Speech and Language Therapist - Maternity Cover

To provide a speech and language therapy service to students at St Rose's, meeting communication and eating & drinking

• needs.
• if appropriate competencies have been completed/post graduate dysphagia qualification held
To be responsible for the management of a caseload of students with complex communication needs across school and college. To work as an autonomous practitioner completing assessments, planning and implementing interventions and evaluating therapy programmes.
• To be responsible and accountable for the management of a complex caseload across school and college of students with dysphagia. To offer assessments and make recommendations for safest practice to students, carers and families. To provide written guidelines and write risk assessments for students who eat orally and have a diagnosis of dysphagia. To provide staff training and make onward referrals to relevant professionals when appropriate.
Clinical Work:
• To offer Speech & Language Therapy to students at St Rose's, promoting the development of communication skills, and delivering a dysphagia service
• To work as an autonomous practitioner completing assessments, planning and implementing interventions and evaluating therapy programmes for students with complex physical and health needs
• To liaise with external agencies and allied health care professionals, including AAC WEST, AAC Suppliers, as well as consultants, case managers and private/individual therapists and make onward referrals as appropriate
• To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of students, communicate effectively with students, carers, members of the multi-disciplinary team and outside agencies, including onward referrals
• To demonstrate use of evidence-based practice, undertaking relevant training to maintain and develop best practice and meet student needs and own professional registration
• To ensure that students have an understanding of what they are doing in therapy and why it is relevant to them. With students who lack capacity to understand, to work in their best interest
• To accurately record all therapeutic interventions in accordance with professional standards, protocols and guidelines
• To contribute to student specific meetings and annual reviews and prepare reports and documentation to a high standard
• To promote a professional image and raise the profile and the role of the Speech and Language Therapy service
• To be responsive to the unpredictable demands of the post, undertaking other duties that may be within the scope of the role function
• To support students at break times and lunch times as required
• To assess the communication needs of children and young people and implement speech and language therapy interventions based on differential diagnosis and evidence-based practice, with support from clinical supervisor as necessary
• To work in partnership with parents and care-givers, by means of effective communication and joint working as appropriate
• To support the development of pupils' communication skills within an environment which promotes a 'Total Communication' approach
• To teach pupils the use of alternative and augmentative means of communication so that they may participate as fully and independently as possible in their education and a wide range of social opportunities
• To train staff in the use of alternative and augmentative communication devices
and strategies and make recommendations for the development of suitable resources
• To supervise students and volunteers when required
• To attend and contribute to appropriate staff meetings
• To be responsible for security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are met
Accountability, Communication and Liaison:
• Ensure that young people and their families/carers/teachers/support staff are involved and informed about their therapies
• Ensure that consent to specific therapy provision will be sought from all young people/parents/guardians
• Promote and develop good working relationships with relevant authorities and promote St Rose's locally, regionally and nationally
• Provide placing authorities/commissioners and parents with appropriate information as required
Personal Development:
• Undertake relevant training to ensure continued professional development in line with HCPC and RCSLT standards
• To engage in regular supervision with Speech Therapy colleagues and the wider Multi-disciplinary Team as appropriate