Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

• Providing specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention to children and young people with dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing disorders) and communication needs. The role will include supporting parents, clients and other professionals in all issues related to client management. Liaison with the MDT is an integral part of the role
• Contributingto developments within the Dysphagia and Early Years teams including the development of policies and procedures relating to clinical care, evidence-based practice, care pathways and outcome development. You will contribute to Trust, service and profession wide initiatives.
• Providing support to other speech and language therapists and support in the training and development of SLT students.
• Delivering training/courses to staff as relevant to the post to a variety of audiences e.g. parents and staff in school settings.
• The post holder will run appropriate in-service training independently for school and other staff.
• The post holder will have well developed specialist skills in a specialist area of SLCN within the broad range of speech, language and communication needs encounteredwithin the caseload of school aged childrenand young peopleincluding the use of augmentativeandalternativecommunication.
• The post holder will liaise with other colleagues across a range of statutory and non-statutory agencies.

Desirable

• Evidence of competency level C of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework
• Advanced dysphagia qualification /post graduate paediatric dysphagia training e.g. Manchester Post Basic Dysphagia Course
• Evidence of completion of highly specialist short courses in dysphagia management
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Masters degree or equivalent
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs)

Essential

• Demonstrates analytical and reflection skills
• Able to synthesise and present complex information at a service level
• Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance relevant to care setting and its application across health care services
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Knowledge of National Policies and Procedures relevant to Health, Social Services and Education
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping and ability to audit this in own team
• Excellent organisational, prioritisation skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others
• Well established knowledge of a broad range assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
• Knowledge of general developmental and SLT specific milestones
• Religious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management
• Knowledge of and adherence to professional standards as set out by HCPC

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations and ability to facilitate these skills in others
• Demonstrates the ability to be a good team member
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service area
• Responsive to change and ideas and adaptive and creative within new systems
• Pro-active in identifying change to progress service delivery, negotiating with others for an action plan and completion
• Ability to deal with and resolve conflict
• Sensitivity to others' differing needs
• Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
• Well-developed concentration skills
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• Manual dexterity sufficient to carry out physical swallowing assessment, use high- and low-tech assessment equipment and signing
• IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes

Essential

• Post graduate paediatric dysphagia experience including non-oral feeding
• In-depth experience within specialist area/area of service delivery and dysphagia
• Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working
• Experience of providing a range of care planning necessary to address the dysphagia and complex needs of children and young people
• Experience of assessment to identify the communication needs of children and young people on the caseload
• Experience of planning, organising and delivering training programmes
• Experience of supporting children, families and schools in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 including contribution to statutory assessments (Education Health and Care Plan Needs Assessments), contribution to the annual review process and delivery of SALT provision as specified in Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)