Bank Band 5 Speech & Language Therapist

• To independently manage, with access to support from more senior colleagues, a caseload of patients with developmental communication and acquired disorders of speech, language and communication and/or eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties
• The provision of a speech and language therapy service of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of developmental communication disorders and acquired disorders of speech, language and communication
• To provide appropriate intervention and evaluate outcomes
• To provide advice to relatives, early years and school staff and other professionals on matters relating to the speech, language and communication needs of individual patients
• To set up and monitor programmes to be carried out by other key workers
• To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health Professions Council Licence to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups

Essential

• Relevant experience of working with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs in community and education settings
• Knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to working with children
• Well established knowledge of a broad range of appropriate therapeutic interventions to treat children
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance /audit
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to the client group
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
• Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills
• Well-developed concentration skills
• Good presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Good organisational skills
• Prioritisation skills
• Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member
• Sitting or standing for long periods of time
• Frequent sitting in a constrained position when working with patients
• Demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients / clients
• Demonstrate skills in handling patients with disabilities
• To have due regard for own personal safety and that of patients / carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
• Occasional distressing situations, imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the communication difficulties and implications of the same
• Proven ability to employ counselling skills for/to families and carers who have highly complex needs and are under stress
• Demonstrable ability to maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of patients and their families particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of their difficulties and the implications for the future
• Managing children with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies
• Ability to work in emotionally hostile environments and handle conflict effectively
• Frequent intense concentration required during observation, assessment of clients and during treatment prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs, including cultural and linguistic differences