Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Duties and Responsibilities • Professional / Clinical responsibilities • To assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy intervention programmes to meet the needs of clients; adapting practice based on individual clients or families circumstances and outcomes, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences • To develop information and resources for clients, families and relevant others regarding the management and care of clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties • To write comprehensive reports to be shared with families and a range of professionals, reflecting specialist knowledge • To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice • To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management • To implement care pathways and recommend changes in practice as appropriate • To identify and make appropriate onward referrals to other agencies • To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures • To raise local awareness of the importance of developing communication skills within service area. • To identify training needs and to develop, provide and evaluate appropriate specialist training to parents, carers, volunteers, educators and practitioners. • To participate in and contribute to projects, activities and events including attendance at team meetings • To establish appropriate partnerships with agencies and disciplines which are seeking to promote social and educational inclusion for children with speech, language, and communication difficulties. • Management and Leadership To take a delegated role or lead as requested by Team Leader, including participation in working groups, policy development groups, specific projects and events • To use specialist knowledge to inform line manager on issues of service delivery/ policy development, including access and equity shortfalls and, service pressures • To develop care protocols/packages relating to specialist area in liaison with Team Leader to improve client care • To negotiate with others including health, education and social care professionals to achieve seamless services for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs • Financial and physical resources responsibilities • To monitor stock levels in own service area and request and purchase new equipment as appropriate • To develop resources of interest to specialist client group • To follow procedures for ensuring the security, care and maintenance of equipment, taking responsibility for maintaining standards of infection control and safety including equipment loaned to clients • Education & Professional Development • To engage in reflective practice with peers through participation in peer review, peer mentoring and supervision as appropriate • To provide mentoring, advice and support to more junior Speech and Language Therapists, Assistants, speech and language therapy students, and volunteers • To facilitate the development of others problem solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support • To plan, monitor and support the work of assistants, students, administration staff and volunteers • To resolve verbal complaints about the Speech and Language Therapy service in liaison with team leader • To generate appropriate strategies for management of own workload • To take on organisational responsibilities within, and contribute to, team meetings • To develop and review induction packages, to provide induction for more junior members of staff • To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to parents, visitors, students, other professionals and volunteers • To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate • To support students from other professional groups as appropriate • To establish own learning needs and take responsibility for own learning • To contribute to identifying training needs within the team. • Information management • To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies • To share information with carers, school staff and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines and client confidentiality • To gather and update activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines. • To contribute to team-wide initiatives to seek the views of children, parents and partner organisations on the quality and effectiveness of service provided • To participate in departmental research, Clinical Governance/Audit projects. • Freedom to act • To manage independently a caseload of children including complex cases • To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate • To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct and the Trusts value based behaviours. • To work independently accessing line management, supervision, and performance development reviews (appraisal) at pre-determined intervals Job description Job responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities • Professional / Clinical responsibilities • To assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy intervention programmes to meet the needs of clients; adapting practice based on individual clients or families circumstances and outcomes, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences • To develop information and resources for clients, families and relevant others regarding the management and care of clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties • To write comprehensive reports to be shared with families and a range of professionals, reflecting specialist knowledge • To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice • To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management • To implement care pathways and recommend changes in practice as appropriate • To identify and make appropriate onward referrals to other agencies • To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures • To raise local awareness of the importance of developing communication skills within service area. • To identify training needs and to develop, provide and evaluate appropriate specialist training to parents, carers, volunteers, educators and practitioners. • To participate in and contribute to projects, activities and events including attendance at team meetings • To establish appropriate partnerships with agencies and disciplines which are seeking to promote social and educational inclusion for children with speech, language, and communication difficulties. • Management and Leadership To take a delegated role or lead as requested by Team Leader, including participation in working groups, policy development groups, specific projects and events • To use specialist knowledge to inform line manager on issues of service delivery/ policy development, including access and equity shortfalls and, service pressures • To develop care protocols/packages relating to specialist area in liaison with Team Leader to improve client care • To negotiate with others including health, education and social care professionals to achieve seamless services for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs • Financial and physical resources responsibilities • To monitor stock levels in own service area and request and purchase new equipment as appropriate • To develop resources of interest to specialist client group • To follow procedures for ensuring the security, care and maintenance of equipment, taking responsibility for maintaining standards of infection control and safety including equipment loaned to clients • Education & Professional Development • To engage in reflective practice with peers through participation in peer review, peer mentoring and supervision as appropriate • To provide mentoring, advice and support to more junior Speech and Language Therapists, Assistants, speech and language therapy students, and volunteers • To facilitate the development of others problem solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support • To plan, monitor and support the work of assistants, students, administration staff and volunteers • To resolve verbal complaints about the Speech and Language Therapy service in liaison with team leader • To generate appropriate strategies for management of own workload • To take on organisational responsibilities within, and contribute to, team meetings • To develop and review induction packages, to provide induction for more junior members of staff • To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to parents, visitors, students, other professionals and volunteers • To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate • To support students from other professional groups as appropriate • To establish own learning needs and take responsibility for own learning • To contribute to identifying training needs within the team. • Information management • To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies • To share information with carers, school staff and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines and client confidentiality • To gather and update activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines. • To contribute to team-wide initiatives to seek the views of children, parents and partner organisations on the quality and effectiveness of service provided • To participate in departmental research, Clinical Governance/Audit projects. • Freedom to act • To manage independently a caseload of children including complex cases • To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate • To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct and the Trusts value based behaviours. • To work independently accessing line management, supervision, and performance development reviews (appraisal) at pre-determined intervals