Job summary
Children and Family Health Devon is a system-wide service that delivers an integrated, coordinated support model which wraps around the child, young person and family. It has been specifically designed to respond to all elements of the commissioners strategy and specification along with the vision and strategic direction of the Integrated Care System for Devon. It builds on our strong relationships across education, health, social care and voluntary sector services in Devon, and, most importantly, it has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

Children and Family Health Devon is part of an Alliance that is unique and brings together five leading providers of adult and childrens community, acute and mental health services in Devon:

• Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
• Devon Partnership NHS Trust
• Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
• Livewell South West

Key voluntary sector organisations:

• Young Devon
• Vranch House
• Kooth

Academic Partners:

• University of Exeter
• University of Plymouth
• Marjon University

Children and Family Health Devon is committed to promoting equity and inclusion for all communities; to providing specialist children and young peoples health services which are accessible, appropriate and which recognise the diversity of people, their needs and choices.

Main duties of the job

• 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

About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role

Qualifications
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

Experience
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

Knowledge and skills
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
• To be able to collate and analyse information from a variety of sources
• To be flexible to the demands of the environment, including unpredictable work patterns, varying caseloads, deadlines and frequent interruptions

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.