Speech and Language Therapist (FT or PT)

We are a trauma-informed school specialising in bespoke academic support through 1:1 and very small group mental health/ trauma/ SEN services and interventions.

The Specialist Speech and Language Therapist post provides for pupils with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) plan or those in the process of applying for an EHCP plan. 

Main Purpose of the Job

·   To provide Speech and Language therapy for students through individual, group and/or teacher directed therapy sessions

·   Provide assessment for current and prospective pupils as needed

·   To contribute to training of professional staff and others as required

·   To provide professional reports and feedback

Safeguarding

• To follow policies and other guidance relating to safeguarding and promotion of wellbeing of children and young people, in particular Keeping Children Safe in Education and School/Centre policies.

Responsibilities

• To be responsible for the delivery of specialist speech and language therapy services including assessment, diagnosis and therapy as directed.
• To provide specialist intervention demonstrating clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence based practice and outcome measures while being able to adapt practices to meet individual pupils’ needs.
• To provide specialist therapy services utilising a variety of service delivery models including individual, joint, multidisciplinary, group and teacher directed sessions.
• To use specialist knowledge of standardised assessment and other assessment tools in combination with advanced reasoning skills to record baseline measures and/or differential diagnoses.
• Management of a highly complex and demanding caseload of children with complex needs and who may display challenging behaviour.
• To develop and implement speech and language programmes for individuals and groups using expertise to create innovative and effective ways of working where appropriate to maximise individual students’ potential.
• To provide speech and language targets for integration into the educational curriculum as part of each students’ IEP in consultation with parents, teachers and other multidisciplinary staff.
• To plan, implement, and evaluate joint sessions with members of the multidisciplinary team, incorporating speech and language therapy targets.
• To attend and participate in regular multidisciplinary team and symbols meetings.
• To regularly monitor and review the students’ ongoing communication needs.
• To liaise closely with all staff to support implementation of appropriate communication strategies on a daily basis.
• To actively support other staff members when they identify the communication needs of students by considering then supporting and implementing possible solutions.
• To supervise/ manage the work of Support Assistants and offer advice, support and guidance on a daily basis in relation to Speech and Language development.
• To devise and write intervention programmes for implementation by Support Assistants.  

Professional Duties

• To deliver all aspects of speech and language therapy intervention according to relevant evidence based practices.
• To provide reports to contribute to the students’ annual reviews.
• To maintain records of invention according to professional standards
• To maintain professional status and competence at a specialist level, taking responsibility for keeping own knowledge and skills up to date by engaging in continuing professional development and maintaining a portfolio of CPD.
• To attend regular clinical supervision with a suitably experienced SALT.
• To attend externally accredited training programmes e.g. Picture Communication Exchange System (P.E.C.S.), AAC, Eye Gaze in order to take responsibility to contribute to the training of others including staff and parents/ carers.
• To manage the emotional consequences of working with children with complex needs and be aware of the needs, demands and pressures on their families.
• To have knowledge of and work within the framework of relevant procedures including Safeguarding/ Child Protection etc.
• To demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to RCSLT professional and clinical guidelines.
• To maintain registration with the Health Professions Council as a practising Speech and Language Therapist.
• To represent the school at multi agency meetings where appropriate.

Educational Duties

• To contribute to planning and delivering of training (both formal and informal) to parents/carers, teachers and other school staff in speech, language and communication disorders.
• To work closely with the teaching team and other therapists to agree on and implement the use of new symbols and approaches in the school and to construct/adapt appropriate communication resources for various curriculum and play activities during the day.
• Assessment, management and provision of individual children’s communication aids including determining appropriateness of new equipment/ symbols and resources.
• To agree with the therapy team and ensure the consistency of symbols used throughout the school (where appropriate) and to advise staff on symbols and resources.
• To support educational engagement both in therapeutic sessions and within the teaching area.
• To work as part of a large team providing 1:1 or 2:1 support to children with SEMH and trauma needs - being part of ratio cover where necessary.

Organisational Duties

• To organise own caseload balancing case management and time allocation towards school, professional and personal objectives.
• To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable events, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
• To monitor own resource levels and requirements in own areas and source and request new equipment and resources as appropriate.
• To attend and participate in meetings including Annual Reviews, school, multidisciplinary, staff and contribute to the Executive Board where necessary.
• To attend any mandatory training and induction courses as requested by any member of the Exec Team
• To contribute to developing new policies for the school as appropriate to the role.
• To be responsible for security, care and maintenance of SLT equipment including switches, toys, IT and communication aids and reporting maintenance issues efficiently and quickly.

Who are we looking for?

The staff member will:

• Have a qualification in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Be a registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Have a minimum of 3 years experience within the profession (including placement-based experience for newly qualified therapists).

A FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION WILL BE SENT BY EMAIL TO ANY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS PRIOR TO INVITATION TO INTERVIEW.

Please note that this role requires working with children who may display challenging behaviours and/or who may have special educational needs. Confidence in behaviour management is an essential requirement of this role. We require all staff to undergo training in Positive Handling alongside other statutory training requirements.

Safeguarding is the highest priority, and we follow Safer Recruitment procedure. All staff must undergo an enhanced DBS.