Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (secondary schools) - 0.6FTE

1. MAIN PURPOSE To assess children and develop/implement specialist speech and language therapy treatment to ensure that the Council achieves its strategic aims for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. To contribute to the LB Merton policy and approach to raising achievement and establishing provision for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. To provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to Merton schools and settings. To work as a member of the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Service and SENDIS and so contribute to building the capacity of Merton Schools to include pupils with SEN and disabilities. 2. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • To make differential diagnosis on the basis of assessment, seeking advice if appropriate. • Assess, diagnose and plan and deliver interventions for pupils in secondary schools with a range of speech and language needs including: language delay, language disorder, speech delay, speech disorder, social communication differences and disorders; speech and language difficulties related to hearing impairment, alternative communication, and global delay. • To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes. • To provide the specialist speech and language therapy report for statutory assessment. These reports would include clinical judgements about the level of provision and appropriate educational setting attached to the pupils statutory assessment • To defend your clinical judgements on behalf of the local authority at tribunal and evaluate and comment at tribunal on the specialist evidence submitted by the opposing party. This may also include professional evaluation of proposed provisions. • To provide advice, training and support to colleagues in a stipulated area of specialism e.g. Developmental Language Disorder Social Emotional and Mental Health Additional, Complex and /or Severe Learning Difficulties Autistic Spectrum Disorder • To provide a stipulated specialist SLT service to schools and special settings, offering advice and support to colleagues in developing inclusive provision, either formally through consultation and training or through direct work in schools and settings. • To work directly with schools and settings through a range of intervention, including where appropriate: • class/pupil observation • assessment/reports • advice in relation to individual pupils • modelling good practice • training to enable school staff to implement programmes • providing support to SENCOs • To contribute to the monitoring of school performance within the LB Merton Monitoring Framework. • To maintain accurate and appropriately detailed file notes on all aspects of support work. • To prepare resources for specific work in schools and settings. • To liaise with relevant CLLF staff and statutory/voluntary sector partners to enable the SEND vision for Merton to be realised. • To contribute to continuous professional development for relevant CLLF Teams in relation to speech and language therapy. • To provide professional supervision, support and advice to trainees working in Merton schools. • To have a high level of professional knowledge, skill and confidence to interact sensitively with very vulnerable young people and their families as well as with a range of highly qualified professionals. • To provide explicit explanations to parents about therapy recommendations. • To contribute to the implementation of aspects of the SEN & Inclusion Strategy relating to speech and language. • To be accountable for own professional action, recognise own professional boundaries and seek advice as appropriate. • To offer advice and support to local authority, mainstream and special school colleagues in developing inclusive provision, through consultation and training or through direct work in schools. • To operate as part of a package of buy back services offered by the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Service. • To train the team to keep them up to date with local/national/international developments in your area of expertise or following training attended. GENERAL 1. To support specific service development priorities in line with the SEN & Inclusion Strategy. 2. To deliver statutory Speech and Language Therapy in secondary mainstream and additionally resourced provisions (ARPS) within specialist area of skill within the parameters and desired outcomes for the Council. 3. To work in partnership with the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Managers for the purpose of service development and to be part of a workforce committed to raising attainment for pupils in Merton schools through inclusive education. 4. To supervise band 5 therapists once probation/competencies are completed. 5. Run Peer supervision group on a rotation basis with other band 6 therapists. 6. Contribute to the induction of NQP and update the new starters pack. 7. To undertake all duties and interactions with colleagues, partner providers and customers fairly, without unlawful discrimination and with due regard to the Councils Diversity and Equality in Employment and Service Delivery policies. 8. To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Councils Core Values, Equal Opportunities Policy, Health and Safety Policy and all other borough and departmental policies and procedures, in particular the non-smoking policy and confidentiality in line with the Data Protection Act. 9. To maintain a working environment in which diversity is respected and responded to and equality of opportunity is promoted. 10. To ensure complaints are responded to in accordance with the Customer Complaints Procedure. 11. To use computers and other ICT in the normal performance of the duties of the post. To report robust information relating to the relevant performance indicators and any other relevant targets in accordance with the Councils Data Quality Strategy and to work proactively with the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Manager/s to improve data quality where issues around timeliness or robustness of data have been identified. 12. To be a full member of the team and work in collaboration with all other agencies to ensure co-ordination of services and best use of resources. 13. To brief the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Manager/s on all matters which are likely to be subject to publicity whether positive or negative. 14. To contribute to the development of effective teamwork participating in established communication systems, team training and regular team meetings. 15. To act under the supervision of Merton SLT Team within SENDIS. 16. To maintain professional memberships: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Registration and Certification by Health Professionals Council (HPC) 17. To keep up to date with new developments in appropriate fields, attend training and supervision sessions and contribute to workshops, seminars and conferences. 18. To work flexibly and to undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as required by the Language and Learning Support Team Manager. Job description Job responsibilities 1. MAIN PURPOSE To assess children and develop/implement specialist speech and language therapy treatment to ensure that the Council achieves its strategic aims for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. To contribute to the LB Merton policy and approach to raising achievement and establishing provision for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. To provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to Merton schools and settings. To work as a member of the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Service and SENDIS and so contribute to building the capacity of Merton Schools to include pupils with SEN and disabilities. 2. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • To make differential diagnosis on the basis of assessment, seeking advice if appropriate. • Assess, diagnose and plan and deliver interventions for pupils in secondary schools with a range of speech and language needs including: language delay, language disorder, speech delay, speech disorder, social communication differences and disorders; speech and language difficulties related to hearing impairment, alternative communication, and global delay. • To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes. • To provide the specialist speech and language therapy report for statutory assessment. These reports would include clinical judgements about the level of provision and appropriate educational setting attached to the pupils statutory assessment • To defend your clinical judgements on behalf of the local authority at tribunal and evaluate and comment at tribunal on the specialist evidence submitted by the opposing party. This may also include professional evaluation of proposed provisions. • To provide advice, training and support to colleagues in a stipulated area of specialism e.g. Developmental Language Disorder Social Emotional and Mental Health Additional, Complex and /or Severe Learning Difficulties Autistic Spectrum Disorder • To provide a stipulated specialist SLT service to schools and special settings, offering advice and support to colleagues in developing inclusive provision, either formally through consultation and training or through direct work in schools and settings. • To work directly with schools and settings through a range of intervention, including where appropriate: • class/pupil observation • assessment/reports • advice in relation to individual pupils • modelling good practice • training to enable school staff to implement programmes • providing support to SENCOs • To contribute to the monitoring of school performance within the LB Merton Monitoring Framework. • To maintain accurate and appropriately detailed file notes on all aspects of support work. • To prepare resources for specific work in schools and settings. • To liaise with relevant CLLF staff and statutory/voluntary sector partners to enable the SEND vision for Merton to be realised. • To contribute to continuous professional development for relevant CLLF Teams in relation to speech and language therapy. • To provide professional supervision, support and advice to trainees working in Merton schools. • To have a high level of professional knowledge, skill and confidence to interact sensitively with very vulnerable young people and their families as well as with a range of highly qualified professionals. • To provide explicit explanations to parents about therapy recommendations. • To contribute to the implementation of aspects of the SEN & Inclusion Strategy relating to speech and language. • To be accountable for own professional action, recognise own professional boundaries and seek advice as appropriate. • To offer advice and support to local authority, mainstream and special school colleagues in developing inclusive provision, through consultation and training or through direct work in schools. • To operate as part of a package of buy back services offered by the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Service. • To train the team to keep them up to date with local/national/international developments in your area of expertise or following training attended. GENERAL 1. To support specific service development priorities in line with the SEN & Inclusion Strategy. 2. To deliver statutory Speech and Language Therapy in secondary mainstream and additionally resourced provisions (ARPS) within specialist area of skill within the parameters and desired outcomes for the Council. 3. To work in partnership with the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Managers for the purpose of service development and to be part of a workforce committed to raising attainment for pupils in Merton schools through inclusive education. 4. To supervise band 5 therapists once probation/competencies are completed. 5. Run Peer supervision group on a rotation basis with other band 6 therapists. 6. Contribute to the induction of NQP and update the new starters pack. 7. To undertake all duties and interactions with colleagues, partner providers and customers fairly, without unlawful discrimination and with due regard to the Councils Diversity and Equality in Employment and Service Delivery policies. 8. To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Councils Core Values, Equal Opportunities Policy, Health and Safety Policy and all other borough and departmental policies and procedures, in particular the non-smoking policy and confidentiality in line with the Data Protection Act. 9. To maintain a working environment in which diversity is respected and responded to and equality of opportunity is promoted. 10. To ensure complaints are responded to in accordance with the Customer Complaints Procedure. 11. To use computers and other ICT in the normal performance of the duties of the post. To report robust information relating to the relevant performance indicators and any other relevant targets in accordance with the Councils Data Quality Strategy and to work proactively with the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Manager/s to improve data quality where issues around timeliness or robustness of data have been identified. 12. To be a full member of the team and work in collaboration with all other agencies to ensure co-ordination of services and best use of resources. 13. To brief the Merton Speech and Language Therapy Manager/s on all matters which are likely to be subject to publicity whether positive or negative. 14. To contribute to the development of effective teamwork participating in established communication systems, team training and regular team meetings. 15. To act under the supervision of Merton SLT Team within SENDIS. 16. To maintain professional memberships: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Registration and Certification by Health Professionals Council (HPC) 17. To keep up to date with new developments in appropriate fields, attend training and supervision sessions and contribute to workshops, seminars and conferences. 18. To work flexibly and to undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as required by the Language and Learning Support Team Manager.