Job summary Full Time or Part Time Considered Are you looking for a new opportunity? Do you want to join a dedicated team of professionals who are as passionate about changing the lives of disabled children in the UK? Then Caudwell Children is the place for you. Due to increasing demand for our Autism Service we are now looking for a committed and passionate SaLT to join our experienced multidisciplinary team. You will work clinically along with Psychologists, Learning Disability Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and teams of assistant practitioners and charity volunteers. You will have opportunities for training and development, to engage in reflective practice, and a chance to support and shape new services under the direction of the Clinical Lead. This is a permanent post working as part of an MDT to deliver effective clinical input through assessment, formulation, recommendations and guidance to children and families accessing the service. Main duties of the job As an important part of the MDT, you will contribute to specialist autism diagnostic assessments, formulation and recommendations. Undertake assessments of communication, both informal and formal standardised assessments. Undertake clinical work with individuals and groups, providing advice, resources, strategies and workshops, as appropriate. Mentor parents, teaching staff and other carers in skill building communication and the development of nurturing language learning environments for children with speech and language needs. Communicate results of assessment and make recommendations within the multidisciplinary team and to families. About us Caudwell Children is a Staffordshire based national charity, registered since 2000, providing practical and emotional support to children with a disability and their families. Supporting children aged 0 to 18 years. Some of our services extend to young people transitioning into adulthood to age 25 years. The Caudwell International Childrens Centre is the UKs first independent purpose-built facility dedicated to autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. Our dedicated Autism Service provides: Multidisciplinary assessment and intervention. Practical and emotional support for children with autism and their families. Active research programme for all work undertaken. We offer: Competitive salaries Excellent working conditions University campus location Purpose built neurodiversity friendly building Support with CPD Regular 1:1 management supervision Regular 1:1 clinical supervision On-site free parking Date posted 22 October 2024 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number B0338-24-0014 Job locations Caudwell International Children's Centre, Innovation Way Keele Staffordshire ST5 5NT Job description Job responsibilities This is a permanent post supporting the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of effective clinical services through assessment, intervention and ongoing support to children, young people and families accessing the service. You will contribute to the development and implementation of autism assessment and intervention pathways including diagnostic assessment, post-diagnostic recommendations, guidance, advice, and workshop programmes for children and young people, and the adults working with or caring for them such as teachers, health or social care workers and parents. You will assess, formulate and deliver interventions and evaluate clinical outcomes. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Psychologists, Learning Disability Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Paediatrician, Clinical Assistants and charity volunteers. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direction of the Clinical Lead you will: Undertake specialist assessments of communication, both informal and formal standardised assessments. Analyse results of assessments. Communicate results of assessment within the multidisciplinary team and contribute to case formulation. Make recommendations. Write reports. This will include Contributing to and utilizing an agreed report writing framework, taking a lead where delegated and contributing to reports where involved in the assessment. Communicate results of assessment to children and families. Feedback to families. Advise to Family Support Assistants as required where they are in follow up contact with families. Undertake clinical work with individuals and groups, providing advice, resources, strategies and programmes, as appropriate, using specialist skills and autism specific approaches where required. Mentor parents, teaching staff and other carers in skill building communication and the development of nurturing language learning environments for children with speech and language needs. MAIN DUTIES Autism diagnosis, assessment, intervention and support using specialist skills. Development of communication training programmes and resources. Where appropriate and delegated, manage and supervise less experienced SaLTs, assistants and volunteers in individual and group treatment programmes, using specialist skills. Contribute to the working of the multi-disciplinary team and act as a specialist resource for communication issues. Work collaboratively and respectfully with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and share information with team members in informal and formal situations. As part of the team engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities to inform evidence-based practice. Where appropriate share information and disseminate research findings with professional colleagues in the interests of practice development. Provide mentorship and clinical supervision for practice education placements for students of Speech and Language Therapy when required. Participate in the specialist education and training of professional and clinical colleagues, students, visitors and volunteers. Ensure compliance and completion of Continuing Professional Development activities. Contribute to supporting other colleagues in their CPD, particularly in relation to communication. Communicate with children and families in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture. Demonstrate a high level of personal communication skills. Represent the profession in team meetings and working groups. Support the Clinical Lead to positively promote the SaLT role. Liaise with other departments and services within CICC. Customer Care / Quality Assurance Uphold the principles and practice of customer care and continuous improvement. This includes working to engage with children and families about future programme planning and delivery where appropriate. At all times to afford children and families dignity and respect taking account of any special requirements associated with an individuals race, culture or religion. Ensure that children and families are enabled to comment and complain about any of the services they receive and ensure that all comments and complaints received are dealt with promptly and in accordance with organisational policy and procedures. Confidentiality and data protection regarding all personal information and CICC activities must be maintained at all times (both in and out of working hours) in accordance with professional codes of conduct and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act 218 an associated General Dat protection Regulations 2018. Contribute and co-operate fully with any regulatory or organisational inspections / audits. To carry out duties with full regard to the organisations Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy. Health and Safety In addition to the organisations overall responsibility for your health and safety, you have a personal responsibility for your own health and safety. As such you are: Required to inform your line manager of any safety issues that you identify that could affect you or others in the workplace, co-operate with management and colleagues at all times in achieving safer work processes and work places. To have an awareness of relevant relative health and safety regulations and legislation as it relates to the safe and effective running of the service. Responsible for your own health and safety and that of anyone else whom your acts and omissions may affect and maintain a professional and hygienic personal appearance at all times. Have knowledge of a range of safer handling and mobility skills relevant to the management of children, young people and families in your care, including safe use of transfer equipment. To use equipment when necessary and as instructed, which will include checking the equipment is safe to use, prior to its use, reporting any defects immediately to your line manager. Responsible for the implementation and adherence to organisational safety policies and procedures for areas within your remit. Required to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed within your remit. The controls identified must be evaluated and implemented where necessary. To ensure that your work adheres to Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance as applicable to your role. Report any concerns of potential abuse of a service user in line with the organisations Safeguarding Policy and procedures. Resource Management Participate in the recruitment, induction and retention of staff as required. Ensure maintenance and security of physical, financial and information resources, where applicable. Comprehensively and effectively maximise all the resources available to the facilities. Ensure that all resources and utilities are used prudently and that any waste is minimised. Ensure stock levels of equipment are maintained and checked regularly by the assistant team. General Ensure compliance with professional standards for Speech and Language Therapy practice. Adhere to HCPC regulations and RCSLT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Speech and Language Therapists. Demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities identified in supervision and appraisal. Maintain professional portfolios in line with HCPC and RCSLT requirements. Apply specialist knowledge and skills in order to demonstrate professional proficiency. Develop and maintain links with other SaLTs in specialist field of work. Keep up to date and integrate relevant new initiatives and recommendations from RCSLT and other relevant organisations, ensuring that practice is informed and current, where appropriate. Ensure that all information and matters of a confidential nature are dealt with in accordance with statutory and organisational policies and procedures and that the staff team adhere to the same. Take responsibility for continuing personal development in order to enhance knowledge, skills and experience needed for safe and effective practice and the achievement of agreed service outcomes and personal appraisal targets. Keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with organisational IT systems and professional standards. Ensure all record keeping is in line with local, professional, organisational and National guidelines. Attend training as appropriate to the role applying knowledge gained to the workplace and maintain an up-to-date training profile. To engage in Support and Supervision sessions to reflect on practice enhancing communication and quality of service. To work effectively, co-operatively as a member of a team, maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and professionals from other agencies. At all times promote and ensure anti-discriminatory practice in all matters of staff management and service delivery in accordance with the organisation equality and diversity approaches and statutory and regulatory guidelines. Job description Job responsibilities This is a permanent post supporting the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of effective clinical services through assessment, intervention and ongoing support to children, young people and families accessing the service. You will contribute to the development and implementation of autism assessment and intervention pathways including diagnostic assessment, post-diagnostic recommendations, guidance, advice, and workshop programmes for children and young people, and the adults working with or caring for them such as teachers, health or social care workers and parents. You will assess, formulate and deliver interventions and evaluate clinical outcomes. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Psychologists, Learning Disability Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Paediatrician, Clinical Assistants and charity volunteers. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direction of the Clinical Lead you will: Undertake specialist assessments of communication, both informal and formal standardised assessments. Analyse results of assessments. Communicate results of assessment within the multidisciplinary team and contribute to case formulation. Make recommendations. Write reports. This will include Contributing to and utilizing an agreed report writing framework, taking a lead where delegated and contributing to reports where involved in the assessment. Communicate results of assessment to children and families. Feedback to families. Advise to Family Support Assistants as required where they are in follow up contact with families. Undertake clinical work with individuals and groups, providing advice, resources, strategies and programmes, as appropriate, using specialist skills and autism specific approaches where required. Mentor parents, teaching staff and other carers in skill building communication and the development of nurturing language learning environments for children with speech and language needs. MAIN DUTIES Autism diagnosis, assessment, intervention and support using specialist skills. Development of communication training programmes and resources. Where appropriate and delegated, manage and supervise less experienced SaLTs, assistants and volunteers in individual and group treatment programmes, using specialist skills. Contribute to the working of the multi-disciplinary team and act as a specialist resource for communication issues. Work collaboratively and respectfully with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and share information with team members in informal and formal situations. As part of the team engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities to inform evidence-based practice. Where appropriate share information and disseminate research findings with professional colleagues in the interests of practice development. Provide mentorship and clinical supervision for practice education placements for students of Speech and Language Therapy when required. Participate in the specialist education and training of professional and clinical colleagues, students, visitors and volunteers. Ensure compliance and completion of Continuing Professional Development activities. Contribute to supporting other colleagues in their CPD, particularly in relation to communication. Communicate with children and families in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture. Demonstrate a high level of personal communication skills. Represent the profession in team meetings and working groups. Support the Clinical Lead to positively promote the SaLT role. Liaise with other departments and services within CICC. Customer Care / Quality Assurance Uphold the principles and practice of customer care and continuous improvement. This includes working to engage with children and families about future programme planning and delivery where appropriate. At all times to afford children and families dignity and respect taking account of any special requirements associated with an individuals race, culture or religion. Ensure that children and families are enabled to comment and complain about any of the services they receive and ensure that all comments and complaints received are dealt with promptly and in accordance with organisational policy and procedures. Confidentiality and data protection regarding all personal information and CICC activities must be maintained at all times (both in and out of working hours) in accordance with professional codes of conduct and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act 218 an associated General Dat protection Regulations 2018. Contribute and co-operate fully with any regulatory or organisational inspections / audits. To carry out duties with full regard to the organisations Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy. Health and Safety In addition to the organisations overall responsibility for your health and safety, you have a personal responsibility for your own health and safety. As such you are: Required to inform your line manager of any safety issues that you identify that could affect you or others in the workplace, co-operate with management and colleagues at all times in achieving safer work processes and work places. To have an awareness of relevant relative health and safety regulations and legislation as it relates to the safe and effective running of the service. Responsible for your own health and safety and that of anyone else whom your acts and omissions may affect and maintain a professional and hygienic personal appearance at all times. Have knowledge of a range of safer handling and mobility skills relevant to the management of children, young people and families in your care, including safe use of transfer equipment. To use equipment when necessary and as instructed, which will include checking the equipment is safe to use, prior to its use, reporting any defects immediately to your line manager. Responsible for the implementation and adherence to organisational safety policies and procedures for areas within your remit. Required to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are completed within your remit. The controls identified must be evaluated and implemented where necessary. To ensure that your work adheres to Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance as applicable to your role. Report any concerns of potential abuse of a service user in line with the organisations Safeguarding Policy and procedures. Resource Management Participate in the recruitment, induction and retention of staff as required. Ensure maintenance and security of physical, financial and information resources, where applicable. Comprehensively and effectively maximise all the resources available to the facilities. Ensure that all resources and utilities are used prudently and that any waste is minimised. Ensure stock levels of equipment are maintained and checked regularly by the assistant team. General Ensure compliance with professional standards for Speech and Language Therapy practice. Adhere to HCPC regulations and RCSLT Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Speech and Language Therapists. Demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities identified in supervision and appraisal. Maintain professional portfolios in line with HCPC and RCSLT requirements. Apply specialist knowledge and skills in order to demonstrate professional proficiency. Develop and maintain links with other SaLTs in specialist field of work. Keep up to date and integrate relevant new initiatives and recommendations from RCSLT and other relevant organisations, ensuring that practice is informed and current, where appropriate. Ensure that all information and matters of a confidential nature are dealt with in accordance with statutory and organisational policies and procedures and that the staff team adhere to the same. Take responsibility for continuing personal development in order to enhance knowledge, skills and experience needed for safe and effective practice and the achievement of agreed service outcomes and personal appraisal targets. Keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with organisational IT systems and professional standards. Ensure all record keeping is in line with local, professional, organisational and National guidelines. Attend training as appropriate to the role applying knowledge gained to the workplace and maintain an up-to-date training profile. To engage in Support and Supervision sessions to reflect on practice enhancing communication and quality of service. To work effectively, co-operatively as a member of a team, maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and professionals from other agencies. At all times promote and ensure anti-discriminatory practice in all matters of staff management and service delivery in accordance with the organisation equality and diversity approaches and statutory and regulatory guidelines. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council Membership of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent qualification Post registration experience, ideally with specialist client group Desirable Postgraduate training or CPD in the area of Autism Experience Essential Experience of delivering training to a range of audiences Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team Experience of working with families Desirable Experience of working with children with sensory differences Training and experience working with children with challenging behaviours Experience of working with volunteers Experience of working with children who use AAC Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council Membership of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent qualification Post registration experience, ideally with specialist client group Desirable Postgraduate training or CPD in the area of Autism Experience Essential Experience of delivering training to a range of audiences Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team Experience of working with families Desirable Experience of working with children with sensory differences Training and experience working with children with challenging behaviours Experience of working with volunteers Experience of working with children who use AAC 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. Certificate of Sponsorship 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). 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. Certificate of Sponsorship 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). 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 Caudwell Children Address Caudwell International Children's Centre, Innovation Way Keele Staffordshire ST5 5NT Employer's website https://www.caudwellchildren.com/ (Opens in a new tab)