Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Are you looking for an opportunity to develop as a clinical lead in alternative-augmentative communication (AAC)? We know that having an AAC lead has promoted strong partnership working with regional AAC hubs in other parts of the UK. We're looking for an experienced therapist to take on this exciting role and champion AAC for children and families in East Sussex.
The post-holder will have a small complex caseload of children with hi-tech AAC needs and be a champion for children and families using hi-tech AAC through supporting quality in AAC delivery, close partnership working, pathway review, and in-service training. The post will be based in Polegate with some need to travel across the County.
You will have experience of working as part of multi-agency teams with children with complex communication needs, including introducing lo and hi-tech AAC with children and families.
Although based in East Sussex, we are employed by KCHFT which is an outstanding trust. We believe that the best health care is delivered by multi-disciplinary teams working together and in partnership to provide seamless care.
We have a strong commitment to training and development with robust supervision and shadowing opportunities across the service. Contact Suki Ahsam, Professional Lead SLT on 07795590271 or s.ahsam@nhs.net, or Kathryn Burbidge, Operations Manager on 07766 294763 or kburbidge@nhs.net for an informal conversation to know more about the role and what we can offer you.
Main duties of the job
1. To be responsible for managing a small complex and specialist clinical caseload of hi-tech AAC users and to act as a specialist resource in this clinical area to the Children's Therapies team and other professionals and agencies.
2. To provide leadership within at least one special school.
3. To support the work of SEND including completion of education, health and care needs assessments and occasional involvement in SENDIST appeal hearings as an expert witness.
4. To be responsible for the supervision of identified staff within the team in collaboration with the Head of Service, Operational Manager, and Team Co-ordinator.
5. To contribute to the wider work of the team including initial assessment clinics, referral triage, and Therapy One Point.
6. To provide leadership to the Team in collaboration with other clinical Lead colleagues.
7. To be responsible for ensuring the team provides a high-quality and cost-effective clinical service to CYP and their families in collaboration with the Head of Service, Operational Manager, and Team Co-ordinator.
8. To be responsible for ensuring that all team members are working to agreed care pathways.
9. To report to and advise the Head of Service and/or Operational Manager of the team's development within a specialist clinical area to ensure it is in line with the organisation's business objectives.
Flexible working, part-time hours, and job share applications will be considered.
About us
Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we've got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values: compassionate, aspirational, responsive, and excellent.
We know a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients, and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won't involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We'll support you to work flexibly in a way that suits us both.
Job responsibilities
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application.
Person Specification
Behaviours
* Demonstrates commitment to quality of care and promotes high standards to consistently improve outcomes for children.
* Involves children and their families and other stakeholders in service developments.
* Consistently puts children and their families at the heart of clinical decision-making.
* Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
* Works across locality and service boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
* Uses evidence to make improvements, seeks out innovation.
* Actively develops themselves and others by showing a commitment to learning and development.
* Demonstrates commitment to partnership working with a range of external organisations.
Qualifications
* Recognised Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent; Health and Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice; Registered Member of professional body.
* Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree equivalent relevant to specialist clinical area; Dysphagia qualification.
Experience
* Minimum of 4 years paediatric experience; In-depth and recent (in the last 2 years) experience in a specialist clinical area.
* Evidence of continued professional development in area of clinical specialism; Experience of providing line supervision and/or clinical supervision in area of clinical specialism.
* Evidence of innovative working and supporting change; Evidence of creating profession-specific documentation (e.g. care pathways / leaflets).
* Experience of partnership working with internal and external stakeholders; Experience in patient engagement and audit; Experience of delivering training within clinical specialism to a range of audiences.
Knowledge
* Knowledge of evidence-based practice and ability to implement in clinical practice.
* Knowledge of current local and national policies relevant to health, social care, and education.
* Knowledge & understanding of organisational governance issues & policies; Current knowledge of child/adult safeguarding policies and procedures.
Skills and abilities
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
* Ability to motivate and lead staff; Ability to develop and maintain inter-agency and inter-disciplinary links.
* Ability to prioritise and balance workload; Ability to negotiate and influence.
* Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of both service users and staff; Ability to develop and maintain effective internal and external working relationships.
* Ability to make decisions and deal with conflict; Excellent presentation skills both written and verbal.
Personal attributes
* Innovative & willingness to meet new challenges and pioneer new ways of working.
* Resilient, flexible, self-motivated & assertive; Ability to travel across a variety of sites in East Sussex within a timely manner.
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.
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Salary
£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum pro rata
Job locations
Unit A4 Chaucer Business Park, Dittons Road
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