.

The role includes providing advice, training and support to parents, carers and professionals, producing clinical reports and contributing to statutory processes such as Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The postholder will use advanced clinical reasoning to inform decision-making, communicate complex and sensitive information effectively, and ensure care is child-centred and tailored to individual needs.

The postholder will contribute to service development, clinical governance, audit and quality improvement activities, while maintaining accurate records and complying with professional, safeguarding and information governance requirements. They will also support the development of colleagues, students and support staff through supervision, training and mentorship, and maintain their own continuing professional development in line with HCPC and RCSLT standards.

Job description

As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist you will provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children with complex communication disorders. This includes children across a range of settings (e.g., mainstream schools, special schools, designated provisions), but particularly pre-school age children known to our Child Development Centre (CDC).

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Skills

To assess and diagnose children with communication disorders, including those with special needs. May be required to take a lead role in the day to day running of a community caseload and/or mainstream schools and support a Highly Specialist SLT working with children with complex needs at the Child Development Centre.

To develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy programmes for school staff and parents to implement and to evaluate outcomes for children with communication difficulties.

To take clinical responsibility for a varied paediatric caseload of differing complexities and to organise this effectively regarding clinical priorities and use of time.

To ensure that clients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their treatment plans wherever possible.

To provide advice and coaching to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication difficulties

To provide advice and coaching to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication difficulties through case discussions, joint intervention and assessment and therapy programmes as appropriate

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures

To produce reports regarding clients needs and summarising proposed treatment plans

To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health & Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews

To adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences

To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies

To share information with clients, carers and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines

To contribute to multi and uni-disciplinary teams to ensure a client focused approach to treatment

To communicate complex information from assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals

To communicate effectively with the child or young person and their carers to maximise treatment potential and ensure understanding of their condition. Addressing physical, psychological and emotional barriers to effective communication will be regularly required.

To work closely with clients, carers and other professionals to negotiate and agree client management

To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding exist

To respond sensitively at all times particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications

To demonstrate skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic process

To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in line with North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust policy

To foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties and may be under stress

To employ excellent communication skills

To identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance the effectiveness of communication, both verbal, non- verbal and environmental

To assess and advise on optimising the clients communicative environment, taking into consideration the communication skills of carers and other professionals

To assess the capacity of the child or young person to give valid, informed consent. To be able to work within a legal framework with children and parents for consent to treatment.

Teaching Skills

To participate in the development and delivery of training/coaching to others with and without support.

To demonstrate the ability to target training appropriately to the needs of course participants.

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided

Please see attached full Job Description and Person Specification.

About us

Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.

Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).

They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

Our mission

We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

Our vision

We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

Our values

• Kind: We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
• Open: We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair: We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team: We work well together and with our communities