BAND 6 EARLY YEARS SPECIALIST SLT1.0 WTE

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist who is passionate about working with preschool children including those with complex needs. The successful candidate will work with a dynamic and innovative team of therapists and therapy assistants, delivering high quality SLT packages of care to children in our Early Years and Complex Needs caseloads across a range of settings. This post is based within Aylesbury, although the successful applicant will need to travel across Buckinghamshire to meet service needs.

The successful applicant will work alongside professionals within the CYP Team covering a varied caseload including children with physical difficulties, global developmental delay and autism. The post requires close collaboration with parents, and health and education professionals, to deliver a range of evidence-based packages.

The successful applicant will support the management of paediatric dysphagia. Experience of paediatric dysphagia is desirable, but we welcome candidates without prior experience, but with interest in developing their skills as training needs will be supported.

We have a strong commitment to CPD and regular clinical supervision. Access to specialist training is available via internal and external courses, mentoring, clinical supervision, attendance at regional and national CEN meetings etc.

Access to a car / ability to travel between county-wide locations is essential.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide specialist clinical input for Early Years children within Buckinghamshire, working across our EY Mainstream service and EY Complex Needs Team. They willresponsible for co-ordinating an Early Years caseload to individuals in range of early years settings, clinics and at home.

They will be required to:

• Use specialist clinical skills to manage a specialist caseload of children with speech, language and communication needs, including those with complex needs, aged 0-5years.
• Identify, assess and diagnose communication and/or dysphagia impairments, and select appropriate therapy for effective evidence-based treatment.
• Support the development of services and resources to develop the skills and confidence of families and professionals supporting children with communication and/or feeding difficulties within early years.
• Support Clinical Leads in developing provision for children within Early Years including those with complex needs.
• Provide second opinions and support to less experienced colleagues.
• Take students on placement for clinical teaching and supervision, including exam placement.
• Undertake supervision and support of registered and unregistered staff working at lower grades and volunteers.
• To assist in the delivery of specialist training to a wide range of professions and agencies within Buckinghamshire.
• To undertake specific responsibilities as defined and designated by the Heads of Service/Team Leads.

About us

Why colleagues think we are a great place to work!

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.

Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.

We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

What do we stand for?

Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.

Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.

We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.

We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.

We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact Pam.Daley@nhs.net (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.

We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient/client care

1. To assess, develop and implement specialist speech and language therapy treatment.

2. To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessments, including differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment. To develop specialist care plans based in best practice and expert knowledge

3. To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge

4. To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes. To use skills and knowledge to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues

5. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication difficulties and/or feeding/swallowing impairments. To provide specialist advice in relation to relevant care group

6. To work collaboratively and liaise with a wide range of professions across a variety of locations and agencies

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

8. To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs.

9. To promote childrens rights in all aspects of the role and to help develop a shared understanding of what this means in practice.

Policy / service development / implementation

1. To contribute in the implementation of team objectives or projects in liaison with peers

2. To support the development of care protocols/packages for specific clinical areas

3. To advise Line manager / Clinical Coordinator on issues of service delivery, including shortfall, service pressures etc.

4. To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager/ Clinical Coordinator, including participation in working groups, policy development groups

5. To contribute to interagency / multi-disciplinary team building and policy development

6. To be aware of, adhere to and implement Trust, Service and team plans and policies, including:

Providing regular, timely statistical returns in keeping with Trust requirements

Maintaining high quality clinical records in accordance with Service and Trust Guidelines and within data protection guidelines

Ensuring understanding and adherence to Trust health and safety requirements, including attendance on mandatory training courses

To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, etc.

Participation in the Trust incident reporting and risk management procedures

8. To use specialist knowledge to inform Service / policy developments as appropriate, and to implement policy within own specialist area

9. To participate in the implementation of Service / Trust Clinical Governance Plan

Financial and physical resources

1. To monitor stock levels in own service area, and request new equipment as appropriate

2. To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained, including equipment loaned to clients

Human resources

1. To provide regular specialist training on a range of topics

2. To facilitate the development of others problem-solving/negotiation skills within peer review / support

3. To provide mentoring, advice and support to more junior Speech & Language Therapists, assistants and volunteers. To supervise the work of unregistered staff, volunteers and other professionals

4. To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate

6. To provide second opinions to less experienced colleagues, and expert opinions to others

7. To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students, volunteers and other professionals

8. To assist in the support of students from other professional groups as appropriate within the specialty

9. To assist in the identification of the training needs within the team and wider service

Information resources

1. To maintain up-to-date and accurate case notes in line with Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy professional standards and local trust policies

2. To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines

3. To gather and update activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines

Research and development

1. To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness

2. To undertake Research / Clinical Governance / audit projects within area of expertise

3. To participate in departmental research and clinical governance / audit projects

4. To collect and provide research data as required

Freedom to act

1. To manage a complex and specialist caseload independently

2. To monitor and evaluate own specialist service delivery and provide progress reports as appropriate

3. To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate

4. To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct

5. To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals

Communication and relationship skills

1. To contribute to clinical teams, both multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary, by discussing own and others input around clients needs, ensuring a well coordinated care plan

2. To present and communicate complex condition related information in such a manner as to motivate and inform clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team / other professions, agreeing decision-making relevant to patient / client management

3. To use good interpersonal skills to listen well and counsel patients and carers, so providing support and empathy without prejudice

4. To use negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations

5. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible

6. To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties

7. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children with a range of cognitive, communication, behavioural, physical and feeding / swallowing impairments and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of their difficulties and implications of the same

Knowledge, training and experience

1. To demonstrate specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence-based practice

2. To make specialist clinical decisions following assessment of complex cases

3. To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan / Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives relating to clinical specialism

4. To participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence for clinical specialism

5. To participate in Appraisal ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical specialism

6. To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in this field to keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good speech and language therapy practice in a range of pre-school settings in a designated geographical area and maintain up to date Health Professions Council and Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy registration

7. To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to, Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines

8. To develop and deliver specialist training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise

9. To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists / professionals within clinical field

10. To maintain a working knowledge of relevant procedures / statutory requirements including: Safeguarding Children, Special Educational Needs procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks

Analytical and judgmental skills

To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs, and seek advice and support as necessary to resolve it

To use specialist knowledge and clinical expertise to analyse complex cases in order to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management, and to design appropriate treatment from a range of options

To analyse and interpret complex information relating to patients and to service provision in order to plan patient care and service development

To actively participate in reflective clinical supervision with peers / clinical supervisor in order to develop and enhance practice

To target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants and reflect on and evaluate training provided

Planning and organisational skills

1. To manage and prioritise own caseload independently

2. To manage and prioritise
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

CR6312869