Speech and Language Therapy Team Manager

As a College, we believe that young adults should be respected and have their individual choices, needs and aspirations reflected in the educational opportunities made available to them. We encourage independence in all our learners and support them to achieve their full potential through a high-quality curriculum to develop skills in living, work, community and communication. These skills are planned to reflect the individual learners' Educational and Health Care Plan target outcomes.

The therapy department at South Thames Colleges Group embraces a neurodiversity affirming, strength-based approach, rather than an impairment-based and medical model approach. This means that we accept, validate and learn from students' developmental differences and aim to provide support and accommodations that affirm their neurodivergent identity whilst supporting the development of meaningful skills.

As our Speech and Language Therapy Team Manager, you will support students' emotional wellbeing and work proactively to avoid behaviours of concern. Using a person-centred approach to promote choice, independence and inclusion, you will reflect the key principles of Valuing People (DOH 2002) and Valuing People Now for students aged 16-25 years who have a range of learning and communication difficulties associated with Learning Disabilities, Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia, Specific Language Impairment) or Autism, to enable the student to achieve their academic, social and employment potential.

Additionally, you will provide advanced support and training to teaching staff and junior therapists with regard to communication and speech and language therapy needs. We would like our Speech and Language Therapy Team Manager to hold a degree or equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy and be registered with the Health Professions Council. We would like you to have experience of assessing learners with a wide range of speech and language impairments formally and informally and have experience of devising and implementing evidence-based intervention for learners with different communication profiles.

You will be comfortable with writing reports and support plans/communication guidelines for a range of audiences and needs and have knowledge of AAC, specialist teaching & learning strategies and specific communication strategies for this client group. Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists is desirable, as is an understanding of the basic principles of Positive Behaviour Support.

The post is a Group Wide post therefore you will be required to travel to and work from all STCG sites.

The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 37 days, plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees' physical and mental health. This leave is all in addition to Bank Holiday entitlement. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

South Thames Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK. The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London's largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students' success at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to progress and achieve.