Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Experts at Hand

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Job Purpose

We are excited to introduce an innovative Experts at Hand (EaH) model supporting children and young people across education and early years settings within Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, with a focus on strengthening universal and targeted provision and improving outcomes for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.

The EaH model builds on local and national learning from ELSEC, Team Around the School (TAS), Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) and SEND reforms. It aims to improve early identification, reduce escalation to specialist services, build workforce capability and support more inclusive educational environments.

The post holder will provide locality leadership for implementation of the Experts at Hand model within a defined geographical area. Working collaboratively with the Strategic Lead, Speech and Language Therapy Locality Leads and wider multidisciplinary partners, the post holder will support the development of an integrated universal, targeted and specialist speech, language and communication offer across education and community settings.

The role combines specialist clinical expertise with workforce development, consultation, coaching, service improvement and system leadership. The post holder will provide leadership and supervision to EaH practitioners whilst supporting the wider Speech and Language Therapy workforce to embed new ways of working that increase capacity, improve inclusion and strengthen early intervention.

The post holder will maintain a small targeted-plus and specialist clinical caseload, providing specialist consultation, assessment and intervention for children and young people with more complex speech, language and communication needs where required.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical and Locality Leadership

The role combines highly specialist clinical practice with locality leadership responsibilities, supporting implementation of the Experts at Hand model and development of a sustainable universal, targeted and specialist offer within the locality, with approximately a 50:50 division of time.

Work alongside Speech and Language Therapy Locality Leads to support delivery of an integrated universal, targeted and specialist model of care.
Act as a senior clinical resource within the locality, providing specialist advice, consultation and second opinions to colleagues and partner agencies.

Support the development of communication-supportive environments across education, early years and community settings.

Support implementation of the graduated response through consultation, coaching, modelling and collaborative problem solving.

Participate in locality-based multidisciplinary meetings and Team Around the School meetings.

Contribute to strategic discussions regarding service demand, workforce planning and service development within the locality.

Universal and Targeted Offer

Lead the development and delivery of evidence-based training programmes for education staff, early years practitioners, parent carers and wider partners.

Coproduce the targeted offer with clusters of neighbourhood settings.
Deliver consultation and coaching to increase workforce confidence and capability in supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.

Undertake communication environment audits and support settings to implement recommendations.

Develop, implement and evaluate targeted intervention programmes at individual, group and whole-setting level.

Support the development of communication champions and sustainable workforce capacity within schools and settings.

Work collaboratively with parent carer forums and wider community partners to promote understanding of speech, language and communication needs.

Workforce Development and Leadership

Provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to Band 6/5 Speech and Language Therapists, Band 4 Support Practitioners and apprentices working within the EaH model.

Support induction, competency development and ongoing professional development of EaH staff.

Lead and support implementation of new ways of working across the wider locality workforce, including increased use of consultation, coaching, training and targeted interventions.

Identify workforce development needs and contribute to the planning and delivery of training programmes across the service.

Support recruitment, retention and workforce development initiatives as delegated by senior leaders.

Act as a role model for collaborative, strengths-based and inclusive practice.

Specialist Clinical Practice

Maintain a small targeted-plus and specialist clinical caseload.
Undertake specialist assessment, differential diagnosis and intervention for children and young people presenting with complex speech, language and communication needs.
Provide specialist consultation to support decision making regarding escalation into specialist services.
Develop highly individualised intervention plans based on assessment findings and evidence-based practice.
Utilise outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of intervention.
Maintain professional registration and practice in accordance with HCPC and RCSLT standards.

Service Development and Governance

Contribute to the ongoing development, implementation and evaluation of the Experts at Hand model. Support collection, analysis and interpretation of activity, outcome and impact data.

Participate in audit, quality improvement and service evaluation activities.

Contribute to the development of policies, pathways, clinical guidance and standard operating procedures.

Support implementation of local and national priorities relating to SEND reform, inclusion and speech, language and communication.

Promote evidence-based practice and contribute to the development of innovative models of service delivery.

Communication

Communicate complex clinical information clearly to parents, carers, education staff and professionals.

Provide clinical leadership, supervision, and support to Band 4 and Band 6/5 therapists, while coordinating the day-to-day delivery of the service.
Build strong relationships across education, health and SEND partnerships.

Provide professional advice to support decision-making regarding children’s needs.

Maintain clear and accurate clinical records in line with service standards.
Communicate professionally as an expert representative within the Multi-Disciplinary Team around the school with SALT, Education Psychologists, Education staff and CAMHS.

Maintain clear and accurate outcome measures for intervention, training and delivery of the EAH model.

Budgetary Responsibility

To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.

Does not hold budgetary responsibility but is aware of the need to plan non- pay expenditure.

People Management

Provide line management, supervision, and support to Band 6/5 Therapists and Band 4 Support Practitioners/Apprentices, including responsibility for recruitment, attendance management, wellbeing, performance management, capability, and disciplinary processes.
Lead on the induction, appraisal and development of team members, ensuring regular review and support of individual objectives and professional development.

Provide supervision, support, and coaching to students within the Occupational Therapy Service, facilitating their learning and professional development.

Provide mentoring, guidance, and professional support to junior colleagues to support their development and clinical practice.
Promote and maintain mandatory training compliance across the team in line with Trust requirements.

Identify learning and development needs within the service and develop and deliver training plans to address knowledge and skills gaps.

Research & Development Activity 

To participate in development of policy, clinical guidelines, clinical governance and service development through discussion, including innovative practice, in collaboration with colleagues.

Responsibility for specific, clearly defined projects as delegated by EaH lead.

To develop care protocols and innovative practice in area of clinical specialism.

To be familiar with local and national standards and to work in line with these.

To initiate and undertake research/audit/outcome measures to develop the evidence base and improve the effectiveness of the service to children.

Clinical and Practice Governance

Maintain confidentiality and comply with Information Governance policies.

Adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures.

Participate in supervision, audit and pathway development.

Work within professional and organisational guidelines.

Maintain own mandatory training and monitor compliance across the team.

Support development of Standard Operating Procedures and Policy.