Band 5/6 Run-Through Speech and Language Therapist

at  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

CLCS are looking for a keen and dynamic therapist interested in developing your clinical skills whilst working in education. This post holder will manage a small caseload of schools, providing assessment/diagnosis, direct and indirect sessions, face to face and virtual therapy as required, as well as training to teachers, teaching assistants and parents. You will be working with children who have a wide range of SLCN. We offer support and regular clinical and line management supervision.
This post will offer you the opportunity to work closely with a range of schools, work closely with a diverse caseload, and develop your clinical and professional skills. Interest, enthusiasm, confidence and flexibility will be essential. Camden is a central London borough that has a culturally and socially diverse population, including vulnerable populations that require additional support and understanding. It is a vibrant place to work, with access to great amenities, transport links and links with the Speech and Language Therapy Departments at City University and University College London.
CLCS is a large multi-disciplinary team, so there are lots of opportunities for great formal and informal support and supervision as well as access to experienced colleagues who can support your skill/ knowledge development, share effective clinical practice, and support your interest in specific areas of clinical practice. Many of the children that attend Camden schools arrive with low levels of language and literacy for a host of reasons including EAL, social, emotional and mental health factors, as well as a significant clinical population of children with developmental language disorders (DLD), ADHD, autism and learning difficulties. The post holder will also be responsible for supporting teaching and support staff to engage and develop childrens skills in the educational environment following local protocols. They will require knowledge of the education system and reforms as it relates to classroom practice.
They will also plan and provide individual and small group specialist interventions as required and liaise with the team around the child as required so that this work is supported and generalised throughout the day at school and at home. Clinical To demonstrate an ability to implement interventions and staff development at a whole school level including joint target setting and outcome monitoring. To demonstrate clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of language and communication problems in school aged children up to 11 years, providing appropriate specialist assessment and intervention and evaluating outcomes. To demonstrate specialist knowledge in this clinical area underpinned by current evidence based practice and outcome measures.
To make appropriate differential diagnoses and specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases To use / apply specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management, developing clear care plans based on best practice To demonstrate an understanding of how to develop and differentiate the curriculum and develop communication friendly schemes of work. To work with Early Years Services and Camden Service for Young People to support effective transition of children into and out of this service provision. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of children with a wide range of SLCN, including ASD. To work closely with children, carers and families and school staff in order to agree plan of management.
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible. To employ excellent communication skills. To demonstrate skills in motivating children and /or carers to engage in the interventions, targets and outcomes. To employ counselling skills with parents/carers of children on the caseload.
To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the childrens difficulties and implications of the same. To demonstrate the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies as designated by the commissioning provisions. To monitor and review the progress of children against the targets set and agreed, and to modify targets as appropriate. To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements, based on research and evidence based practice.
To demonstrate knowledge of current policies and practice in education and incorporate these into the model of working as appropriate e.g. the local offer. To manage and prioritise a specialist caseload under supervision, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc. To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including Educational, Health and Social Care Plans.
To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, recognising and resolving potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs. To ensure that children are referred on to other services as appropriate. To contribute to Whittington Healths systems of clinical governance, developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others. To be accountable for professional action and recognising professional boundaries, and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
Liaison and Teamwork: To contribute to the function of clinical teams both multi disciplinary and uni-disciplinary by discussing own and others input around children’s needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan. To liaise and share information with health, educational and other professionals as appropriate, observing data protection guidelines. To contribute to meetings, co-production meetings, annual reviews, case conferences and multi-agency team meetings, as appropriate, contributing to inter-agency / multi-agency team building and policy development where appropriate, e.g. education, social services and the voluntary sector.
To undertake any other duties as required by the Head of Speech and Language Therapy, which may include a change in workplace. ADMINISTRATION To carry out administrative duties including activity data collection, updating this accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines. 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. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT To participate in annual appraisal ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service, School and organisational plans.
To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist SLT working in this field and maintain up to date HPC and RCSLT registration. To contribute to team meetings and participate in in-service training as required

Please refer the Job description for details