Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Youth Justice Service

Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

·       To assess the speech, language and communication skills of children known to Youth Justice and Adolescent Services.

·       To provide appropriate specialist intervention where required.

·       To make onward referrals to other services. For example: CAMHS, Child Development Centre, Audiology.

·       To support the professional network to adapt their practice, ensuring all required strategies are incorporated into children’s support plans.

·       To be able to reflect on all aspects of a child’s communication and identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.

·       To monitor the effectiveness of recommended strategies and to adjust advice as necessary.

·       To adapt clinical practice to meet individual children’s circumstances on the basis of evidence from assessment.

·       To recommend clear packages of care based on best practice and differential diagnosis using highly specialist clinical knowledge to inform case management.

·       To write assessment reports, communication profiles and intervention programmes (as required) with clear strategies, advice and recommendations about next steps.

·       To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in working within Youth Justice Services.

·       To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and supervisors and identify own strengths and development needs.

·       To demonstrate excellent communication skills.

·       To adapt practice to meet the individual circumstances of children and their families with due regard to cultural, linguistic (including use of interpreting services) and/or learning and language difficulties or differences.

·       To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek to resolve using highly developed negotiation skills, seeking further support from management if necessary.

·       To use appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the workplace, and to report any incidences of aggressive behaviour in line with Local Authority and NHS policies.

·       To ensure that children, their parents/carers (where possible) and the professional network are involved in the planning and delivery of their care.

·       To listen to the concerns of children, their parent/carers (where possible) and the professional network and provide appropriate support and signposting.

·       To demonstrate highly developed negotiation skills across a range of issues and to negotiate with others around case management.

·       To maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of children and their families, especially when sharing outcomes of assessments or recommendations for onward referrals.

·       To demonstrate empathy with children, their families and colleagues ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly when the likelihood of communication breakdowns are higher.

·       To acknowledge children’s journeys up until the point of involvement with the Youth Justice or Adolescent Services and use trauma informed practices when interacting with children and their families.

·       To demonstrate highly developed negotiation skills across a range of issues and to negotiate with others around case management.

·       To evaluate own delivery and to be accountable for own professional actions and decisions, recognise own professional boundaries and seek advice from colleagues as required.

·       To follow the CNWL serious incident escalation pathway when required and seek advice from the CNWL Safeguarding Nursing Team.

·       To report all incidents, in a timely manner, and access learning following incident investigation outcomes.

·       To have due regard for own personal safety and that of children, their families and other professionals. In particular, to have regard for Local Authority and NHS lone worker, moving and handling, health and safety and infection control policies.

·       To follow local safety management policies and procedures and being aware of potential conflict between children and families using services. For example, consulting keep apart lists and the professional network when booking appointments.

·       To report, in a timely manner, all safeguarding concerns, following the latest safeguarding guidance and polices.

·       To share information, in a timely manner, with relevant professionals.

·       To contribute to case conferences and reviews as required.

·       To record all concerns and discussions/supervisions regarding safeguarding issues in the child’s clinical records.

·       To attend safeguarding supervision with the Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children (Hillingdon) on a 3 monthly basis.

·       To work independently and to access NHS clinical supervision on a regular basis (every 6-8 weeks). NHS clinical supervision should be recorded on the relevant system.

·       To collate evidence of professional development related to the RCSLT CPD log.

·       To work within legal frameworks relevant to the role. For example: SEND reforms, London Safeguarding Children Procedures and Youth Justice Guidance.