Speech & Language Therapist

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

East of England Community Health & Care NHS Trust is seeking a Speech & Language Therapist to manage a busy caseload of children in community clinics and schools across Cambridgeshire. You will assess, plan, deliver and evaluate interventions, writing reports and maintaining case notes.

You will work collaboratively with families, teachers and other professionals, attend supervision, and contribute to service development while keeping patient confidentiality and national standards at the

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy is required.
• HCPC registration is mandatory.
• RCSLT membership is desirable.
• Experience delivering therapy in community clinics preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a clinical caseload of children in community clinics and schools.
• Plan, deliver, and evaluate intervention following guidelines.
• Prepare case notes and written reports.
• Collaborate with teachers, parents, and other professionals.
• Attend supervision and participate in professional development.

Skills

Degree in SLT

HCPC registration

RCSLT membership

Community clinic experience

Excellent communication

Safeguarding awareness

Education

Degree in Speech & Language Therapy

Job description

The post holder will be responsible for the independent management of a clinical caseload of children in community clinics and mainstream schools in the Cambridgeshire area. The client group is children who have a range of difficulties in understanding and/or using speech and language. S/he will work independently with access to more senior colleagues as needed. A typical day involves:

• Speak to families about their child's needs
• Organising your time to independently manage a busy caseload
• Planning sessions
• Seeing children for assessment and therapy in schools, clinic and early years settings
• Note-writing
• Accessing supervision and support
• Reflecting on clinical practice

To undertake a range of assessments, both standardised and non‑standardised, taking account of medical, social and educational factors, in order to make a differential diagnosis. To plan, deliver and evaluate intervention following professional guidelines and agreed service standards. As part of that process, to be able to plan appropriate long‑term and short‑term goals working towards discharge. To undertake administrative duties connected with the caseload including maintenance of case notes and provision of written reports, following service standards. To ensure that all work is carried out in close collaboration with all those involved in childrens care so that the approach to intervention and support is co‑ordinated and comprehensive. To identify when there is a need for a second opinion, referring to senior colleagues or SLT specialists as appropriate. To make onward referral as appropriate. To identify any variations to service delivery or demands and inform the Locality Co‑ordinator and Area & Clinical Lead of the likely impact on the service. Policy & service development. To contribute towards policy, clinical governance and service development through discussion and involvement in projects as appropriate. To be familiar with local and national standards and to work in line with these. To ensure that parents/carers are aware of the standards they should expect from the speech and language therapy service.

Communication. To ensure effective communication of complex condition‑related information to parents/carers regarding the assessment process, assessment findings and planned intervention, including engagement of parents/carers in intervention. To ensure children are involved in goal setting and decision making around their own care as appropriate to their age, developmental level and language skills. To ensure parents/carers are involved in decision making around their childs care including discharge from the service. To liaise effectively and work in partnership with other professionals (particularly teachers and teaching assistants), including the development of shared goals for intervention. To write reports on children, in line with service standards, including contributions to statutory assessment. To offer advice to others concerning support for individual children. To actively contribute to case conferences/ review meetings for children on the caseload. To recognise how and when information may be shared within the bounds of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act. To attend SLT team meetings, actively contributing as appropriate. Contribute to the Trusts internal communication strategies ensuring effective two‑way communication and engagement within the organisation. Contribute to the Trusts external communication strategies working with the Head of Communications to raise awareness and promote the reputation of Trusts services.

Patient and Public Engagement. To contribute to ensuring that the Trusts responsibilities to engage and consult with patients and the public are met in line with statutory requirements.

Training. To participate in training other professionals/ parents as appropriate. To identify training needs in the multi‑disciplinary team needed to support the care of children on the caseload. To attend all Trust mandatory training.

People Management. To supervise SLT assistants/ teaching assistants/ volunteers as appropriate. To mentor newly qualified SLTs providing support and contributing to induction with guidance from more senior colleagues. To offer observation sessions for SLT students as agreed with the supervising therapist. Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and KSF process.

Research & Development Activity. To maintain and update skills and knowledge in relevant areas. To develop and monitor own clinical expertise in specialist area through planned CPD. To participate in service audit and projects as agreed with the Service Lead. To actively reflect on practice with peers and more senior colleagues to promote professional development and evidence‑based decision making. To be advised on developments in current practice by more senior colleagues.

Clinical and Practice Governance. Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies. The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes. The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures. It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with HCPC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration. Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Community Health & Care NHS Trust. The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required. Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team. Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis. The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

We're looking for a motivated Speech & Language Therapist to join our outstanding, dynamic and supportive service. We value our staff and are committed to improving the lives of the children we work with. Whether you're newly qualified or building early experience, this is your chance to grow your skills while making an impact every day. You'll work with a varied caseload, building relationships with children and families. You'll use evidence‑based approaches, but also bring empathy, curiosity and creativity to every session. You won't be doing this alone; colleagues will check in, cheer you on and share their expertise. We're committed to your development, offering regular supervision, protected CPD time and opportunities to explore specialisms. To succeed you will be curious, flexible and have a passion for delivering needs‑led, evidence‑based speech and language therapy. The ability to work in a team and have a flexible approach to patient and service needs is essential.

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered Member of RCSLT
• Registered Member of HCPC, Experience working in community clinics (at undergraduate/post graduate level), Knowledge about developmental speech and language disorders
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to convey sensitive or distressing information to parents/carers
• Good problem solving skills, Appreciates the significance of safeguarding and interprets this accurately for all individual children and young people/vulnerable adults whatever their life circumstances.
• Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.