About this role
Job summary
Speech and Language Therapist NHS Band 5-7
30 hours per week 42 weeks per year (term time plus three weeks) Monday - Friday
£24,079-£42,429 per annum plus HCAS Fringe Payment
The SALT department sits within a wider therapies team which includes occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology. Working collaboratively with colleagues across our campus and different disciplines is essential. Our therapies team includes SLT assistants and an AAC technician.
Our students have a wide range of needs: epilepsy, complex developmental, acquired and neurodegenerative needs and / or autistic spectrum disorders, so you'll enjoy a variety of challenges and rewards in assessing (formally and informally) their communication needs, providing differential diagnosis and designing appropriate interventions that facilitate their progress educationally and in everyday life. You will be able to offer training to staff to support the therapy you design.
What we need from you
- A registered member of the HCPC with a certificate to practice.
- A member of RCSLT.
- A willingness to make a difference to communication for the students on your caseload.
- Experience in paediatrics, learning disabilities and / or acquired disorders.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong team ethic.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- Good clinical knowledge at a specialist level or a willingness to develop a specialism.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and prioritise your caseload proactively and independently, under the supervision and guidance of the SALT Lead
- To direct the work of a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Technician where available, in supporting and delivering therapy programmes for students on the post holders caseload.
- To provide support for Speech and Language Therapy trainees on Clinical Placement.
- Specialist Clinical Work Complex special needs. For newly qualified practitioners/Band 5, this will be an appropriate, managed caseload
- Provide aided language stimulation and promote total communication approaches across settings
- Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) including education, OT, physiotherapy, and residential staff
- Deliver training and coaching to staff and families to embed communication strategies into daily routines
- Contribute to service development, quality improvement, and outcome monitoring
About us
Young Epilepsy is the only UK charity dedicated to creating better lives for children and young people with epilepsy and related conditions and is based on a beautiful campus in Lingfield, Surrey, providing world class services.
Epilepsy can be one of the most frightening and isolating conditions a child can experience. The loss of any sense of safety, trapped in an unpredictable world, not knowing when their next seizure will happen, where it will happen, who will be there and if they will be hurt.
Living in this unpredictable world takes its toll on a childs physical and mental health, as well as impacting their education and social life. It can limit opportunities for the rest of their life.
Children with epilepsy have a right to be heard. We are here for them.
Together we can create a society where children and young people with epilepsy have a voice and can live happy, fulfilled lives. Through research that improves diagnosis and treatments, campaigning for childrens rights, and providing innovative tools, information, and practical support for living day-to-day life.
Together we create possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Speech and Language Therapist Band 5-7
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
Team-working
To meet the needs of all students on your caseload effectively by working in partnership with other disciplines, especially the Therapy and Psychology teams.
To demonstrate awareness of the roles of all other Therapy and Health disciplines.
To work collaboratively with other disciplines in education and residential services for the effective management of students wherever appropriate.
Specialist Clinical Work - Complex special needs
For newly qualified practitioners-Band 5, this will be an appropriate, managed caseload.
To manage a delineated caseload of students with epilepsy and/or autism spectrum disorders together with other complex developmental or acquired needs attending the School, Further Education College or Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit through assessment, intervention and consultation.
To provide an opinion on the suitability of Young Epilepsy to meet a prospective students needs.
To provide a baseline and ongoing assessment and review of each new students communication and or eating, drinking skills and the environment in which these skills are used.
To evaluate the impact of epilepsy or other complex neurological problems on a students current communicative competence, taking into account variability and potential loss of skills.
To provide detailed recommendations which are suitable for incorporation into the students education or care programmes.
To deliver and inform parents of the aims of regular therapy sessions.
To pass on skills in communication related to a specific student.
To identify situations beyond the post holders current clinical competence and refer on/seek advice as needed.
Dysphagia trained therapists only
To provide assessment, differential diagnosis and appropriate intervention for students with dysphagia, taking account of all relevant factors
To support staff to follow good practice and maintain the safety of students
To raise safeguarding matters in a timely manner to ensure student safety
To refer complex eating, drinking difficulties to a more senior SLT as required.
To make onward referrals to external agencies as required e.g. video fluoroscopy
Specialist Clinical Work - AAC
To co-ordinate provision of suitable Augmentative and Alternative Communication support for students with complex needs on the post holders caseload by diagnostic assessment, selection of appropriate therapy from a range of options and offering advice as necessary.
To direct the work of the AAC technician in providing resources and/or training as required.
To instigate the provision of suitable equipment where needed.
Staff Training
To train staff and carers on topics related to communication and or eating and drinking by presenting workshops, induction or talks and to offer these to external staff as appropriate.
To run training sessions for internal staff in association with other SLTs on topics related to SLT area.
To run training sessions for internal staff on topics related to SLT area of specialism.
To participate in staff induction as required.
To offer external training courses in association with members of the SLT team or other staff at Young Epilepsy as appropriate.
General
This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable and appropriate tasks.
All Young Epilepsy staff share a commitment to the participation and engagement of children and young people and their voices.
All duties must be carried out in accordance with Health and Safety regulations as given by the Young Epilepsy Health and Safety policy and procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Certificate to practise from RCSLT.
- Registered member of RCSLT and HCPC.
Desirable
- Evidence of higher study
- Signing qualification (e.g. Signalong, Makaton, BSL)
- Dysphagia qualification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Flexible team member.
- Able to work independently towards deadlines.
- Able to provide and receive complex sensitive information.
Skills, Knowledge and Aptitude
Essential
- PC literate.
- Good written and verbal skills.
- Good organisational and time management skills and ability to prioritise.
- Ability to keep accurate and timely records.
- Good clinical knowledge at a specialist level
Desirable
- Experience in an education setting.
- Use of signing (training can be given).
- Experience in dysphagia assessment and management.
Experience
Essential
- Considerable postgraduate clinical SLT experience in a range of settings.
- Experience in paediatrics, learning disability or acquired disorders.
Desirable
- Experience in an education setting.
- Use of signing (training can be given).
- Experience in dysphagia assessment and management.
- Experience with autism or complex needs.
- Experience in supervising other staff.
- Some experience in staff training.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Young Epilepsy
Address
St Piers Lane
Lingfield
Surrey
RH7 6PW
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.youngepilepsy.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)