We have a vacancy for a B7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our School Age Complex Needs Pathway and to work 22.5 hours supporting pupils and staff at The Bridge School Ipswich and at Hillside School Sudbury.

This exciting role is suitable for an experienced therapist and includes responsibility for junior staff and assistants, service development and caseload management supported by the Pathway Lead.

You should have experience in working with pupils with complex physical, behavioural and communication needs alongside a learning disability and in using a range of total communication approaches. The ability to manage eating and drinking needs is also desirable.

We are a large, friendly team who embrace innovation and teamworking. We work in the beautiful location of Suffolk, which offers towns, coast and countryside, to provide a quality service to children and young people in the local area.

Main duties of the job

The role requires specialist clinical skills to manage the communication needs of a complex caseload of pupils with learning and physical disabilities alongside other co-occurring medical diagnoses.

You will be responsible for setting communication outcomes and targets working collaboratively with education staff and parents as part of the child's EHCP and annual review process.

You will also plan and deliver clinical sessions alongside the other SaLT team staff.

The Band 7 role includes supervision, leadership and support for junior colleagues (currently 6 staff across 2 sites).

You will liaise with the school and SaLT team colleagues to plan and deliver training for staff and parents both face to face and online.

You will also work alongside MDT colleagues including physio and O.T.

You will offer home visits for children who are not currently in school and provide advice to some Post 16 settings

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

Job description

Job responsibilities

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Please see full job description to view main responsibilities

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• oRecognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification (A)
• oRegistered with the Health & Care Professions Council (A)
• oMember of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (A)
• oEvidence of continuing professional development via RCSLT log or portfolio (A)
• oEvidence of further post graduate short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload:(A)

Desirable

• oMasters level additional relevant qualification (A)
• oCommittee role or other active role within a Clinical Excellence Network (A)
• oCertified trainer for relevant specialist areas e.g. Attention Autism/Makaton/ADOS/TOMs (A)
• oCoaching / leadership or mentoring courses or qualifications (A)

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of carrying out a significant number of clinical assessments (A)
• oEvidence of planning and delivering a significant number of therapy interventions with clients/families(A)
• oEvidence of working within educational / home settings (A)
• oExperience of using outcome measures (A)
• oExperience of delivering in-service training within a range of settings (A)
• oExperience in supervising junior staff and students (A
• oExperience of liaising with health and education colleagues and of working in partnership with clients/families/carers. (A/I)

Desirable

• oExperience of working clinically with children/young people in relevant settings (A)
• oExperience of being Lead Educator for student placement Educator Training (A)
• oExperience of offering second opinions / supporting differential diagnosis (A/I)
• oExperience of management supervision / appraisals (A)

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• oIn depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (A/I)
• oUp to date Safeguarding (A/I)
• oEnhanced written and verbal communication skills, including record keeping, interpersonal and training others. (A/I)
• oGood organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload for self and team (A/I)
• oGood awareness of relevant policies & procedures pertaining to working in a health care environment e.g health & safety legislation, clinical governance, equality & diversity (A/I)
• oDigitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating (A)
• oAble to triage (A)

Desirable

• oExperience of record keeping via SystmOne (A)
• oCoaching / mentoring or team leadership skills (A)
• oIn depth knowledge of child development ages and stages and application to diagnosis and treatment (A/I)
• oKnowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and experience of writing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports (A/I

Personal Qualities

Essential

• oAble to cope with exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances (A/I)
• oFlexible approach to working hours and duties
• oAn awareness of own communication style and ability to adapt to any situation
• Able to travel across the Trust (A)

Desirable

• Able to travel across the Trust (A)
• oAble to lead e.g. small teams, project work or equivalent (A/I)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Bridge School

Sprites Lane

Ipswich

IP8 3ND

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

179-6528217-I