Speech and Language Therapist (Band 5-6 Run-Through)

Speech and Language Therapist (Band 5-6 Run-Through)

Main area: Speech and Language Therapy
Grade: Band 5-6 Run-Through
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (1.00 WTE)
Job ref: 220-WHT-3044

Employer: Whittington Health NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Northern Health Centre
Town: Islington
Salary: £35,964 - £53,134 per annum inclusive of HCAS
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 17/04/:59

Job overview

If you're passionate about shaping children's communication in schools and thrive in a dynamic environment, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

Join us in Islington as a Band 5 Mainstream Schools Speech and Language Therapist and help transform the educational experience for children with speech, language, and communication needs.

Whether newly qualified or experienced, you can progress to Band 6 in 24 months, provided agreed competencies are met.

What you can expect:

• Supportive Caseloads: Manageable caseload with dedicated time for clinical and non-clinical duties, especially in your first year.
• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside a skilled multidisciplinary team, including school staff, outreach staff, and Occupational and Physiotherapists.
• Development Opportunities: Ongoing clinical supervision, access to a cross-borough support group, and the chance to build skills and learn from highly experienced and talented therapists across primary and secondary schools.
• Positive Team Feedback: Don't just take our word for it-our team loves the supportive atmosphere! "I felt ready for the next step with the fantastic support of a friendly team!" (current staff member)

Are you ready for a strong start to your career while making a difference in schools? We'd love for you to join us!

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive service to children and young people attending mainstream schools, including assessment, diagnosis and intervention for individual children and young people as well as providing a support service to schools themselves. The post holder is an autonomous practitioner and is responsible for organising and managing their own caseload in up to 5 mainstream schools (primary and secondary), working from a central base. They will work with children and young people with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs including Developmental Language Disorders, Selective Mutism, Speech difficulties and children with language disorders in association with conditions such as Autistic Spectrum Condition, Down's Syndrome and ADHD.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To demonstrate basic clinical expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of language and communication difficulties in school aged children providing appropriate intervention and evaluating outcomes.
2. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness drawing on evidence based practice and outcome measures.
3. To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients.
4. To make basic differential diagnoses and clinical decisions based on evidence from assessment, seeking support and advice from a supervisor as appropriate.
5. To develop knowledge and skills in a range of language and communication difficulties in school aged children with training, support and supervision from clinical supervisor as appropriate.
6. To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
7. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of children with language and communication difficulties.
8. To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
9. To work closely with clients, carers and families in order to agree plans of management.
10. To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.

Person specification Qualifications

• BSc. Speech Path or equivalent.
• HPC licence to practise, and eligible for the full RCSLT register.
• Successful completion of specialist short courses relevant to the field including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), autistic spectrum condition (ASC) and education practice.
• Basic Counselling.

Knowledge and experience

• Knowledge and experience of a specialist range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate a wide range of language and communication needs in mainstream schools for both primary and secondary aged pupils.
• Knowledge and experience of the key characteristics leading to a specialist differential diagnosis of a wide range of language and communication difficulties.
• Knowledge and experience of a specialist range of therapeutic interventions relevant to primary and secondary age children with a wide range of language and communication needs demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches.
• Knowledge and experience of the application of specialist knowledge of local cultural, linguistic & demographic factors to the management of a school aged caseload.
• Knowledge of multi-disciplinary team approaches.
• Knowledge and experience of working with children with a wide range of language and communication needs in mainstream schools.
• Knowledge and experience of delivering specialist training to a range of audiences.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust's Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.