Job summary Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Permanent role (Short term Locum also considered to support us through the recruitment process) Based in Mamhilad near Pontypool, South Wales - Term time only - 40 hours / 5 days per week (0.91 FTE) Speech and Language Therapists at National Star have a key role in ensuring that students gain the skills and confidence to communicate effectively as part of their journey towards living as independently as possible. Were looking to recruit a new Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work alongside our experienced team, supporting students to develop their skills so that they can express their opinions, make choices and communicate with family and friends. As well as working with a fabulous group of young people, you will benefit from family-friendly, Monday to Friday, term-time only hours, giving you the opportunity to maintain your work/life balance. Main duties of the job This is a fantastic opportunity for a qualified practitioner with a minimum of 2 years' experience looking to build their career to develop their expertise of Speech and Language Therapy within college setting. You will have an interest in working with people with a broad range of physical and learning disabilities, including Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and Acquired Brain Injury. It may be that you already have experience of providing direct and indirect speech and language therapy support. A knowledge of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), Makaton and/or Intensive Interaction would help you to hit the ground running in this role. You will also have excellent observational and communications skills and a creative and flexible approach to work. Multi-disciplinary working is key to the success of our college so being a team player is a must-have attribute as you will find yourself working alongside our occupational therapy, physiotherapy, education, nursing and residential teams. If you would like the opportunity to discuss this role prior to your application, please contact the recruitment team on 01242 504300. About us Whatever your motivation to join National Stars SLT team you will be supported to develop in your role, learning from some of the UKs leading speech and language therapy professionals. Our college in South Wales currently supports up to 20 students aged 16 - 25 who have complex physical or learning disabilities. You will be working with a professional team of tutors, care staff and other therapy staff with the full support of the wider therapy team across other sites in Hereford, Cheltenham and Worcester. Date posted 25 February 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £36,000 a year (FTE equivalent £39,500) Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time, Term time hours Reference number B0452-25-0000 Job locations Carleon House Mamhilad Park Estate Pontypool NP4 0HZ Job description Job responsibilities 1. JOB TITLE: SPECIALIST SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST, NATIONAL STAR IN WALES 2. ORGANISATION RESPONSIBILITIES: Reports to: Speech and Language Therapy Manager Speech and Language Therapy Deputy Manager National Star in Wales Curriculum Manager Head of Learning Programmes Liaises with: Students and their families / carers Multi-Disciplinary Teams Allied Health Professionals External Agencies 3. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB: To enable students to communicate successfully through the design, development, and delivery of specialist therapy programmes for learners with complex communication needs, including completing complex assessment. This will take place in a range of contexts and settings. To provide supervision and support to SLTs and professional advice, training, and information to College staff. 4. PRIMARY TASKS: To assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for learners with complex communication needs, to support their development and learning. To be responsible and accountable for the management of learners within a personal caseload. To design, develop and monitor therapy programmes delivered by therapy assistants and other College staff and support SLTs with this process. To promote the development of students communication skills across College, supporting wider learning, taking an active role in the development of new provisions where required. To refer students to other agencies as appropriate. To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of students with complex physical and learning difficulties, communicating effectively withstudents, their careers, members of the multi-disciplinary team and outside agencies. To complete complex assessments, pre College assessment and, if appropriately trained, Dysphagia assessments where required in accordance with the organisations Dysphagia Management Policy. To demonstrate professional knowledge underpinned by current evidence based practice within your developing area of specialism. To ensure that students understand what they are doing in therapy and why it is relevant to them. With students who lack capacity to understand, to work in their best interest. To contribute to assessments of capacity where necessary, including joint working with other relevant professionals and attendance at Best Interest Meetings as required. To accurately record all therapeutic interventions and ensure that yours and the SLTs you are supervising written and electronic documentation is completed in accordance with College and professional standards, protocols and guidelines. To contribute to student specific meetings and Annual Review processes, including preparing reports and documentation to a high standard in complex cases. To provide on-going supervision for Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants. To contribute to training, coaching and mentoring of staff in developing best working practices across College and meet organisational goals. To undertake relevant training to maintain and develop best practice and meet professional registration and student needs. To work as an autonomous practitioner and provide clinical and statistical information including audits and outcome measures on a regular basis or as required. To maintain student confidentiality, unless the consequences of disclosure are detrimental to students, staff and College. To comply with all National Star College policies and procedures and the professional Codes of Practice as defined by the Royal College of Speech and Language and Health and Care Professionals Councils. To participate in the College self-assessment processes and the review of College policies and procedures as required. To promote a professional image and raise the profile and the role of the Speech and Language Therapy service both within the College and the wider community. To be responsive to the unpredictable demands of the post, undertaking other duties that may be within the scope of the role function across various National Star sites. Safeguarding The college takes seriously its responsibility for safeguarding. It is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young adults and children and requires that all staff share this responsibility and act accordingly by applying organisational policy and procedure and attending annual safeguarding training. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Through personal example and clear action demonstrate commitment to equality and diversity ensuring equality of access and treatment in employment and service delivery to all. Health & Safety Promote the colleges Health and Safety at Work Policy and Procedure and ensure these are implemented effectively within the department. Job description Job responsibilities 1. JOB TITLE: SPECIALIST SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST, NATIONAL STAR IN WALES 2. ORGANISATION RESPONSIBILITIES: Reports to: Speech and Language Therapy Manager Speech and Language Therapy Deputy Manager National Star in Wales Curriculum Manager Head of Learning Programmes Liaises with: Students and their families / carers Multi-Disciplinary Teams Allied Health Professionals External Agencies 3. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB: To enable students to communicate successfully through the design, development, and delivery of specialist therapy programmes for learners with complex communication needs, including completing complex assessment. This will take place in a range of contexts and settings. To provide supervision and support to SLTs and professional advice, training, and information to College staff. 4. PRIMARY TASKS: To assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for learners with complex communication needs, to support their development and learning. To be responsible and accountable for the management of learners within a personal caseload. To design, develop and monitor therapy programmes delivered by therapy assistants and other College staff and support SLTs with this process. To promote the development of students communication skills across College, supporting wider learning, taking an active role in the development of new provisions where required. To refer students to other agencies as appropriate. To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of students with complex physical and learning difficulties, communicating effectively withstudents, their careers, members of the multi-disciplinary team and outside agencies. To complete complex assessments, pre College assessment and, if appropriately trained, Dysphagia assessments where required in accordance with the organisations Dysphagia Management Policy. To demonstrate professional knowledge underpinned by current evidence based practice within your developing area of specialism. To ensure that students understand what they are doing in therapy and why it is relevant to them. With students who lack capacity to understand, to work in their best interest. To contribute to assessments of capacity where necessary, including joint working with other relevant professionals and attendance at Best Interest Meetings as required. To accurately record all therapeutic interventions and ensure that yours and the SLTs you are supervising written and electronic documentation is completed in accordance with College and professional standards, protocols and guidelines. To contribute to student specific meetings and Annual Review processes, including preparing reports and documentation to a high standard in complex cases. To provide on-going supervision for Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants. To contribute to training, coaching and mentoring of staff in developing best working practices across College and meet organisational goals. To undertake relevant training to maintain and develop best practice and meet professional registration and student needs. To work as an autonomous practitioner and provide clinical and statistical information including audits and outcome measures on a regular basis or as required. To maintain student confidentiality, unless the consequences of disclosure are detrimental to students, staff and College. To comply with all National Star College policies and procedures and the professional Codes of Practice as defined by the Royal College of Speech and Language and Health and Care Professionals Councils. To participate in the College self-assessment processes and the review of College policies and procedures as required. To promote a professional image and raise the profile and the role of the Speech and Language Therapy service both within the College and the wider community. To be responsive to the unpredictable demands of the post, undertaking other duties that may be within the scope of the role function across various National Star sites. Safeguarding The college takes seriously its responsibility for safeguarding. It is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young adults and children and requires that all staff share this responsibility and act accordingly by applying organisational policy and procedure and attending annual safeguarding training. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Through personal example and clear action demonstrate commitment to equality and diversity ensuring equality of access and treatment in employment and service delivery to all. Health & Safety Promote the colleges Health and Safety at Work Policy and Procedure and ensure these are implemented effectively within the department. Person Specification Knowledge and Skills Essential - Skill in selection of appropriate strategies for prioritisation and management of a complex caseload - Ability to identify own professional development needs and those of more junior staff, including providing Clinical Supervision - Ability to write concisely and summarise information - Excellent time management skills - Excellent assessment skills - Flexibility in regard to the demands of the environment, including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions Desirable - Makaton, Signalong or BSL - Intensive Interaction, Total Communication, multisensory approaches - AAC programming Grid 3 Boardmaker Communicate in Print Widgit Online Qualifications Essential Recognised Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists degree level qualification Membership of The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Health and Care Professions Council HCPC Licence to Practice Willingness to undertake relevant postgraduate Dysphagia training qualification as required Desirable Other relevant level 5 qualifications Relevant postgraduate Dysphagia qualification Other Essential -IT skills, able to competently use Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Powerpoint - Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post - Support the ethos of the College and be fit to work with vulnerable adults and children - Ability to travel between sites as required Personal skills Essential -Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - Negotiation skills - Good presentation skills - Innovative and creative - Adaptable and flexible Desirable -Excellent presentation skills Experience Essential - Demonstration of professional knowledge, underpinned by current evidence-based practice - Knowledge of a broad range of professional formal and informal assessment methods and their interpretation - Caseload management - 2 years experience in relevant clinical field - Experience of MDT working - Experience of training others, e.g., key communication partners Desirable - Experience of working in an educational setting - Experience of working in a residential setting - Experience of working across multiple locations - Experience of working within the field of PMLD / AAC / ASD / ABI - Experience of completing Dysphagia assessments - Experience of providing Support and Development - Membership of relevant CENs Person Specification Knowledge and Skills Essential - Skill in selection of appropriate strategies for prioritisation and management of a complex caseload - Ability to identify own professional development needs and those of more junior staff, including providing Clinical Supervision - Ability to write concisely and summarise information - Excellent time management skills - Excellent assessment skills - Flexibility in regard to the demands of the environment, including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions Desirable - Makaton, Signalong or BSL - Intensive Interaction, Total Communication, multisensory approaches - AAC programming Grid 3 Boardmaker Communicate in Print Widgit Online Qualifications Essential Recognised Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists degree level qualification Membership of The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Health and Care Professions Council HCPC Licence to Practice Willingness to undertake relevant postgraduate Dysphagia training qualification as required Desirable Other relevant level 5 qualifications Relevant postgraduate Dysphagia qualification Other Essential -IT skills, able to competently use Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Powerpoint - Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post - Support the ethos of the College and be fit to work with vulnerable adults and children - Ability to travel between sites as required Personal skills Essential -Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - Negotiation skills - Good presentation skills - Innovative and creative - Adaptable and flexible Desirable -Excellent presentation skills Experience Essential - Demonstration of professional knowledge, underpinned by current evidence-based practice - Knowledge of a broad range of professional formal and informal assessment methods and their interpretation - Caseload management - 2 years experience in relevant clinical field - Experience of MDT working - Experience of training others, e.g., key communication partners Desirable - Experience of working in an educational setting - Experience of working in a residential setting - Experience of working across multiple locations - Experience of working within the field of PMLD / AAC / ASD / ABI - Experience of completing Dysphagia assessments - Experience of providing Support and Development - Membership of relevant CENs 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 National Star Address Carleon House Mamhilad Park Estate Pontypool NP4 0HZ Employer's website https://www.nationalstar.org (Opens in a new tab)