Speech and language therapist

You will be responsible for managing a clinic service to predominantly pre school children with speech, language and communication needs.
You will provide onoing therapy though groups or individual therapy.
You will set targets and care plans to meet children's needs through discussion with parents
You will provide advice/training to parents and other professionals around early intervention and prevention
To take part in quality governance, audits and projects for the team/service
To contribute to, and provide feedback about, possible developments in the team

We can offer you:
A supportive, friendly team of speech and language therapy colleagues

An identified buddy

Regular supervision meetings with a senior therapist every 6 weeks, along with an annual appraisal
Termly peer supervision meetings where you can discuss difficult cases, read articles together and share your experiences
A busy but manageable caseload working with pre-school children in the Early Years team
Working within the Children's integrated therapy service CITS- with close links with Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy colleagues
Opportunities for MDT working for assessment and ongoing therapy
Working with experienced assistants
Opportunities to develop your clinical skills and knowledge through termly study afternoons, shadowing more experienced therapists, membership of a SIG/CEN, opportunities to invite a senior therapist for a joint consultation

Come and join us and be one of the friendly and supportive 1500 Therapists / AHP's in CNWL. We work in many different teams in both physical and mental health, as well as a number of specialist areas. You could have a career for life with us and maintain your dual skills.

CNWL is very fortunate in having a long-established professional structure and this includes a Head of Therapies, an AHP associate director, Trust wide Professional Leads for all professional groups and borough and specialist professional leadership. This has the huge benefit of ensuring representation of our profession and therapies as a whole at all levels - both strategically and operationally.

Personal and professional development is a high priority for the profession this enables us to invest in the development of our staff by providing excellent internal training as well as commissioning specialised external training and providing quality supervision. This ensures all our therapists reach their full potential at every stage of their career. Our commitment to research, audit and evidence-based practice is made possible by our strong links with local universities and our CNWL AHP Research Network.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are a priority for us in CNWL we expect staff to be culturally competent, reflective and open to culturally diverse CPD opportunities.

Clinical

1.1 To assess, develop and implement specialist Speech and Language Therapy treatment,

1.2 To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes across the Early Years team.

1.3 To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Early Years children.

1.4 To facilitate relevant professionals/parents to carry out speech and language therapy programmes/strategies/advice

1.5 To monitor the effectiveness of speech and language therapy programmes/strategies/advice being delivered by other relevant professionals/parents and adjust as necessary

1.6 To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice as appropriate

1.7 To develop clear packages of care based on best practice and differential diagnosis and to use specialist clinical knowledge to inform case management.

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

1.9 To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in own specialist clinical area.

1.10 To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and supervisors and identify own strengths and development needs.

1.11 To manage own complex caseload independently and to prioritise workload using specialist skills, accessing support as appropriate

1.12 To use excellent communication skills.

1.13 To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve from a supervisor/team leader/ senior therapist

1.14 To use appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the work place, and to report any incidences of aggressive behaviour.

1.15 To ensure that children, their families and schools are involved in the planning and implementation of their care

1.16 To listen to the concerns of children, families and schools and provide support as appropriate.

1.17 To maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of children & their families, especially when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the child's difficulties and its implications.

1.18 To evaluate own delivery and to be accountable for own professional actions and decisions, and recognise own professional boundaries seeking advice as appropriate from supervisor/ team leader.

1.19 To report, in a timely manner, all concerns regarding Safeguarding issues to Team Leader or supervisor & to refer onto Social Services & Named Nurse for Safeguarding as appropriate, following the latest Safeguarding guidance/policy.

1.20 To share information in a timely manner with relevant school nurse/ health visitor.

1.21 To attend case conferences & core group meetings for children on the caseload, where appropriate.

1.22 To submit Safeguarding reports to case conferences and reviews even if not attending

1.23 To record all concerns and discussions/supervision regarding safeguarding issues in Systmone clinical notes

1.24 To attend safeguarding supervision at least termly

1.25 To work independently and to access clinical supervision sessions on a regular basis & appraisal on an annual basis.

1.26 To collate evidence of professional development related to the RCSLT CPD log & the band 6 KSF Dimensions.

1.27 To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and to negotiate with others around case management in complex cases.

1.28 To deal with initial complaints sensitively avoiding escalation where possible, and to inform the supervisor/ team leader in a timely fashion.

1.29 To communicate complex information from assessments and ongoing therapy to children, families and other professionals.

1.30 To demonstrate empathy with children, families and colleagues ensuring that effective communication is achieved particularly where barriers to understanding exist.

1.31 To write reports, and programmes/target sheets/care plans reflecting specialist knowledge which meet the needs of the child

1.32 To adapt practice to meet individual children's/carer's circumstances with due regard for cultural, linguistic differences (including the use of interpreting services), and /or learning and language difficulties.

1.33 To keep up to date with and adhere to service plans and policies giving constructive feedback as appropriate.

1.34 To advise team leader/ supervisor on issues of service shortfall or pressure.

1.35 To assume delegated tasks as requested by team leader/ supervisor as appropriate to a band 6

1.36 To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new

equipment as required via team leader.

1.37 To be responsible for the care and maintenance of equipment

ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained.

1.38 To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines.

1.39 To have due regard for own personal safety and that of children/ carers in particular to have regard to moving and handling policy, health & safety policies, infection control policies.

1.40 To report all incidents in a timely fashion and access learning following

incident investigation outcomes

1.41 To work within legal frameworks including: SEN procedures, safeguarding children and other legal frameworks.

1.42 To attend, contribute to, and occasionally present at Team and Departmental meetings.

We are looking for enthusiastic, flexible and innovative therapists to join the Early Years clinic and complex needs team. This post will require proficient skills in the assessment and management of pre school children, as well as working with other members of the team to support junior colleges and to continue to develop the service being offered. The appointed therapist will maintain up-to-date knowledge of national guidelines and policies related to service delivery.