Specialist Speech and Language Therapist | South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

The service will provide specialist assessment, formulation, therapeutic interventions (directly to individuals or through consultation) to a small number of autistic people with complex needs under the care of an existing SWLSTG services. The service will support autistic adults, without a co-occurring intellectual disability.

As a multi-disciplinary, community-based service, it will work in partnership with other SWLSTG teams to support autistic people and their families/carers. A person-centred approach to care will be adopted, focusing upon maximising a person’s quality of life and supporting people to live in their local community supported by local services.

The aim of the service is to reduce reliance on inpatient mental health care and improve the skills of SWLSTG clinicians in working with autistic adults. The service will be focused on interventions that:

• Prevent crisis and associated presentations to Accident and Emergency departments and liaison and diversion services.
• Prevent unnecessary hospital admission and reduce length of stay in inpatient services.
• Improve the understanding and skills of SWLSTG clinicians in working therapeutically with autistic adults.

To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for clients with complex acquired speech, language and swallowing difficulties.

To autonomously manage a caseload of adults with complex speech, language and swallowing difficulties.

To line manage and clinically supervise any Speech and Language Therapists and assistants within the service (where applicable).

To act as lead specialist in communication and dysphagia, and act as a resource and support for other therapists and professionals working with adults with Autism and acquired speech, language or swallowing disorders.

Provide timely and targeted individualised management and treatment for adults, involving relatives and carers and providing appropriate recommendations and training to professionals from other agencies and other professions.

To participate in continuing professional development and other activities to maintain evidence based best practice. Provide student placements, training opportunities and clinical support for assistants, and provide observation opportunities for other professionals.

To be responsible for the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy within the Autism Intensive Support Team providing assessment and implementing specialist SLT treatment and programmes of care, writing reports, reflecting specialist knowledge.

To independently manage and prioritize a defined caseload, balancing own workload of both direct and indirect contacts, demonstrating skills in dealing with complex issues and generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.

To use specialist knowledge to screen all new referrals where appropriate with the multi-disciplinary team, and allocate priority for intervention, based on client need.

To consult with the Team Leader on interpretation and implementation of local and national initiatives within the specialist area as part of the process to facilitate adjustment of work practices to provide an effective and pro-active service.

To write in-depth reports to contribute to the client’s care plan, including reports for solicitors, tribunals, insurance companies and social service DST/personalised budget panels.

To have knowledge of and work within the framework of relevant procedures including consent, child protection and working with vulnerable adults.

To effectively motivate clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.

To employ effective counselling and influencing skills with clients and carers often with highly complex and specialist needs.

To promote productive therapeutic relationships with clients, relatives/carers and colleagues, especially where others may be under stress or have challenging communication difficulties, irrespective of their willingness to commit or engage in the therapy process.

To take the lead in maintaining and developing high standards of care within the service, ensuring clinical effectiveness, clinical governance, quality and audit initiatives are met.

To clinically supervise, with the potential to develop skills in line management responsibilities, for Speech and Language Therapists and health assistants where relevant.

To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of client management for prolonged periods. In particular: to monitor auditory, visual and muscle movement aspects of client’s communication/swallowing and to adapt and facilitate according to perceived client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.

To be proactive in promoting a culture and framework for the team to engage routinely in reporting and reflecting on clinical practice, evidence base and action research in order to improve client care.

To actively lead, support and participate in research and/or clinical evaluation and audit.

To lead in the planning, development and delivery of training (formal and informal) to others in speech, language and communication and swallowing disorders related to own clinical specialism. To provide training for others, including education and support programmes for relatives and carers and giving presentations to other disciplines within the MDT or externally.