Children's Speech and Language Therapist, Language Enrichment Team (LET) Band 5 37.5 hours full time, Permanent

There has never been a more exciting time to join the Speech and Language Therapy Team in Tameside and Glossop.We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our dynamic Language Enrichment Team.

We are moving forward in growing our service following some recent investment to grow our workforce and enhance our local offer.We are constantly striving to develop innovative approaches and strengthen our pathways with the goal of delivering improved care for our children and families across Tameside and Glossop.

It could not be a better time to join our organisation and be a part of the exciting future ahead as we take part in the AHP workforce supply project, focusing on professional development to meet the continually evolving needs of the population we serve.

The successful applicant will be responsible for delivering Service Level Agreements in Tameside, working directly in schools to promote whole school communication approaches and provide direct interventions for children with Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN).

Main duties of the job

Primarily completing service level agreements with schools. The therapist may also carry apersonal caseload of child clients and deliver a SLT service to those clients in community clinics, schools and other locations.

Deliver directly contracted SLT services to local schools, including screening, early intervention, training, and close working with education staff.

Develop professional knowledge and skills acquired during basic SLT training and initial work experience and increase both depth and breadth of clinical competence

About us

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves a community of 250,000 people across Tameside & Glossop. We provide a range of services both within the hospital and across our community for both adults and children.Our vision is to improve health outcomes for our population and influence wider determinants of health through collaboration with our health & care partners.

We have a clear set of values & behaviours which we expect all of our staff to demonstrate:

• Safety
• Care
• Respect
• Communication
• Learning

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian & minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ people & Disabled people.

Benefits include flexible working, 27-33 days annual leave plus bank holidays, sick pay, NHS Pension Scheme, free eye tests and health checks, gym discount, free bicycle loan scheme, salary sacrifice car scheme, support with stress, bereavement, relationships, finance, and much more.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Communications

• To overcome barriers to communication in working with children and their families/carers: some clients will have significant difficulties with speech, language or communication. Some may also have: English as an additional language, hearing impairments, learning difficulties, autism or psychological or emotional difficulties
• To communicate to clients and their families/carers complex information about speech, language and communication to ensure they understand and consent to assessment procedures and can participate fully in decision making regarding management
• To negotiate with clients, families and other professionals around setting up appointments and meetings, ensuring flexibility
• To communicate complex condition-related information from assessment to clients and their families/carers this may include giving unwelcome or difficult to accept information e.g. around the seriousness, implications or long-term nature of the difficulty
• To provide written reports, presenting complex information in a clear and accessible way reports may be provided to teachers, Local Education Officers, psychologists, GPs, medical consultants and other allied health professionals
• To assist other SLTs in the delivery of training for staff within the team and for other audiences this may include ward staff, teachers and voluntary groups
• To provide advice and support to SLT assistants and volunteer

Responsibility for Patient Care

• To manage a personal caseload of SLT clients. To assess and diagnose all cases referred to seek out a second opinion or to refer on as necessary
• To deliver a range of basic SLT care plans, evaluating the outcomes of these and amending as appropriate. To work in conjunction with senior or specialist SLTs to identify and deliver care plans for more complex cases
• To work closely and often for extended periods with clients referred for SLT and with their families/carers these clients will have specific difficulties with speech, language and communication. Some clients will also have hearing impairment, learning difficulties, psychological or emotional difficulties clients may not have English as their first language and interpreter services will be required
• To contribute to clinical teams both multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary by discussion of own and others input around clients needs and management
• To direct clients/carers to appropriate voluntary agencies and external services for support and information, e.g. Paren
• To assist patients/service users/carers/relatives during incidental contacts

Planning and organising

• To organise own workload effectively, prioritising tasks and planning ahead by setting both long- and short-term goals
• To organise and plan own day to day workload or activities in order to meet the demands of the job role

Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources

• To monitor and maintain equipment and stock kept for own use this will include test materials and disposables (recording and analysis sheets), therapy materials, audio and video recording equipment
• To ensure any equipment or material that is loaned to clients or families is safe, well maintained and appropriately used
• To ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, resources and consumables at all times

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation

• To be familiar with and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures, including requirements for mandatory training
• To be familiar with and adhere to national and local clinical guidelines
• To ensure attendance at all mandatory training and to attend regular staff meetings with at least 75% attendance
• To be aware of, comment on and/or actively participate in changes on policies, procedures or service developments
• To embrace and support line management and the department in making service improvements effective within the workplace.

Responsibilities for Human Resources and Leadership

• To be aware of and observe all HR policies and know where to access these
• To support new or less experienced work colleagues to adapt to the workplace

Responsibilities for Teaching and Training

• Participate in clinical placements and supervision of SLT students and others e.g. student nurses
• To participate in the training and induction of SLTs, assistants and volunteers
• To participate in training and development activities that are relevant to the job role

Responsibilities for data and information resources

• To maintain comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date case notes for own clients, adhering to professional and PCT standards
• To undertake data collection as required by the PCT and submit timely and accurate data as required this will include information about patient contacts, caseload figures and activity levels

Research, Development and Audit

• To contribute to and participate in surveys or audits as required by the SLT co-ordinator or manager
• To participate in and submit data for research being carried out by others, e.g. university research projects this is unlikely to be a regular or frequent requirement of the post.

Physical Skills and Effort

• The post-holder will work in a range of settings, including the community and will have to transport therapy and assessment materials, case notes etc. Limited space will be available in some environments, and for work with children, the therapist may be sitting on the floor or using child-size furniture. For some clients, the therapist will need to manoeuvre and position wheelchairs
• The post-holder is required to concentrate for extended periods of time e.g. whilst assessing clients, carrying out treatment or making observations in naturalistic settings
• Intense concentration is required in working with clients with speech, language and communication difficulties, and the SLT will be monitoring aspects of the clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to the perceived needs of the client, including cultural and linguistic differences
• The SLT is required to work in non-optimal settings (e.g. in local schools and clients homes) where lack of sound proofing, frequent distractions, lack of suitable space make concentration more difficult
• The SLT will work with clients who are experiencing health and social difficulties, and offer support to families and carers in distressing or difficult circumstances such as when giving unwelcome news about a diagnosis, explaining the limits of SLT intervention or discussing the long-term implications of a childs difficulties
• Some clients will have emotional and behavioural difficulties, including autism and challenging behaviour children with severe communication difficulties may be passive and withdrawn or aggressive and overactive
• Working with children, particularly children in need, the SLT may be directly involved in child protection issues, and some clients have serious and complex medical problems.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Health Professions Council Registration
• Full UK Driving Licence/Access to a vehicle for work
• Registered membership of RCSLT (Practice Register)

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions appropriate to the client group/s
• Knowledge of a range of assessment tools and approaches appropriate to the client group/s
• Aware of current professional and theoretical knowledge appropriate to the client group/s
• Knowledge of child and vulnerable adult protection and safeguarding issues

Desirable

• To have knowledge of National Care Record System (Lorenzo)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working /clinical placement with children with complex needs
• Evidence of current and ongoing CPD
• Experience of basic administration and organisation for caseload management

Desirable

• Previous experience gained in NHS setting
• Experience of managing or supervising therapy assistants and technical instructors
• Experience of dysphagia assessment and management

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• To be competent in assessing a range of communication difficulties, devising SMART targets and providing treatments .
• To be able to prioritise and plan own workload appropriately .
• To have good communications skills and be able to adapt to sometimes sensitive or difficult circumstances .
• To be a positive member of the team and be able to motivate children and adapt treatment plans to individual children's needs .

Work Related Circumstances

Essential

• Willingness to participate in and attend training as required
• To be flexible in terms of working hours dependent on the changing priorities of the role
• Willingness to abide by the Trust's policies and procedures and to observe the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• To be aware of safe guarding procedures

Desirable

• To have experience of moving and handling children/patients and be willing to work in line with the Trust's Moving and Handling Policy

Employer details

Employer name

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rowan House

Grange Rd South

Hyde

SK14 5NU

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

245-AHP5CSALT-04-24-A