Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• 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 parents, early years, and teaching staff to ensure the delivery of a well-coordinated care/support plan.
• 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 care, and 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 including health visitors and GP’s. This includes child-specific information as well as training packages to parents, early years/teachers, 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, demonstrating and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist (i.e. hearing loss, communication difficulties, EAL, 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 develop 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 clinical reports as per departmental standards.
• To provide written advice for statutory assessment of special educational needs.

Please see job description and person specification for main duties and responsibilities required in this post.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Health Care Professions Council – Licence to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Desirable criteria

• Post graduate short courses in the provision of SLT to pre-school and school age children
• Level 1 training in dysphagia

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Working with Children and young people
• Assessment, treatment, and management of children with speech, language, and communication difficulties
• Working with parents and carers
• Working within an educational environment
• Assessment tools relevant to the CYP with speech, language, and communication, eating, and drinking difficulties
• Range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the above client group
• Working with children with eating and drinking difficulties
• Writing clinical notes and reports
• The role of the speech and language therapist in the Education system
• Awareness of national policies and procedures, in particular safeguarding children, SEN and disability, Children’s & Families Act, Foundation Stage, and National Curricula
• Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit
• Awareness of standards of record keeping and reporting

Skills, Abilities And Attributes

Essential criteria

• Good written and spoken English
• Negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening, and empathy skills
• Good presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritize own workload
• Demonstrates ability to be a team player
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities