The NELFT Children's Feeding and Dietetic service includes the feeding team. The team includes a range of different professions - Dietitian, Occupational Therapist , Speech and Language Therapist and Specialist Children's Nursing along with both team assistant and administrator support.

Due to staff relocation, the feeding team is seeking to recruit a part time, experienced dysphagia speech therapist to join the team and our other Speech and Language Therapist, to support children (0-19) with physical feeding difficulties.

There are opportunities for remote/ flexible working within NELFTs commitment to staff wellbeing and agile working. The all the team members are co-located in the same office which helps support successful collaborative team working.

Whilst the service hope is is to recruit a therapist experienced in managing both over and under one's. We recognise that many experienced therapists may not have completed their under 1 competencies. Support and training can be offered to help develop under 1 skills for the right applicant.

Main duties of the job

The feeding team is community based (Wickford, Essex) and supports children living in Basildon, Brentwood and Thurrock within the larger Mid and South Essex ICS. The feeding team has strong links to both the local acute, surrounding community and tertiary teams.

We offer families support at home, in education settings or in community clinics (face to face / virtually) and target our resources to meet the needs of the individual.

About us

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement - Fringe

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of �1,258 to a maximum of �2,122 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Job description

Job responsibilities

Assessment:

• Assessment of swallowing function for solids and liquids
• Identify swallowing impairment and potential impact
• Assessment of oral skills whilst eating and drinking
• Assessment of parent child interaction and child response to feeding
• Supporting and recommending onward referrals for instrumental assessment and / or Services (i.e ENT or Tertiary SLT for VFSS)

Intervention:

• Manage eating risk by texture modification
• Manage drinking risk by fluid consistency modification
• Strategies to develop safe eating and drinking skills
• Management of Risk Feeding.
• Interpretation of Video fluoroscopy reports.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent, fully registered with the appropriate professional or regulatory body (HCPC).
• Registration and membership with the appropriate professional and regulatory body
• Post graduate training in dysphagia (Paediatrics)
• Competencies in working with patients with neurological conditions

Experience

Essential

• Significant relevant experience at undergraduate/post graduate level
• Experience of clinically supervising and managing less experienced colleagues
• Experience of working in a multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of storing and maintaining electronic records
• Working in an NHS environment

Desirable

• Planning and delivery of training to other professionals

knowledge

Essential

• An awareness of NHS priorities
• Maintaining efficient administrative systems
• Clinical knowledge of paediatric feeding and swallowing difficulties associated with medical conditions and developmental needs
• Knowledge of assessment tools, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
• Awareness of the roles of other professionals and working as a multidisciplinary team
• In depth knowledge of safeguarding children and looked after children.

Desirable

• Awareness of Government policy and legislation and how this may affect service delivery

Skills

Essential

• Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
• Ability to apply continued professional development to practice
• Able to construct clear care plans for complex cases based on analysis of information from assessment, theoretical knowledge and clinical benchmarking to make highly specialist clinical decisions
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy ensuring that effective communication is achieved
• Negotiation, problem solving concentration, analytical and reflection skills

Desirable

• Written and verbal presentation skills

other

Essential

• To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Franklins Way Surgery

2 Franklins Way

Wickford

SS11 8AU

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

395-EC778-24