Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job summary
We are seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work within our Complex Needs Team for 30 hours (4 days) per week.

The Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service provides support to children with a range of communication and eating and drinking needs across Nottingham City and County.

Main duties of the job
We have an opportunity for a Band 6 Speech & Language Therapist who has a keen interest in specialising in working with children with complex needs. It is open to experienced Band 5's or existing Band 6's.

The post involves supporting children in a variety of locations including homes, clinics, schools, and community venues, across Nottinghamshire.

We are a large department relative to other departments across the country. This means that there are frequent opportunities to develop skills, and we have therapists who are able to specialise in clinical areas and share their knowledge/support less experienced therapists.

We offer excellent support networks, regular supervision, and access to internal training.

About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Job responsibilities
Based in our complex needs team, you will have recent experience of providing speech and language support in different settings, for children presenting with a range of SLCN needs. You will have a keen interest in and some experience of working with children with complex needs.

The Specialist Therapist is expected to:

• Manage and prioritise own and team caseload, including triaging incoming referrals.
• Carry out assessments and provide appropriate packages of care for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
• Provide training for other professionals in the area of SLCN.
• Provide support and advice for less experienced therapists/assistants.
• Work collaboratively as part of multi-disciplinary teams.

Previous dysphagia experience is preferable but not essential, as training can be offered.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Person Specification
Contractual Requirements
Essential

• A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised SLT Degree/diploma
• HCPC Registered
• NQT competencies completed

Desirable

• Member of RCSLT

Training
Essential

• Portfolio of relevant post qualification CPD

Desirable

• Post Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Dysphagia or equivalent training & experience

Experience
Essential

• Experience of assessing and managing caseloads within clinical area
• Experience of range of types of assessment for children with SLCN
• Experience of supporting students and other staff
• Experience of working with children with a wide range of SLCN resulting from having Complex Needs
• Experience of enabling different staff groups to understand issues around communication and/or dysphagia
• Experience of working within the EHCP process
• Experience of administration associated with caseload management
• Experience of working through others (coaching/supporting parents/setting based staff)
• Experience of successful MDT team working
• Experience of working in range of clinical settings

Desirable

• Experience in developing evaluation / audit tools and resources as part of SLT team
• Experience of delivering learning and development opportunities for others
• Experience of working in special schools
• Previous experience of working in a busy NHS service

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of different approaches and the evidence base related to working with children with complex needs
• Knowledge of different assessments and interventions to working with children's speech and language
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures e.g SEND code of practice, White Paper

Skills
Essential

• Empathetic and psychologically minded
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Well organised
• Team builder and team member
• Ability to manage own well-being within a busy service with a demanding caseload
• Reflective practitioner
• Supervision skills

Values and Behaviours
Essential

• All staff should be able to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as identified within the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy and associated Equality, Diversity and Human Rights legislation
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork

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.
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.
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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.