Whittington Health
Haringey Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service
Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist role
Fulltime permanent post: Complex Needs special schools (1.0wte)
Come and join our passionate and innovative speech and language therapy team in Haringey. We are looking for a new speech and language therapist to join us in the Haringey Children’s speech and language therapy service in our Complex Needs team based in a secondary special school.
We are currently looking for a speech and language therapist to join us, learn new skills, gain new experiences and share their expertise with our local children, young people and school/setting staff. Within all the settings there is a strong focus on working with families and achieving the most beneficial outcomes.
Haringey Children’s Speech and Language Therapy team are a well-established service with a good reputation for providing a quality service to our clients alongside a friendly team and workplace. The Service places a strong emphasis on personal and professional development, providing regular supervision and support.

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS:

1. To be able to gather information that may be sensitive or complex and analyse it as part of a full assessment of a client’s strengths and difficulties.
2. To work closely with clients and carers using empathy, tact, reassurance and active listening to complete assessments, discuss results, and agree treatment options.
3. To routinely be able to adapt communication mode during assessment and intervention to ensure there are no barriers to communication. This includes the use of sign, symbols or other alternative and augmentation strategies with communication disordered clients/carers, as well as the use of interpreters for clients and carers who do not have English as a first language.
4. To develop skills in motivating clients/carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
5. To negotiate and manage conflict effectively in a range of settings, with support and supervision from line manager.
6. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
7. To form effective therapeutic relationships with clients and/or carers who may be under stress and/or having challenging behaviour.
8. To provide training to a variety of audiences on aspects of speech and language therapy.

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE:

To demonstrate developing specialist knowledge in AAC, complex needs and Autism, underpinned by current evidenced based practice, maintained through specialist courses and self-study.
To identify own training needs as part of the Professional Development Review in discussion with the Lead Therapist for The School and to attend training as agreed.
To keep up to date with current clinical developments through reading, attendance at courses, meetings, Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs) and RCSLT Hubs.
To develop and deliver specialist training (informal and formal) to education staff, parents/carers and other professionals.
To be aware of school routines, policies and procedures.
To maintain up to date professional registration with HPC and RCSLT at all times.
To participate in Peer Support Groups.

ANALYTICAL & JUDGEMENTAL SKILLS:

1. To be able to gather and analyse all information, including observation and formal assessment results, in order to identify the most appropriate intervention.
2. To make appropriate differential diagnoses and specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases
3. To adapt intervention as necessary according to individual need, progress and ability.
4. To seek second opinions from more senior colleges and/or line manager in complex cases.
5. To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor
6. To develop, record and adapt individual care plans, based on assessment results and response to treatment.
7. To evaluate all training provided and amend according to feedback.

PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS:

1. To manage and prioritise a defined caseload
2. To manage and prioritise own workload
3. To plan and organise groups and training, as required.
4. To plan and deliver training to parents/carers and education staff as necessary.

Please refer the Job description for details