Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, Special Schools

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to lead the delivery of communication and dysphagia support across complex needs special schools and mainstream schools in Greenwich.

The post holder will combine a highly specialist clinical role with responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of a team of Speech and Language Therapists and Assistants. They will independently assess and manage children with highly complex communication and dysphagia needs, provide specialist advice and second opinions, and work closely with children, families, education staff and health and social care partners.

The successful candidate will also contribute to staff development, clinical governance, service evaluation and the development of evidence-based pathways, protocols and service improvements.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

• Lead and oversee Speech and Language Therapy provision across complex needs special schools and identified mainstream schools in Greenwich.
• Independently manage a highly complex caseload involving communication and dysphagia needs.
• Undertake highly specialist assessment, differential diagnosis, intervention and evaluation of outcomes.
• Provide highly specialist clinical advice and second opinions to Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, clinical supervision and support to therapists and assistants.
• Support staff with caseload management, workload planning and professional development.
• Undertake appraisals, induction and development activities for identified team members.
• Work collaboratively with children, families, education staff and health and social care professionals to ensure coordinated care.
• Develop and deliver specialist training for staff, families and other professionals.
• Contribute to service planning, clinical governance, audit, policy development and the evaluation of care pathways and protocols.
• Advise service leads on service pressures, risks, resource requirements and delivery issues.
• Deputise for senior colleagues and represent the service at relevant multidisciplinary and interagency meetings when required.

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

• We're Kind
• We're Fair
• We Listen
• We Care

Job responsibilities

Clinical practice

• Provide highly specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for children with complex communication and dysphagia needs.
• Independently manage and prioritise a highly complex caseload, seeking clinical or managerial supervision where appropriate.
• Develop, implement and evaluate individualised care plans based on current evidence, clinical judgement and agreed outcome measures.
• Provide highly specialist advice and second opinions regarding the management of complex cases.
• Adapt assessment and intervention to meet each childs communication, physical, behavioural, cultural and linguistic needs.
• Produce accurate clinical records and specialist reports in accordance with professional standards and Trust policies.
• Involve children, families and carers in care planning and decision-making wherever possible.

Leadership and team management

• Provide strong day-to-day leadership to Speech and Language Therapists and Assistants working across complex needs and mainstream school settings.
• Provide formal and informal clinical supervision, reflective practice and specialist advice.
• Support staff to plan and prioritise caseloads and workloads effectively.
• Undertake induction, appraisal and professional development reviews for designated team members.
• Identify staff training and development needs and support the implementation of agreed objectives.
• Contribute to recruitment, student placements and the development of the wider workforce.
• Promote effective team working, professional accountability and high standards of clinical practice.

Service development and governance

• Oversee and monitor the delivery and quality of the service within the designated school settings.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical pathways, protocols, guidelines and team objectives.
• Lead delegated service development projects and working groups.
• Identify and escalate service risks, pressures, shortfalls and resource requirements to senior managers.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and clinical effectiveness activity.
• Maintain accurate activity data and contribute to service evaluation and research as required.
• Support the safe, effective and economical use of equipment and other resources.

Communication and partnership working

• Work closely with children, families, carers, education staff and health and social care partners to support coordinated care.
• Communicate complex and potentially sensitive clinical information clearly and compassionately.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary, interagency and uni-professional meetings and care planning.
• Represent the Speech and Language Therapy Service and deputise for senior colleagues at relevant meetings when requested.
• Use advanced communication, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills when managing complex clinical or service issues.
• Develop and deliver specialist training to colleagues, education staff, families and other professionals.
• Respond sensitively to initial concerns or verbal complaints and follow relevant Trust procedures.

Professional responsibilities

• Maintain current professional registration and practise in accordance with relevant professional standards, legislation and national and local guidance.
• Maintain and develop highly specialist clinical knowledge through supervision, reflective practice, training and professional networks.
• Work within professional boundaries and seek advice when required.
• Comply with Trust requirements relating to safeguarding, confidentiality, information governance, infection prevention, equality, health and safety, and risk management.

Person specification

Registration

Essential

• Member of RCSLT

Experience

Essential

• 18mths post qualification experience

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Able to demonstrate an understanding of NHS SLT service delivery

Knowkedge and experience

Essential

• Able to demonstrate an understanding of working in a School based SLT service

Registration

Essential

• HCPC registered