Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Preschool and Schools

We care for you as much as you care for others. There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you’re at, there’s always a place for you at CNWL.

In this post you will be an autonomous practitioner providing a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Service to a designated caseload of children requiring early intervention as well as children with a range of speech, language and communication and eating/drinking difficulties and Special Educational Needs (SEN). This post is within the Preschool and Mainstream Schools Speech and Language therapy team.

The post holder will provide weekly initial assessment clinics for preschool children. A significant proportion of these children will have English as an additional language (EAL). He/she will be expected to manage their own caseload, travelling between clinics and early years settings and working alongside the multi-disciplinary team to ensure specialist therapy programmes and education plans are in place for the children under their care.

Main duties of the job:

• Providing a specialist speech and language therapy service to children with a range of communication needs.
• A significant proportion of these children will be bilingual.
• He/she will be expected to manage their own caseload, travel between early years settings, schools and clinics and work alongside health and education staff to ensure specialist therapy programmes and education plans are in place for the children under their care.
• He/she will be expected to work collaboratively with children/young people (CYP), parents/carers and with colleagues in Health, Education and Social Services in planning and delivery of services.

We are:

• A large supportive, sociable and friendly MDT team of 40+ therapists
• Committed to the well-being of our staff
• Easily accessible via public transport from central London and neighbouring counties

We can provide:

• Manageable caseloads
• Time protected to ensure access to regular and ongoing CPD
• Opportunities for shadowing in a range of settings
• Highly structured induction
• Access to clinical specialists in all areas

In joining you will receive:

• Regular and ongoing developing therapist training as well as peer supervision
• Opportunities to take a lead in projects and working groups linked to specialist areas of interest

You will be joining and welcomed into a diverse therapy team who actively promote and advocate for equality and diversity.

To communicate complex patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with multidisciplinary team members across health, education and social services and the voluntary sector. In particular to work with early years and school staff to ensure the delivery of a well-coordinated care/individual education plan which facilitates the development of speech, language and communication skills.

To share information with others, observing confidentiality and data protection guidelines and having due regard for local guidance on sharing information with colleagues in education, social services and the voluntary sector.

To communicate complex condition related information (both verbally and in the written form) from assessment to CYP, Parents/carers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions. This includes child specific information as well as training packages to parents, early years and school staff and other professionals around the management of speech, language, communication and eating/drinking difficulties.

To have due regard for the cultural and linguistic differences of children/families concerned. To work closely with CYP, carers and families, involving them in decision making regarding intervention approaches demonstrating and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist (i.e. hearing loss, communication difficulties, English as an additional language and learning difficulties).

To employ excellent communication skills such as persuasion, motivation and explanations to encourage/reassure clients and carers to undertake treatment programmes. To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible and report to senior staff.

To form productive relationships with others in particular parents/carers who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties. To provide specialist clinical reports as per departmental standards, including reports for Annual Review meetings and EHCP’s.

Education and qualifications:

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Health Care Professions Council – Licence to Practice
• Post graduate short courses in the provision of SLT to pre-school-age children

Experience:

• Experience at undergraduate/post graduate level of working with Children and young people in school settings
• Assessment treatment and management of children with speech, language and communication difficulties
• Working with children with eating and drinking difficulties
• Working with parents and carers
• Working within an education environment
• Writing clinical notes and reports
• Managing own caseload
• Teaching other professionals/parents
• Clinical audit
• Working with students

Skills & knowledge:

• Assessment tools relevant to the children with speech language and communication, eating and drinking difficulties.
• Range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the above client group.
• The role of the speech and language therapist in the Education system
• Roles of other professionals in Health Education and Social Care involved with CYP.
• National policies and procedures in particular safeguarding children, SEN and disability, Children’s & Families Act, Foundation Stage and National Curricula
• The principles of clinical governance/audit
• Standards of record keeping and reporting
• Good written and spoken English
• Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
• Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills
• Good presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own workload.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities.
• Knowledge of Alternative/augmentative communication systems
• Demonstrates ability to be a team player
• Good organisational skills