Speech and Language Therapist

Community healthcare is unlike any other part of the NHS. It’s personalised care that helps people to retain their independence. It’s the NHS at its best and the difference you make is truly tangible. Our colleagues often describe us as a family, and we know how important that sense of belonging and support is when you start a new job. Our preceptorship programme is second to none hence the award and logo. It’s simple - happy, engaged staff provide better services. In 2018, we were named ‘Best Place to Work for Employee Satisfaction’ by the Nursing Times. The same year, we won the Workforce category at the HSJ Awards. In the latest NHS Staff Survey results 2020, we had the best response rate amongst community trusts nationally. We are the top community trust in the country on the theme Quality of care for the third year. We had the highest percentage of staff who felt they are able to deliver the care they aspire to and are satisfied with the quality of care they give to patients or service users.

Are you looking for your first role as an SLT, or to develop your skills further post qualification? Come and join our friendly, supportive team based in Teddington, recently voted the best area to live in London, and part of one of the greenest boroughs in London. Due to internal promotions, we currently have full-time vacancies for Speech and Language Therapists to join our innovative and well supported team. These posts are permanent and will include working with school aged children in mainstream primary and secondary schools and with pre-school children with a range of communication needs in clinics and nurseries in the Richmond borough. Richmond Speech and Language Therapy Service is a well-established, integrated and supportive team and is jointly commissioned by Health and Education. We offer a supportive programme of development and supervision for newly qualified therapists which enables them to complete their competencies and develop their skills in a range of clinical areas according to their interests and the needs of the service.

Main duties of the job:

• This is a full-time position and the applicants should be able to demonstrate an ability to work flexibly, using their initiative to deliver a responsive and quality service.
• Working effectively as part of a wider team and have experience working with pre-school and school aged children including those with additional needs, as well as with their families/key professionals.
• Deliver assessment and management for pre-school and school-age children with speech, language or communication difficulties ensuring that the service is effective and responsive to the changing needs of the local population across Richmond.
• Ensure effective joint working practice between the SLT service, other speech & language therapists (SLT) and other relevant professional teams in the fields of health, education, the voluntary sector, social services etc.
• Deliver training to parents and professionals in order to develop their skills and knowledge enabling them to adapt the communicative environment and reinforce identified targets throughout the day.
• Provide group and individual therapy for pre-school children with a range of speech, language and communication needs alongside other SLTs or therapy assistants.

If you enjoy a challenge and want to go home each day knowing you made a difference, you will thrive in our organisation.

Infection Control: As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19.

Person specification:

• Qualifications: Degree / diploma or other professional Speech and Language Therapy qualification, Registered with HCPC, Registered with RCSLT.
• Experience: Experience of working with relevant caseload during training / subsequent work for relevant client group. Experience of a variety of settings such as community clinics, schools and hospitals during training / subsequent work. Experience working within a school setting / preschool setting.
• Skills and Abilities: Ability to manage time and demonstrate highly developed prioritisation skills. Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group. Knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the prospective client group/s).

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be occasions where we have to close a vacancy once a sufficient amount of applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly. If you are successful at the shortlisting stage we will contact you via TRAC email. Please continue to check your emails and also your TRAC account for correspondence. You must confirm your attendance to interview as soon as possible, failure to do so will result in your interview being cancelled. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume you have not been shortlisted.

Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust (HRCH) uses TRUSTID identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of key documents such as Passports, Driving Licenses etc. It is a condition of appointment that all prospective employees of HRCH have their original documents verified using this TRUSTID. Please ensure you provide work email addresses for your referees where possible. Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and in order to reflect the diversity of its population, positively encourages applications from all areas of the community. We aim to be a representative organisation with regards to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, beliefs and sexual orientation and are fully committed to equality, diversity and human rights and encourage applications from all sections of the community including users of mental health services. Please note that this post is subject to a 3 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare Trust, this will not apply.