Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.      CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1.1 To manage a defined caseload of children under 5 with speech language and communication needs with support from senior colleagues.

This includes:

·       Gaining appropriate consent

·       Assessment and differential diagnosis of individual children’s needs

·       Planning, delivering and evaluating treatment programmes in close collaboration with school staff to support access to the Foundation Stage and National Curriculum.

·       Referring on to other services/professionals as appropriate 

·       Provision of written clinical reports and care plans.

·       Seeking support on the management of more complex cases.

1.2  To provide assessment and differential diagnoses to pre-school children with SLCN

1.3  To plan, deliver and evaluate intervention programmes and to refer on to other     services/professionals as appropriate.

1.4  To provide advice and programmes to others, particularly to parents/carers and nursery staff, regarding the management and care of children with speech, language and communication needs.

1.5  To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice.

1.6  To recommend and implement alternative/augmentative communication programmes and equipment necessary to meet individual needs. This includes sign language, symbol systems and more complex electronic aids. 

1.7  To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor and seek support as necessary.

1.8  To manage clinical risk within defined caseload.

1.9  To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants, in particular parents and preschool staff, and to develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided. 

1.13 To explain the role of speech and language therapists to other colleagues in Health education and social care as well students and volunteers.

1.14  Working as a lone practitioner to provide clinical services in designated children’s centres and nurseries organising own timetables and travel arrangements.

1.15  To undertake home visits, adhering to the department’s domiciliary policy and procedure.

1.16  To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.

1.17  To develop a working knowledge and application of relevant legal frameworks, policy and procedures.

1.18  To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and the application to professional practice.

2.      COMMUNICATION AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

2.1  To communicate complex child related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with multidisciplinary team members across health, education and social services and the voluntary sector.

2.2  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 services and voluntary sector.

2.3  To communicate complex condition related information (both verbally and in the written form) to parents/carers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions. This includes child-specific information as well as training packages to parents, early years staff/practitioners and other professionals around the management of speech, language, and communication needs.

2.4  To have due regard for the cultural and linguistic differences of children / families concerned. This may include working through an interpreter.

2.5  To work closely with children, 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, English as an additional language and learning difficulties).

2.6  To employ excellent communication skills such as persuasion, motivation and explanations to encourage/reassure clients and carers to undertake treatment programmes.

2.7  To develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.

2.8  To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible and report to senior staff as appropriate.

2.9  To form productive relationships with others in particular parents/carers who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.

2.10   To provide clinical reports as per departmental standards.

2.11   To provide written advice for statutory assessment of special educational needs.

3. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

3.1  To monitor resource levels in designated base and request new equipment and resources where appropriate.

3.2  To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to children/young people.

5.      PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

5.1     To maintain sensitivity on a daily basis to the emotional needs of children and their parents/carers, particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the child’s disability and implications of the same on the child’s social emotional and communication development. This involves recognising those parents/carers experiencing grief, loss and anger which may result in breakdown of communication/ conflict.

5.2  To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies.

5.3  To deal with safeguarding concerns promptly and sensitively according to departmental/trust guidelines.

5.4  To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.

5.5  To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs. and seek advice and support to resolve.

6.      PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

6.1  To work as an autonomous practitioner being responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio, which reflects personal development. In particular to keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in provision of SLT to children with special educational needs and disability.

6.2  To access appraisal within an Individual Performance Review framework ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans.

6.3  To contribute to support/team meetings organised for SLT and the broader Paediatric therapy team to give and receive support.

6.4  To attend relevant training courses, meetings, special interest groups to maintain skills and knowledge required of a therapist working in the field of Special needs/disability and schools and to maintain up-to-date HCPC and RCSLT registration.

6.5  To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.

6.6  To develop a working knowledge and application of relevant legal frameworks, policy and procedures including:

·         Safeguarding Children

·         Safeguarding adults

·         National Service framework for Children

·         Special Educational Need, Disability discrimination act and SEN tribunals

·         Foundation stage and National curriculum policy and procedures.

·         Obtaining consent from children and young people.

·         Relevant NICE guidelines relating to children

6.7  To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice.

6.8  The post holder must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety Act 1974 to ensure that agreed procedures are carried out and that a safe working environment is maintained for patients, visitors and employees.

6.9  To attend all mandatory training as identified in the trusts mandatory training matrix.

6.10        To manage own time and prioritise workload with minimal support from a senior therapist.

6.11        To participate in student placements.

6.12        To explain the role of speech and language therapists to other colleagues in Health education and social care as well students and volunteers.