Job summary
An exciting new opportunity for a clinical leadership role has arisen for a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist working in partnership with the child development centres and community paediatric teams. We are looking for a highly experienced, professional and ambitious therapist to join the team at band 7, specialising in preschool Dysphagia and autism assessment and diagnosis in the under 5s.

We would be particularly interested in applicants who have extensive experience and recognised qualifications in managing dysphagia in children from birth to 2 years. You would be joining a small team of similarly qualified colleagues.

The post holder will be able to work collaboratively across boundaries, both internally and externally for the benefit of CYP, sharing areas of expertise and best practice.

The post holder will provide visible and high-quality professional leadership, supporting the Divisional Quality Improvement plan and community paediatric transformation programme. Through the ability to inspire and lead you will drive and implement practice improvement and staff development to improve our families journey. You would be working in partnership with band 7 leads in SALT, Specialist Therapies and Childrens Community Nursing.

This role is for 28 hours per week. We would consider applicants who wish to job share.

Main duties of the job
To take responsibility for managing a caseload of children, young people and families referred to the service. This would include specialised interventions for complex cases, plus supporting development and implementation of targeted and universal provision.

This specialist role will work collaboratively with community colleagues. You would need to work as part of the early years multidisciplinary team and as part of the team who offer assessment and differential diagnosis for children under 5 with possible autism.

You would be involved in offering eating, drinking and communication advice whilst children, young people and families are supported by the service and support for discharge planning.

What do you need to know?

We provide a comprehensive induction programme with mentor support and clinical supervision.

Were a Balanced System service we work in an evidence-based way at a universal, targeted and specialist level.

Were a supportive team, working together in settings and schools

We have excellent admin support with two main admin bases

All our team are equipped to do their job we invest in resources/equipment, so we have what we need on a daily basis

About us
At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.

What we offer;

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data - As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trusts understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Job responsibilities
For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Experience
Essential

• In-depth post-registration experience in the highly specialist area
• Extensive experience of designing and delivering training to a wide range of professionals in the relevant service area
• Expert in managing highly complex, diverse caseload independently and able to advise others
• Extensive experience of collaborative work with cross professional groups

Desirable

• Experience of working in paediatric settings

Knowledge
Essential

• Advanced knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic assessments and interventions relevant to the service area.
• Highly developed specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by theory and practical experience

Desirable

• Knowledge of models of paediatric care
• Knowledge of research methods and design

Additional Criteria
Essential

• IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes
• Able to travel efficiently to fulfil post requirements Able to carry a variety of equipment between locations safely
• Is able to work at various heights and locations according to the needs of clients.

Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent
• Further theoretical training and experience to Masters level or equivalent in Specific Language Impairment
• Health Professions Council Licence to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
• Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups
• Evidence of recent relevant CPD activities related specifically to the clinical area; to include evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses
• I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Desirable

• Completion of training relevant to role eg. FINE, Sensory Beginnings

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English in both verbal and written formats
• Shows excellent clinical leadership
• Has vision of the future for SLT services and ability to lead service developments
• Is able to lead a wide range of SLTs in improving their clinical expertise
• Produces innovative research in relevant specialism and implements the research of others
• Is able to facilitate others of mixed ability to develop specialised innovative packages of care
• Has highly developed empathy, negotiation and leadership skills
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, where there are barriers to understanding
• Is able to write clear reports and notes and advise others regarding clinical reports eg. for legal processes and publishing
• Can effectively interpret national and local policies in clinical specialism and lead on implementation
• Is able to use sign language and communication aids appropriate to the care group (where appropriate to specialism)

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.