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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Bexley Children’s Speech and Language Therapy service offers a range of services with specialist teams across EYs, ASD, Hearing Impairment, Dysfluency, Specialist Resourced Provisions and SEMH. We work closely across teams to provide clinical support and second opinions. We also have opportunities to develop training skills to enhance skills and knowledge for staff working with children with SLCN.

There is the opportunity for professional development, and the support of a team of therapists and assistants. You will have access to administrative, managerial and clinical support. Continuing professional development is supported and the development of clinical interests is encouraged. 

1. To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice from supervisor where appropriate.
2. To manage and prioritise a defined caseload independently accessing planned supervision to support the process.
3. To manage and prioritise own workload, accessing planned supervision to support this process.
4. To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor.
5. To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants, with the support of colleagues.
6. To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
7. To be aware of and adhere to service and team plans and policies.
8. To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
9. To supervise the work of assistants/therapy support staff/administration and clerical staff and learning support assistants.
10. To explain the role of Speech & Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
11. To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate through mentoring, peer support, clinical and managerial supervision.
12. To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
13. To participate in the co-ordination, development and delivery of training programmes and information packages for colleagues in health, education, voluntary sector organisations and parents/carers.
14. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the client’s difficulties and implications of the same.
15. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the clients, carers and colleagues when managing distressing situations such as child protection issues and exposure to terminal illness.
16. To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the appropriate management strategies.
17. To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
18. To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to clients. 

COMMUNICATION

 To communicate effectively and with empathy with the child, parents and carers to impart information regarding diagnosis and/or prognosis, treatment plans and predicted outcomes in an understandable format enabling children, parents and carers to be involved in the decision making process at the beginning of and throughout their care. Utilize specialised verbal and non- verbal communication skills where appropriate.

To apply advanced interpersonal skills to enable change within complex and multifaceted social/family situations regularly involving multicultural customs and language barriers.

To impart sensitive advice/information to health, social care and colleagues in education in the overall management of the child presenting with complex problems. This will include the preparation of reports for presentation at relevant Social Care, Educational and Medical Case Conferences including child protection issues, with guidance from senior therapists.

To respond to the requirements of relevant Education legislation by providing advice as part of any re-assessment process and taking part in Annual and Transfer Reviews as appropriate. To write detailed official reports regarding the child’s Speech, Language and Communication and the Speech and Language Therapy advice for Education Health Care plans with the support of an experienced therapist. To ensure that reports (medical, statutory and legal) adhere to standards as stated by the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and local guidelines.

To ensure accurate, reliable and contemporaneous documentation of client electronic and manual records and that all administrative processes are maintained according to agreed policies.

 To develop skills in motivating clients and or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.

 To deal with initial verbal complaints sensitively in discussion with your line manager, avoiding escalation and attempting to resolve, following the Trust’s complaints process.

To ensure the Trust policies relating to absence / leave are adhered to.