Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity to recruit one full time (37.5hpw), Band 5, Speech and Language Therapist to our Community Paediatric School Age Complex Needs pathway and team.

This post is based in Ipswich special schools and surrounding area with a small number of children requiring support at home or in alternative provision.

You will work alongside health and education colleagues to support children with their communication and eating and drinking needs and to ensure they make the best possible progress, in relation to the outcomes within their Education and Health Care Plans.

We use a flexible approach which includes training for staff and parents as well direct and indirect working with the child across a range of environments.

You will be able to access on site and virtual support by working with SLT colleagues based at the school and joining SLT staff meetings, through supervision, and accessing relevant specialists within the department and wider paediatric services as needed.

Enthusiasm, knowledge, and skills in managing both communication and eating and drinking needs are an advantage.

Being organised and positive are key qualities for this role.

We are strongly committed to delivering effective, evidence-based therapy, and offer regular clinical and management supervision with in-house CPD/training opportunities.

We would welcome any applicants with current applicable specialist experience or a desire to develop in this area of practice.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:

• Work with children and young people with a broad range of speech, language, communication and eating and drinking needs associated with a learning or physical disability.
• Work independently to provide regular sessions to support the child's progress, evaluate/update EHCP targets, and write Annual Review reports
• Plan and deliver therapeutic interventions to children and young people within the context of an EHCP.
• Manage a delegated caseload & deliver provision for students with a range of speech, language, communication needs within special school settings.
• Understand the differing presentation and development of speech, language, and communication skills in the context of disability or neurodiversity.
• Use and interpret a range of assessment methods appropriate for the client group.
• Be able to work effectively and flexibly with a variety of people, across settings to achieve best outcomes
• Have strong emerging or established personal communication skills to convey key information to service users, colleagues, and other professionals.
• Update /inform & upskill families & carers to create effective partnerships
• Ensure a holistic approach through liaison with families, health professionals & school staff.
• Be familiar and confident with health record keeping systems (SystmOne) and MS packages, keeping up to date records in a concise and timely manner.

Please see job description attached to view main duties of role.

About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

Job responsibilities
The successful applicant will have or develop knowledge and skills in assessment and intervention for children and young peoples complex speech, language communication and eating and drinking needs, experience working with therapy partners (parent/carers and educational staff), a passion / interest in delivering intervention within school settings.

This post will be based in special school settings but an ability to travel across the service during the working day is essential.

Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential

• Recognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
• Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council
• Eligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Desirable

• Evidence of applicable short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc

Experience
Essential

• Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics
• Knowledge and experience of a range of paediatric SLC assessment methods.
• Experience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals.

Desirable

• Experience of working in community paediatric settings
• Use of outcome measures

Knowledge & Skills
Essential

• Knowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and awareness of role in providing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports
• Knowledge of Safeguarding CYP
• Good presentation skills, written and verbal
• Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
• Ability to work under pressure
• Well-developed concentration skills

Desirable

• Experience of record keeping via SystmOne

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Flexible approach, able to manage changing circumstances
• Motivated
• Able to travel across the Trust

Desirable

• Pragmatic

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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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