Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Children

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Children

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to be part of a forward-thinking Children's Therapy Team. We are keen to hear from you if you are looking for a Paediatric Band 6 Speech & Language Therapy role working with young children with complex communication needs.

The post is based in the Wakefield and Pontefract area and you will be part of a team of over 30 therapists and therapy assistants. There is an expectation to work across the patch; therefore, the candidate must have a full and valid driving license and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

The role involves working with young children, their families, and settings to develop the children's communication skills. There will be opportunities to work within a multidisciplinary team and local authority staff as part of this role. Our Speech & Language Therapists are committed to supporting individuals, education staff, and families to promote speech, language, and communication skills. We also support children and young people to promote their safe eating and drinking. There are opportunities within this post to be part of our Multidisciplinary Assessment Team, which assesses and diagnoses autism. A Post Graduate Dysphagia qualification is desirable but not essential.

This post can provide funded opportunities for postgraduate Dysphagia Training and ADOS Training if relevant and of interest to the successful candidate.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a keen and enthusiastic therapist to join our Speech and Language Therapy Team to work 3 7.5 hours a week. If you are looking for a permanent Band 6 post, we would like to hear from you. We can also consider part-time work or job share for this role.

The main duties are to provide Speech & Language Therapy, including assessment, treatment, management, and training for a caseload of children of pre-school age with a range of language and communication needs, including but not limited to social interaction differences, developmental delay, and genetic conditions. The team works in the community in the patients' homes, in educational settings across the district, and is based in our Child Development Centres in Pontefract and Pinderfields Hospitals.

There is a robust system for peer support, managerial, clinical, and safeguarding supervision. Continued professional development is encouraged and supported through yearly appraisals and protected time for CPD, clinical, and safeguarding supervision.

Interviews will be held on 29th April 2025, and we only offer face-to-face interviews.

About us

We are an acute trust caring for over half a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients' homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritize our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join our team to make a difference every day.

Job responsibilities

To provide high-quality holistic assessments that ensure the development of care plans and client goals and outcomes, leading to a safer discharge for all clients while delivering a service that meets those needs in a timely and appropriate manner.

To work clinically and care for clients presenting with a wide range of conditions and treatment requirements, initiating and promoting excellence in clinical practice while acting as a role model to junior staff.

To demonstrate clinical leadership, provide clinical experience to all members, and carry out SLT activities in accordance with policies and procedures identified by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (MYHT).

To create an environment where staff are aware of and have regard for clients' customs, religious beliefs, and doctrines.

To ensure clinical risk assessments are carried out in line with clients' individual needs.

To maintain a safe environment conducive to the delivery of individual client care through Infection Control Monitoring, Health and Safety Audits, and Risk Assessments, both clinical and non-clinical, ensuring staff adherence to infection policies and procedures.

To work in partnership with families, schools, and settings to ensure all interventions and goal plans are complied with.

To maintain a culture that recognizes and works in partnership with clients and carers, involving them in all decisions relating to care delivery.

To maintain effective communication links between SLT staff and other agencies, clients, and carers where there may be barriers to understanding.

To attend designated meetings and ensure accurate feedback of any changes to clients' communication difficulties is completed.

To encourage contributions and suggestions from staff to improve the delivery of high-quality service within the department.

To employ the relevant and appropriate pathways for all clients based on clinical judgment by utilizing existing skills, knowledge, and experience.

To maintain and improve own professional knowledge and competence ensuring the use of evidence-based practice, benchmarking, and development of skills.

To assist team members in developing their own professional competence and development according to their individual personal development plans, ensuring participation in clinical supervision. Providing a teaching/educational role for colleagues, students, clients, and carers and encouraging a culture of learning where students receive quality placements supported by mentorship and teaching.

To demonstrate appropriate supervision skills with mentorship, achievement of learning competencies, and ongoing training and development.

Clearly communicate timely, accurate, and relevant information regarding client care with clients, their families, and carers, other professionals, and services to ensure seamless, appropriate, timely care and empower clients to maintain/improve their independence.

Contribute to the development of strategies, guidance, and protocols in accordance with MYHT clinical governance systems and objectives. To communicate collaborative partnership working within services e.g., education, primary care, and social services. To take the lead in team developments as designated by the line manager.

To maintain standards in ongoing health information, both electronic and paper-based, ensuring safe keeping and confidentiality, accurate record-keeping of relevant data and profiling. To input clinical information onto Systm One as per MYHT policy.

To maintain confidentiality, privacy, and dignity in relation to the clients and their treatments at all times.

To undertake all mandatory/essential training as required by MYHT.

Participate in clinical and safeguarding supervision ensuring that practice is maintained at high levels and is evaluated utilizing appropriate mechanisms.

To demonstrate and maintain own knowledge and awareness of recognizing and responding appropriately to safeguarding the needs of vulnerable children.

To provide safe and effective clinical placements for SLT students.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Awareness

• Up to date and relevant knowledge of the variety of childhood conditions which impact the development of appropriate speech, language, and communication skills. Considerable awareness of the impacts of SLCN on access to the early years curriculum.
• Basic knowledge of dysphagia and a willingness to undertake Postgraduate qualification training in dysphagia if not already achieved.
• Willingness to undertake ADOS training if not already trained in this assessment.
• Experience of use of AAC, high or low tech.
• Knowledge of SEN and Educational Policy in relation to Early Years and Foundation Stage.

Experience

• Significant post-registration SLT experience working with children with complex communication needs. Evidence of recent and relevant clinical experience of working with children with autism. Ability to establish good working relationships. Understanding of current NHS Policy direction and service modernization. Evidence of relevant ongoing professional and clinical development. Experience of working in successful multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of teaching or training. Experience of mentoring staff. Previous work at Band 6 level. Experience of use of effective outcome measures. Evidence of recent and relevant clinical experience of working with children with feeding and swallowing difficulties. Working within an autism diagnostic team and ADOS trained.

Skills and Abilities

• Evidence of providing accurate records of communication consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures. Evidence of appropriate communication with people on complex matters and/or complex issues. Understanding and experience of inter-agency working and services available within health and social care and education services. Sound understanding of Clinical Audit and evaluation. IT literate.
• Experience of working within NHS and using Systmone.

Qualifications

• Essential: Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent. Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Health Professionals Council Registration.
• Desirable: Evidence of successful completion of Specialist postgraduate short courses related to young children with communication difficulties, for example: Parent-Child Interaction/Hanen Therapy; Derbyshire Language Scheme; Makaton signing.
• AAC experience.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to promote equality and value diversity. Professional attitude and positive role model. Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team. Flexibility with regards to patterns of work. Able to carry out duties commensurate with the role.

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.

Trust HQ and Education Centre, Pinderfields Hospital

Team Leader Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

C9377-FCS5068

Job locations

Trust HQ and Education Centre, Pinderfields Hospital