About this role
Job summary
This exciting opportunity is for a full time permanent therapist within our Complex Needs Service based at Swiss Cottage Special School.
The Camden Complex Needs Speech and Language Therapy Team work within specialist provisions in the borough of Camden. You will be responsible for delivering a therapy service to children and young people (CYP) with complex needs in Camden. Swiss Cottage School is an OFSTED rated 'Outstanding' school for children and young people with complex needs aged 4-19 years. You will be a valued member of a multidisciplinary team based at the school which consists of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, school nurses, health care assistants, psychologists, teachers, teaching assistants and paediatricians.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive and specialist service to CYP with complex communication needs which may include autism, cerebral palsy, profound and multiple learning difficulties and sensory impairments. Some CYP use AAC including Makaton signing, low and high tech communication aids. Intervention includes assessment, differential diagnosis and therapy for individual CYP or groups of CYP. A knowledge of communication strategies used with the client group is essential and may include the use of specific programmes e.g. attention autism, TEACCH. You will deliver individualised and specialist interventions to support the learner's needs as identified in their Education Health and Care Plans. You will also be involved in providing targeted support to school and families.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Find out what it is like to work in our friendly, supportive teams which span hospital and community settings across vibrant and diverse North Central London first hand, visit www.whittington.nhs.uk/CYPrecruitment (you may have to copy and paste this link into your browser) to hear from some of our current staff about why they chose to join and stay at Whittington Health.
Job description Job responsibilities
1. To demonstrate clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of language and communication difficulties in CYP aged 2-19 years, providing appropriate specialist assessment and intervention and evaluating outcomes.
2. To carry a personal caseload and/or contribute to MDT therapy packages such as group therapy sessions or parent education sessions, maintaining a high level of professional competence and demonstrating clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of speech, language and communication problems associated with complex needs.
3. To make appropriate differential diagnoses and specialist clinical decisions on evidence from assessment of complex cases.
4. To discuss diagnosis and potential outcomes with parents/carers and work collaboratively in decision making regarding onward referral and intervention.
5. To contribute to multi-agency assessment procedures as required, including statutory educational assessment.
6. To demonstrate an ability to implement interventions and staff development at a whole school level including joint target setting and outcome monitoring.
7. To use / apply specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management, developing clear care plans based on best practice.
8. To demonstrate an understanding of how to develop and differentiate the curriculum and develop communication friendly schemes of work.
9. To monitor and review the progress of CYP on the caseload and facilitate the development or modification of packages of care/targets as appropriate using evaluation/outcome measurement tools.
10. To manage and prioritise a caseload under supervision, advising line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
11. To work effectively as part of the MDT with clients, parents and/ or carers, and colleagues around individual case management; providing specialist advice, guidance and support as necessary and involving them in the planning and prioritisation of care wherever possible.
12. To demonstrate excellent communication skills and to maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of others, particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of a child or young persons difficulties and implications of the same.
13. To reflect on clinical practice; adequately identifying strengths & needs of clients, reviewing their response to therapy and providing evidence of clinical judgement including in cases which are complex and challenging.
14. To have an awareness of the needs of CYP with dysphagia and assessment/ treatment approaches.
15. To be able to analyse conflicting information and provide clear guidance and detailed reports on CYP seen.
16. To promote awareness about speech and language therapy in Camden.
17. To facilitate and support education staff and families in providing appropriate communication environments to develop CYPs language and interaction skills.
18. To demonstrate knowledge and clinical effectiveness underpinned by current evidence based practice and outcome measures.
19. To work closely with clients, carers and families, with empathy, tact, reassurance and active listening to fully discuss assessment results, treatment options, and agree a plan of management.
20. To communicate complex information to carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
21. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of CYP with special and complex needs and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and implications of the same.
22. To undertake home visits, as necessary, in compliance with Home Visiting/ Lone Working Safety Policy.
23. To contribute to clinical teams by discussing own and others input, ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan that reflects the holistic needs of the child and their parents/carers.
24. To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and situations, including sensitively managing initial complaints, and recognising and resolving potential breakdown or conflict when it occurs.
25. To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in therapy interventions, targets and outcomes.
26. To employ counselling skills with CYP, carers/families with highly complex needs.
27. To demonstrate the ability to manage CYP with behaviours that concern, including the application of appropriate management strategies as designated by the schools/settings.
28. To liaise regularly with Senior Management within the Complex Needs Team, and also with the MDT team to agree and review effective service delivery to CYP with complex needs.
29. To be aware of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service.
30. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and write reports reflecting specialist knowledge, ensuring that they meet departmental standards and are in line with local Trust Policy, and RCSLT professional standards.
31. To demonstrate knowledge of current policies and practice in the education and health sector and incorporate these into the model of working as appropriate.
32. To attend further training as necessary to maintain and further develop the skill and knowledge required of a SLT.
33. To keep up to date with current clinical developments through reading, attendance at courses, meetings and Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs).
34. To demonstrate understanding of the issues associated with clinical governance and their application to professional practice. This will include compliance with / adherence to, and implementation of service and service area and Trust policies, National and Local guidelines and RCSLT Professional and Clinical and Guidelines.
35. To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.
36. To contribute to the local Trusts systems of clinical governance, developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others.
37. To be accountable for professional action and recognising professional boundaries, and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
38. To participate in annual appraisal within a Professional Development Plan (PDP) at pre-determined intervals.
39. To have due regard for personal safety and that of CYP /carers, adhering to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others.
40. To reflect and adhere to infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal with specific issues related to client contact: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a daily basis.
41. To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups etc.
42. To contribute to Whittington Healths systems of clinical governance, responding to innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness in collaboration with others
43. To be accountable for professional action and recognising professional boundaries, and working within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct (e.g, attending team meetings, participating in in-service training, attending mandatory training, carrying out appropriate administrative duties etc).
44. To be able to be flexible within the service for Whittington Childrens Speech and Language Service and as required by the Speech and Language Therapy Services Manager, this may include a change in workplace.
Person Specification
Education, qualifications, training Essential
Diploma, Degree or MSc. in Speech and Language Therapy Health and Care Professions Council Registration to Practice Registered Member of RCSLT
Desirable
Evidence of successful completion of a range of specialist short courses and other CPD in specialist area (e.g. AAC or Dysphagia courses) Counselling/ SFBT/ CBT
Skills/abilities Essential
Ability to communicate complex sensitive information to parents /carers and other professionals in a variety of clinical situations Ability to take majority of leave in school holidays Identifies own training needs Excellent communication skills Skills in delivering presentations and training, including basic adaptations to presentation/ training style for a range of audiences
Experience Essential
Experience of working with children and/or clients with a range of speech, language and communication needs of different ages Experience of writing SMART goals and outcoming them Some experience of delivering training to a range of audiences e.g. teachers, teaching assistants and specialist education and health professionals
Desirable
Carrying out evidence based therapy / projects / practice
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of a range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate speech, language and communication skills of children with complex needs Understanding of child protection procedures and responsibilities Knowledge of a range of direct and indirect interventions relevant to communication demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches (where appropriate) Understanding of statutory processes regarding education for children with special education needs
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
Address Swiss Cottage School
80 Avenue Road
London
NW8 6HX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)