Speech and Language Therapist

This is a permanent post supporting the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of effective clinical services through assessment, intervention and ongoing support to children, young people and families accessing the service.

You will contribute to the development and implementation of autism assessment and intervention pathways including diagnostic assessment, post-diagnostic recommendations, guidance, advice, workshop programmes for children and young people and the adults working with or caring for them such as teachers, health or social care workers and parents.

You will assess, formulate and deliver interventions and evaluate clinical outcomes. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Psychologists, Learning Disability Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Paediatrician, Clinical Assistants and charity volunteers.

Main duties of the job

Autism diagnosis, assessment, intervention and support using specialist skills. Development of communication training programmes and resources. Where appropriate and delegated, manage and supervise less experienced SaLTs, assistants and volunteers in individual and group treatment programmes, using specialist skills.

Contribute to the working of the multidisciplinary team and act as a specialist resource for communication issues. Work collaboratively and respectfully with all members of the multidisciplinary team and share information with team members in informal and formal situations.

As part of the team engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities to inform evidence-based practice. Where appropriate share information and disseminate research findings with professional colleagues in the interests of practice development.

Provide mentorship and clinical supervision for practice education placements for students of Speech and Language Therapy when required. Participate in the specialist education and training of professional and clinical colleagues, students, visitors and volunteers.

Ensure compliance and completion of Continuing Professional Development activities. Contribute to supporting other colleagues in their CPD, particularly in relation to communication.

Represent the profession in team meetings and working groups.

About us

ABOUT CAUDWELL CHILDREN

Established in 2000, Caudwell Children is a national charity which works to transform the lives of disabled children and their families, enabling them to challenge the barriers they face throughout childhood by providing practical and emotional support.

The Charity is going through an exciting period of growth having recently opened a new state-of-the-art facility for multi-disciplinary therapy programmes for childhood disability and research of neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, within the grounds of Keele University.

It provides a state-of-the-art base for the Charitys therapies and an environment where ground-breaking research can be undertaken, potentially changing the way some disabilities are treated, affecting millions of people around the world. This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity to join a dynamic.

The services of Caudwell Children enrich the lives of children and families through the delivery of high quality person centred care and support services that promote independence and achieve valued outcomes. We seek to create a safe, homely and supportive environment that enhances the lives of children with autism and associated conditions.

Job responsibilities

This is a permanent post supporting the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of effective clinical services through assessment, intervention and ongoing support to children, young people and families accessing the service.

You will contribute to the development and implementation of autism assessment and intervention pathways including diagnostic assessment, post-diagnostic recommendations, guidance, advice, and workshop programmes for children and young people, and the adults working with or caring for them such as teachers, health or social care workers and parents.

You will assess, formulate and deliver interventions and evaluate clinical outcomes. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Psychologists, Learning Disability Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Paediatrician, Clinical Assistants and charity volunteers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direction of the Clinical Lead you will:

Undertake specialist assessments of communication, both informal and formal standardised assessments.

Analyse results of assessments.

Communicate results of assessment within the multidisciplinary team and contribute to case formulation.

Make recommendations.

Write reports. This will include Contributing to and utilizing an agreed report writing framework, taking a lead where delegated and contributing to reports where involved in the assessment.

Communicate results of assessment to children and families. Feedback to families.

Advise to Family Support Assistants as required where they are in follow up contact with families.

Undertake clinical work with individuals and groups, providing advice, resources, strategies and programmes, as appropriate, using specialist skills and autism specific approaches where required.

Mentor parents, teaching staff and other carers in skill building communication and the development of nurturing language learning environments for children with speech and language needs.

MAIN DUTIES

Autism diagnosis, assessment, intervention and support using specialist skills.

Development of communication training programmes and resources.

Where appropriate and delegated, manage and supervise less experienced SaLTs, assistants and volunteers in individual and group treatment programmes, using specialist skills.

Contribute to the working of the multi-disciplinary team and act as a specialist resource for communication issues.

Work collaboratively and respectfully with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and share information with team members in informal and formal situations.

As part of the team engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities to inform evidence-based practice.

Where appropriate share information and disseminate research findings with professional colleagues in the interests of practice development.

Provide mentorship and clinical supervision for practice education placements for students of Speech and Language Therapy when required.

Participate in the specialist education and training of professional and clinical colleagues, students, visitors and volunteers.

Ensure compliance and completion of Continuing Professional Development activities.

Contribute to supporting other colleagues in their CPD, particularly in relation to communication.

Communicate with children and families in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

Demonstrate a high level of personal communication skills.

Represent the profession in team meetings and working groups.

Support the Clinical Lead to positively promote the SaLT role.

Liaise with other departments and services within CICC.

CustomerCare / Quality Assurance

Uphold the principles and practice of customer care and continuous improvement. This includes working to engage with children and families about future programme planning and delivery where appropriate.

At all times to afford children and families dignity and respect taking account of any special requirements associated with an individual\’s race, culture or religion.

Ensure that children and families are enabled to comment and complain about any of the services they receive and ensure that all comments and complaints received are dealt with promptly and in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.

Confidentiality and data protection regarding all personal information and CICC activities must be maintained at all times (both in and out of working hours) in accordance with professional codes of conduct and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act 2018 and an associated General Data protection Regulations 2018.

Contribute and co-operate fully with any regulatory or organisational inspections / audits.

To carry out duties with full regard to the organisation\’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy.

Health and Safety

In addition to the organisation\’s overall responsibility for your health and safety, you have a personal responsibility for your own health and safety. As such you are:

Required to inform your line manager of any safety issues that you identify that could affect you or others in the workplace, cooperate with management and colleagues at all times in achieving safer work processes and work places.

To have an awareness of relevant relative health and safety regulations and legislation as it relates to the safe and effective running of the service.

Responsible for your own health and safety and that of anyone else whom your acts and omissions may affect and maintain a professional and hygienic personal appearance at all times.

Have knowledge of a range of safer handling and mobility skills relevant to the management of children, young people and families in your care, including safe use of transfer equipment.

To use equipment when necessary and as instructed, which will include checking the equipment is safe to use, prior to its use, reporting any defects immediately to your line manager.

Responsible for the implementation and adherence to organisational safety policies and procedures for areas within your remit.

Required to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed within your remit. The controls identified must be evaluated and implemented where necessary.

To ensure that your work adheres to Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance as applicable to your role.

Report any concerns of potential abuse of a service user in line with the organisation\’s Safeguarding Policy and procedures.

Resource Management

Participate in the recruitment, induction and retention of staff as required.

Ensure maintenance and security of physical, financial and information resources, where applicable.

Comprehensively and effectively maximise all the resources available to the facilities.

Ensure that all resources and utilities are used prudently and that any waste is minimised.

Ensure stock levels of equipment are maintained and checked regularly by the assistant team.

General

Ensure compliance with professional standards for Speech and Language Therapy practice.

Adhere to HCPC regulations and RCSLT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Speech and Language Therapists.

Demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities identified in supervision and appraisal.

Maintain professional portfolios in line with HCPC and RCSLT requirements.

Apply specialist knowledge and skills in order to demonstrate professional proficiency.

Develop and maintain links with other SaLTs in specialist field of work.

Keep up to date and integrate relevant new initiatives and recommendations from RCSLT and other relevant organisations, ensuring that practice is informed and current, where appropriate.

Ensure that all information and matters of a confidential nature are dealt with in accordance with statutory and organisational policies and procedures and that the staff team adhere to the same.

Take responsibility for continuing personal development in order to enhance knowledge, skills and experience needed for safe and effective practice and the achievement of agreed service outcomes and personal appraisal targets.

Keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with organisational IT systems and professional standards.

Ensure all record keeping is in line with local, professional, organisational and National guidelines.

Attend training as appropriate to the role applying knowledge gained to the workplace and maintain an up-to-date training profile.

To engage in Support and Supervision sessions to reflect on practice enhancing communication and quality of service.

To work effectively, co-operatively as a member of a team, maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and professionals from other agencies.

At all times promote and ensure anti-discriminatory practice in all matters of staff management and service delivery in accordance with the organisation equality and diversity approaches and statutory and regulatory guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
• Membership of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
• Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent qualification
• Post registration experience, ideally with specialist client group
• Postgraduate training or CPD in the area of Autism

Experience

• Experience of delivering training to a range of audiences
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of working with families
• Experience of working with children with sensory differences
• Training and experience working with children with challenging behaviours
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of working with children who use AAC

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.