Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

• To independently manage a specialist caseload of pre-school and school age children who have speech, language and communication difficulties
• To undertake a range of assessments, both standardised and non-standardised, taking account of medical, social and educational factors, which combined with specialist theoretical knowledge will lead to differential diagnosis
• To plan, deliver and evaluate specialist intervention following professional guidelines and agreed service standards
• As part of that process, to be able to plan appropriate long term and short term goals working towards discharge
• To undertake administrative duties connected with the caseload including maintenance of case notes and provision of written reports, following service standards
• To ensure that all work is carried out in close collaboration with all those involved in children’s care so that the approach to intervention and support is co-ordinated and comprehensive
• To identify when there is a need for a second opinion, referring to senior colleagues or SLT specialists as appropriate
• To make onward referral as appropriate
• To identify any variations to service delivery or demands and inform the Locality Co-ordinator and Area & Clinical Lead of the likely impact on the service 

Policy & Service development 

• To participate in development of policy, clinical guidelines, clinical governance and service development through discussion and involvement in projects as appropriate, including innovative practice, in collaboration with senior colleagues
• Responsibility for specific, clearly defined projects as delegated by the Locality Co-ordinator
• To be familiar with local and national standards and to work in line with these
• To ensure that parents/carers are aware of the standards they should expect from the speech and language therapy service 

Communication 

• To ensure effective communication of complex condition-related information to parents/carers regarding the assessment process, assessment findings and planned intervention, including engagement of parents/carers in intervention
• To ensure children are involved in goal setting and decision making around their own care as appropriate to their age, developmental level and language skills  
• To ensure parents/carers are involved in decision making around their child’s care including discharge from the service
• To liaise effectively and work in partnership with other professionals (particularly teachers and teaching assistants), including the development of shared goals for intervention
• To write reports on children, in line with service standards, including contributions to statutory assessment 
• To offer advice to others concerning support for individual children
• To actively contribute to case conferences/ review meetings for children on the caseload
• To recognise how and when information may be shared within the bounds of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act
• To attend SLT team meetings, actively contributing as appropriate  
• Contribute to CCS’ internal communication strategies ensuring effective two-way communication and engagement within the organisation
• Contribute to CCS’ external communication strategies working with the Head of Communications to raise awareness and promote the reputation of CCS’ services

Patient and Public Engagement 

• To contribute to ensuring that CCS responsibilities to engage and consult with patients and the public are met in line with statutory requirements

Training

• To participate in training other professionals/ parents as appropriate
• To identify training needs in the multi-disciplinary team needed to support the care of children on the caseload
• To attend all Trust mandatory training 

People Management 

• To access and accept clinical supervision from senior or specialist colleagues in line with service policy
• To supervise and clinically support SLT assistants/ teaching assistants/volunteers as appropriate
• To mentor newly qualified SLTs providing support and contributing to induction with guidance from more senior colleagues 
• To provide clinical placements for SLT students including contributing to the assessment of exam placements
• Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and KSF process 

Research & Development Activity

• To maintain and update skills and knowledge in relevant areas
• To develop and monitor own clinical expertise in specialist area through planned CPD  
• To participate in service audit and projects as agreed with the Area & Clinical Lead
• To actively reflect on practice with peers and more senior colleagues to promote professional development and evidence based decision making
• To be advised on developments in current practice by more senior colleagues 

Clinical and Practice Governance 

• Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act
• Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies
• The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes
• The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures
• It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with HCPC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration
• Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
• The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required
• Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team
• Participate in Clinical and Safeguarding supervision on a regular basis
• The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team