South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated speech and language therapist committed to delivering high-quality care to autistic people and their families.
This is an exciting opportunity for a suitably qualified, experienced professional looking to contribute to the development of this new service.
The Adult Autism Intensive Support Team will provide specialist assessment, formulation, therapeutic interventions (directly to individuals or through consultation) to a small number of autistic people with complex needs. The multi-disciplinary service will support autistic adults, without a co-occurring intellectual disability, under the care of an existing SWLSTG services.
You will be thoughtful in the way you work with the multi-disciplinary team and have experience in developing the skills of colleagues. You will be interested in working with external partners to develop supportive networks and have energy, drive and enthusiasm for working with complexity.
You will be expected to provide speech and language therapy to autistic people, across a variety of community settings, with individuals, groups, families and staff teams.
You will be part of a developing service that strives for clinical excellence and aims to support its staff to feel valued, provides opportunities for training and development and encourages active participation relevant service developments.
Main duties of the job
* To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for clients with complex acquired speech, language and swallowing difficulties.
* To autonomously manage a caseload of adults with complex speech, language and swallowing difficulties.
* To line manage and clinically supervise any Speech and Language Therapists and assistants within the service (where applicable).
* To act as lead specialist in communication and dysphagia, and act as a resource and support for other therapists and professionals working with adults with Autism and acquired speech, language or swallowing disorders.
* Provide timely and targeted individualised management and treatment for adults, involving relatives and carers and providing appropriate recommendations and training to professionals from other agencies and other professions.
* To participate in continuing professional development and other activities to maintain evidence based best practice. Provide student placements, training opportunities and clinical support for assistants, and provide observation opportunities for other professionals.
* To devise and provide training, advice to carers and multi-agency staff and colleagues in the field of acquired swallowing, speech and language disorders. To share skills as a core part of Speech and Language Therapy provision.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti-racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job responsibilities
To be responsible for the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy within the Autism Intensive Support Team providing assessment and implementing specialist SLT treatment and programmes of care, writing reports, reflecting specialist knowledge.
To independently manage and prioritize a defined caseload, balancing own workload of both direct and indirect contacts, demonstrating skills in dealing with complex issues and generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
To use specialist knowledge to screen all new referrals where appropriate with the multi-disciplinary team, and allocate priority for intervention, based on client need.
To independently assess people with complex needs (including cognitive, sensory, physical, behavioural, social, and communication impairments) using a range of standardized and non-standardized assessments (e.g. TROG, CELF, BPVS) and other assessment tools, together with advanced analytical clinical reasoning skills in order to form a baseline measure or differential diagnosis from which to plan intervention.
To select and use functional assessment using high and low technical communication aids/switches/IT support.
To use a holistic, client centered approach, gathering and synthesizing information from other professionals and relatives/carers, in order to ensure that intervention packages are best suited to client, relatives and place of delivery.
To develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment plans for individuals and groups using expertise to create innovative ways of working where appropriate, to promote and maximize individual potential as well as to plan for and advise others regarding the management of clients with communication and/or feeding/swallowing difficulties within the context of an MDT and in consultation with clients and relatives.
To frequently be required to make complex clinical decisions taking into account conflicting priorities of airway protection, quality of life, nutritional compromise and client autonomy.
To liaise with other team specialists and professional groups to refer clients for further investigation and/or second opinion as required. Such as video fluoroscopy, psychologists, consultants and other health and social services team as well as out of borough specialists.
To manage the emotional consequences of working with people who have complex presentations and be aware of the needs, demands and pressures on their relatives and carers.
To provide second opinions and advice to clients, carers and colleagues as well as other SLTs, based on expertise and clinical specialism regarding the diagnosis, treatment, management and care of clients with communication or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
To work safely at all times, with an understanding of the risks for self and clients when handling foods and fluids.
To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact when they arise (e.g. exposure to body fluids and/or infectious conditions encountered on a regular basis) to refer clients for further investigation and/or second opinion as required.
Maintain adequate records of assessment, management and treatment of clients as well as writing and submitting reports summarising proposed care plans in keeping with Professional and Trust standards.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
* In depth knowledge of management and treatment of communication difficulties and dysphagia.
* To be competent in handling the mental, emotional and psycho-social aspects of working in neurodevelopmental disorder services.
* To be familiar with relevant legislation relating to the care of autistic people.
* Knowledge of relevant National Service Frameworks, clinical guidelines, policies and procedures.
* Understand the impact of communication breakdown on the client's emotional wellbeing, mental health, functional ability, life chances, family dynamics and social and educational inclusion.
* Ability to teach specific SLT treatment packages, and theory to clients/ carers / professionals/ others.
Training and Qualifications
* Graduate Diploma / Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent.
* Registered with Health Professions Council.
* Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
* Completed dysphagia training course to at least Intermediate level.
* Continued Professional Development including evidence of reflective practice and clinical experience gained.
Experience
* Minimum 4 years postgraduate experience.
* At least 2 years post dysphagia training experience of managing clients with dysphagia needs.
* Experience of working with autistic people.
* Experience of developing others through CPD / PDP/ clinical supervision.
* Experience of working as part of a SLT team and/or multi disciplinary team.
* Training in management and/or leadership skills Experience of supervising other SALTs Supervision of students.
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.
Salary: £51,883 to £58,544 a year pro rata per annum inclusive of outer London HCAS.
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