Job summary An exciting leadership opportunity has been created to join our team as a Lead Practitioner for Speech and Language Therapy. This role is supported by the Head of Therapies and sits alongside other discipline leads for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology. The Lead Practitioners are expected to work together as a group to develop their disciplines in collaboration with each other, the Head of Therapies and leaders across the campus. The leadership role is part time and will complement employment as a Band 7 therapist. We are looking for staff with leadership experience and willingness to develop themselves and speech therapy provision. This is an exciting time to develop leadership roles in parallel with the other disciplines, these roles will build on our existing strong and talented team. Main duties of the job The Speech and Language Therapist is responsible for assessment, intervention and consultation of a specialist caseload - to facilitate development of students communication and eating and drinking skills (if appropriately trained and experienced). The Speech & Language Therapist will also support the Speech and Language Therapy Team, this includes informal and formal supervision and responsibility for defined projects in liaison with the Head of Therapies. About us Young Epilepsy is the only UKcharity dedicated to creating better lives for children and young people with epilepsy and related conditions and is based on a beautiful campus in Lingfield, Surrey. Date posted 27 November 2024 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £48,264 to £54,930 a year inclusive of HCAS Fringe plus £4,000 LP allowance Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Term time hours Reference number B0445-24-0010 Job locations St Piers Lane Lingfield Surrey RH7 6PW Job description Job responsibilities Key Tasks and Responsibilities Team working To meet the needs of all students effectively by working in partnership with other disciplines, including the Therapies Team. To demonstrate understanding of the roles of all other disciplines. To work together with other disciplines including educational and residential staff for the effective management of students as appropriate. To assist in the induction of new team members and contribute to service delivery decisions. To provide day to day support / line management for the Therapies Team typically those within the discipline of SLT but not will also be expected to give general support to other disciplines within the Therapies team. To support the direction of the work of the Speech & Language Therapy Assistant and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Technician in delivering support for students across campus To provide support for Speech & Language Students on clinical placement from university. To provide information and statistics as required and contribute to audit as required. Specialist Clinical Work - Complex special needs To manage a caseload of students with epilepsy and/or autism together with other complex developmental or acquired needs attending the School and/or College. To provide an opinion on the suitability of St Piers to meet a prospective students needs. To provide a baseline assessment of each new students communication and/or eating/drinking skills and the environment in which these skills are used. To evaluate the impact of epilepsy and/or autism spectrum disorders together with other complex developmental or acquired needs on a students current communicative competence, taking into account variability and potential loss of skills. To provide detailed recommendations which are suitable for incorporation into the students education or care programmes. To deliver, and inform parents of the aims of, regular therapy sessions. To pass on skills in communication or eating and drinking issues related to a specific student. To identify other situations beyond the post holders current clinical competence and refer on/seek advice as needed. To contribute to EHCP reports and Annual reviews, advising on appropriate levels of intervention. To offer support, second opinions and supervision to other staff as required. Specialist Clinical Work - AAC To co-ordinate provision of suitable Augmentative and Alternative Communication support for students with complex needs on the post holders caseload by assessment, diagnostic therapy and advice. To contribute to the direction of the work of the AAC Technician in providing resources and/or training as required. To instigate trials / provision of suitable equipment where needed and liaise on funding. Clinical Work - Eating and Drinking Difficulties only if appropriately trained and experienced. To undertake assessment of eating and drinking difficulties which may be referred by others in the team. To observe students over meal and snack times as required. To write Eating and Drinking Risk Management Plans and, where appropriate, skill-building Programmes. To monitor the implementation of recommendations. To liaise closely with medical and other staff in planning intervention and service development. To identify situations beyond the post holders current clinical competence and refer on/seek advice as needed. To request referral for external investigations where indicated and to liaise with external professionals. To instigate discharge from the dysphagia caseload at a time where the students needs are stable. To offer support, supervision and second opinions to dysphagia qualified SLTs as appropriate Staff Training To train staff and carers on topics related to communication and/or eating and drinking by presenting workshops, induction or talks and to offer these to external staff as appropriate. To run training sessions for internal staff in association with other Speech & Language Therapists on topics related to Speech, Language and Communication Needs and evidence based practice To participate in staff induction as required. To offer external training courses in association with members of the Speech & Language Therapy team or other staff at Young Epilepsy as appropriate. General This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable and appropriate tasks. All Young Epilepsy staff share a commitment to the participation and engagement of children and young people and their voices. All duties must be carried out in accordance with Health and Safety regulations as given by the Young Epilepsy Health and Safety policy and procedures. Young Epilepsy and St Piers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Young Epilepsy expects all employees to share our commitment to creating and promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. Job description Job responsibilities Key Tasks and Responsibilities Team working To meet the needs of all students effectively by working in partnership with other disciplines, including the Therapies Team. To demonstrate understanding of the roles of all other disciplines. To work together with other disciplines including educational and residential staff for the effective management of students as appropriate. To assist in the induction of new team members and contribute to service delivery decisions. To provide day to day support / line management for the Therapies Team typically those within the discipline of SLT but not will also be expected to give general support to other disciplines within the Therapies team. To support the direction of the work of the Speech & Language Therapy Assistant and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Technician in delivering support for students across campus To provide support for Speech & Language Students on clinical placement from university. To provide information and statistics as required and contribute to audit as required. Specialist Clinical Work - Complex special needs To manage a caseload of students with epilepsy and/or autism together with other complex developmental or acquired needs attending the School and/or College. To provide an opinion on the suitability of St Piers to meet a prospective students needs. To provide a baseline assessment of each new students communication and/or eating/drinking skills and the environment in which these skills are used. To evaluate the impact of epilepsy and/or autism spectrum disorders together with other complex developmental or acquired needs on a students current communicative competence, taking into account variability and potential loss of skills. To provide detailed recommendations which are suitable for incorporation into the students education or care programmes. To deliver, and inform parents of the aims of, regular therapy sessions. To pass on skills in communication or eating and drinking issues related to a specific student. To identify other situations beyond the post holders current clinical competence and refer on/seek advice as needed. To contribute to EHCP reports and Annual reviews, advising on appropriate levels of intervention. To offer support, second opinions and supervision to other staff as required. Specialist Clinical Work - AAC To co-ordinate provision of suitable Augmentative and Alternative Communication support for students with complex needs on the post holders caseload by assessment, diagnostic therapy and advice. To contribute to the direction of the work of the AAC Technician in providing resources and/or training as required. To instigate trials / provision of suitable equipment where needed and liaise on funding. Clinical Work - Eating and Drinking Difficulties only if appropriately trained and experienced. To undertake assessment of eating and drinking difficulties which may be referred by others in the team. To observe students over meal and snack times as required. To write Eating and Drinking Risk Management Plans and, where appropriate, skill-building Programmes. To monitor the implementation of recommendations. To liaise closely with medical and other staff in planning intervention and service development. To identify situations beyond the post holders current clinical competence and refer on/seek advice as needed. To request referral for external investigations where indicated and to liaise with external professionals. To instigate discharge from the dysphagia caseload at a time where the students needs are stable. To offer support, supervision and second opinions to dysphagia qualified SLTs as appropriate Staff Training To train staff and carers on topics related to communication and/or eating and drinking by presenting workshops, induction or talks and to offer these to external staff as appropriate. To run training sessions for internal staff in association with other Speech & Language Therapists on topics related to Speech, Language and Communication Needs and evidence based practice To participate in staff induction as required. To offer external training courses in association with members of the Speech & Language Therapy team or other staff at Young Epilepsy as appropriate. General This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable and appropriate tasks. All Young Epilepsy staff share a commitment to the participation and engagement of children and young people and their voices. All duties must be carried out in accordance with Health and Safety regulations as given by the Young Epilepsy Health and Safety policy and procedures. Young Epilepsy and St Piers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Young Epilepsy expects all employees to share our commitment to creating and promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Certificate to practise from RCSLT. Registered member of RCSLT and HCPC Desirable Evidence of higher study Signing qualification (e.g. Signalong, Makaton, BSL) Dysphagia qualification Skills and Knowledge Essential Confident in delivering training to different audiences. Advanced specialist clinical knowledge relevant to the client group PC literate. Desirable Experience planning and leading team improvement plans. Confident auditing skills and abilities. Experience Essential Extensive postgraduate clinical SLT experience in a range of settings. Experience in paediatrics, learning disability or acquired disorders. Experience in dysphagia assessment and management. Experience in supervising other staff. Desirable Experience in an education setting. Experience with autism or complex needs. Use of signing. Personal Qualities Essential Excellent interpersonal skills. Flexible team member. Able to work independently towards deadlines. Able to provide and receive complex sensitive information Desirable Ability to manage highly sensitive topics within complex settings including meetings Person Specification Qualifications Essential Certificate to practise from RCSLT. Registered member of RCSLT and HCPC Desirable Evidence of higher study Signing qualification (e.g. Signalong, Makaton, BSL) Dysphagia qualification Skills and Knowledge Essential Confident in delivering training to different audiences. Advanced specialist clinical knowledge relevant to the client group PC literate. Desirable Experience planning and leading team improvement plans. Confident auditing skills and abilities. Experience Essential Extensive postgraduate clinical SLT experience in a range of settings. Experience in paediatrics, learning disability or acquired disorders. Experience in dysphagia assessment and management. Experience in supervising other staff. Desirable Experience in an education setting. Experience with autism or complex needs. Use of signing. Personal Qualities Essential Excellent interpersonal skills. Flexible team member. Able to work independently towards deadlines. Able to provide and receive complex sensitive information Desirable Ability to manage highly sensitive topics within complex settings including meetings 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). Additional information 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). Employer details Employer name Young Epilepsy Address St Piers Lane Lingfield Surrey RH7 6PW Employer's website https://www.youngepilepsy.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)