Based at Kelso Health Centre

JOB DESCRIPTION (JD)

1. JOB DETAILS
Job Title: / Community Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist
Responsible to: / Lead clinician
Department & Base: /

Based at Kelso Health Centre

Date this JD written/updated: / January 2008
Job Reference number: / PCS763
2. JOB PURPOSE
To provide a comprehensive speech and language therapy service to children within paediatric team 2 (East Borders)
To assess, diagnose and provide evidence-based therapy to children with a wide range of speech and language difficulties and who are referred to the service
To provide pre-referral consultation, advise/support the children’s families/carers and liaise closely with other agencies, e.g. health, education and social work
To delegate work to assistants and education colleagues
3. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION

4. SCOPE AND RANGE

Carries a caseload of children (0-18 years) with a wide range of communication disorders

Case load includes: children with developmental delay/disorder, neurological and medical

Service delivered to locations including health centres, home, schools and nurseries

Referrals received from: schools, GPs, health visitors, paediatricians and clients themselves

Travels approximately 400miles per month for clinical and other duties within eastern and central Borders

5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

To be responsible for the appropriate, evidence-based assessment, diagnosis and therapy management of each client’s communication/speech and language from the point of referral to discharge; this involves devising individual, specialised therapy programmes for each child

To assess each client’s clinical risk and clinical need to ensure most effective prioritisation of the caseload, based on Malcomess care aims model

To keep accurate and comprehensive case records and electronically record data in line with RCSLT (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists)/HPC (Health Professions Council) professional standards and NHS Borders policies

To participate in case conferences and case reviews with health, education and social work) by preparing written reports and verbally presenting them

To participate in relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of the post-holder, and for the purposes of maintaining HPC and RCSLT registration

To participate in reflective practice with colleagues and to provide peer support.

To appropriately delegate and supervise direct and indirect client work to the SLT assistant/technical instructor (TI) to ensure effective delivery of therapy and delegate work to clerical staff

To attend clinical team and full staff meetings in order to participate in all aspects of clinical and departmental business and take/write up minutes on a rotational basis.

To undertake relevant surveys/questionnaires – e.g. patient satisfaction, feedback of of training; to participate in clinical audit as required;

To maintain own stock control for stationery, etc. used within the SLT base and select equipment and therapy materials (from an allocated sum) as part of the department’s annual requisition

To contribute to small working groups to develop SLT service (as required)

To carry out all duties in line with NHS Borders policies and within RCSLT guidelines

To support induction by providing guidance to new members of staff regarding departmental procedures, local personnel and geography

SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT

To be competent in using a wide range of standardised and informal clinical assessments tools (approx number used regularly = 7)

To keep accurate case notes and use standard letters/ /reports/referral forms in compliance with all relevant policies and guidelines. Letters and reports are sent to relevant professionals/clients/carers involved.

To complete all appropriate departmental forms accurately and on time

To develop ability to use other equipment/machines (in a variety of settings) including:

digital cameras - for taking and downloading photographs
cassette recorders – for recording client’s speech for analysis and feedback,
CD players – as part of a therapy programme
video cameras and recorders (recording, playback and editing) - to assist with assessment and therapy
photocopiers – for copying letters, etc and re-producing therapy materials
fax machine – for sending information both internally and externally
laminator – for producing robust therapy materials

To be competent in the organisation and management of a filing system for the safe/secure storage of confidential files, therapy tools and other equipment

To be competent in the use of a PC and/or laptop and various software packages ePEX (for inputting clinical data on a daily basis, accessing and downloading information as appropriate)
email (outlook) – to communicate with colleagues internally and externally
Microsoft Office: Word (for letters, reports, preparing and creating therapy materials, writing management plans and guidelines for parents and schools),
Excel (to create or read relevant spreadsheets, including caseload management);
PowerPoint (for creating presentations and delivering training)
internet, (for accessing/downloading relevant clinical information)
intranet (for accessing local NHS information)
CD-writer to back up documents and store graphics for therapy purposes
clinical software packages (e.g. Boardmaker, REACT, Speech Viewer) in order to create or augment therapy programmes
7. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
The post-holder will work independently with some support and guidance, and on many occasions will work single-handedly, is legally accountable for own professional actions, recognises professional boundaries and knows when to seek support and advice from others.
The post-holder has freedom to act and use own initiative and is, therefore, responsible for making clinical decisions within own caseload: e.g.
decide whether to accept referral or not
decide if intervention is appropriate or not
use relevant assessments and own knowledge base to formulate a speech and language diagnosis decide on client’s priority within the caseload by assessing clinical risk and need
decide on the timing, methods and materials, type, frequency, duration and location of therapy
decide if therapy could be delegated to an assistant SLT, school support worker or family/carer to ensure the most appropriate use of skill mix available
constantly review and adapt case management options to ensure maximum clinical effectiveness
decide whether/when to refer on to other agencies
decide when discharge from SLT is appropriate.
The post-holder is responsible for organising and managing the caseload and fluctuations in workload as discussed with the team leader.
Thepost-holder will reflect on practice to identify own strengths and development needs
The post-holder may be required to make ‘on-the-spot’ decisions and judgements about aspects of patient care
The post-holder is an autonomous practitioner but is also required to contribute to the multidisciplinary or interagency team’s decision-making process.
8. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
To communicate (both face to face and in writing) complex, contentious, unwelcome and sensitive condition-related information to clients, carers and families and multi-disciplinary team members/other professionals
To actively listen to patients/clients/carers to ensure clinical decision making is a partnership agreement and to deal appropriately with unrealistic expectations of patients/clients/families/carers
To work collaboratively with clients, carers and families and multi-disciplinary team members to manage clients effectively e.g.
health colleagues: GPs, consultants, paediatricians, clinical medical officers, clinical psychologists, district nurses, school nurses and health visitors,
allied health professionals (physiotherapist, occupational therapists)
educational colleagues: nursery/primary/secondary class teachers, head teachers, classroom assistants, learning support teachers, educational psychologists
social work/social care: social workers, specialist teams, e.g. Children Affected by Disability (CHAD), child protection and family centres
SLT colleagues: both within Borders (other Borders SLTs when asking for specialist advice / second opinions) and outwith – mostly with neighbouring Health Boards and in other tertiary/specialist establishments
voluntary and private sector: e.g. Aberlour, Children in Scotland, Afasic
To motivate, support, empathise, counsel negotiate and build trust with clients, carers and families to form and maintain a good relationship.
To ensure effective communication is achieved, where barriers to understanding often exist (e.g. learning difficulties, communication impairment and challenging behaviour
To write comprehensive, accurate, clear, non-judgemental therapy plans and interventions in SLT case notes and other medical notes/educational records
To demonstrate assertiveness skills when considering others’ points of view while ensuring SLT opinion is not compromised in multi-disciplinary team situations
To explain and promote the role of SLT to other professionals/visitors to the department or to potential SLT students
9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Mental Effort

Intense concentration for a prolonged period (up to 1-1.5 hours per session face-to-face with a single patient/client up to 8 patients a day). This involves the use of highly developed auditory (listening) and perceptual skills to identify the speech and language disorder, carry out an assessment and/or deliver therapy, while adapting to the patient’s emotional and communication needs
Spending the majority of each day communicating with people who have speech and language difficulties

Emotional effort

to help patients/clients/families/carers to come to terms with the impact on their life or their family – e.g. when giving the diagnosis of a severe communication problem in a young child

Physical effort

Move furniture and other heavy pieces of equipment to create a suitable and safe environment within a room to deliver therapy
Sit or kneel on floor – or sit on furniture designed for children (for up to 30 minutes with each child – up to 7 times a day) – in order to be at eye-level with children order to maintain eye-contact and interact appropriately
Carry bags of equipment and up to 10 case notes per day (total weight up to 30kg) from base to car to therapy location. Often have to carry equipment up stairs or through awkward spaces, which are unsuitable for a trolley
To implement moving and handling and restraining policies when delivering therapy to children with physical disability and/or challenging behaviours (hyperactivity, verbal, or physical aggression) (2 sessions a week)

Physical skills

To manipulate oro-facial structures (mouth and face) in order to assess and/or treat muscle/nerve function

Working conditions

To drive alone for clinical purposes (or meetings) in variable, sometimes hazardous, weather conditions to parts of the Borders (rural and remote area, approx 400 miles a month
The postholder often works alone and can be away from base sometimes for the whole day, covering a variety of remote locations
To work in very large or confined spaces in nurseries or schools where no suitable therapy accommodation is available.
To deal, very occasionally, with unpleasant conditions related to client contact – e.g. exposure to body fluids,
To occasionally work in an unpleasant environment – people’s homes or other establishments which may be unhygienic or where challenging behaviour is a problem
10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
Prioritising a large complex caseload within time and resource constraints
Delivering the service to many locations where suitable accommodation is not often readily
available
Developing the ability to work single-handed and making on-the-spot decisions when unexpected situations arise
Working with different agencies especially education and social work, GP practices and other community teams

This job description is not definitive and may be subject to

future amendments following negotiation and consultation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

For the post of : Community Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

Below are the essential and desirable knowledge, training (including qualifications) and experience required to do this job.

ESSENTIAL

1.Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent

To hold a current Health Professions Council (HPC) licence to practise (renewed on an

annual basis)

To be a registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) (renewed on an annual basis)

To have the knowledge and ability to manage an extensive range of speech and language disorders, including complex problems – a significant feature of working in a rural area

Evidence of relevant and up-to-date CPD activity to ensure best practice

Identifies areas for own person/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework

Experience of having worked with children with a range of speech an language difficulties

Excellent communication skills to be able to communicate effectively with patients/clients/children, their families and professionals across all agencies and at all levels

The ability to organise, manage and prioritise workload with some support

The ability to work effectively as a team member both within SLT and across partner

agencies

Flexible approach to working

Holds current driving licence

DESIRABLE

Some knowledge of the educational curriculum and in particular, the expected language targets and outcomes required for children to access the curriculum

Some knowledge of national and local policies, procedures and

legislation relevant to children with an ability to adapt working practice accordingly

Some experience of appropriate joint working practices with families and colleagues in education and health including joint goal setting

To have a developing knowledge of Malcolmess Care Aim Model to support clinical judgement

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Grade and salary:Band 5 £21,176 - £27,625 per annum

Hours of workFixed term for 9 months, 37.5 hours per week

Annual leave:27 days per annum

Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbooks.

Public Holidays:8 days per annum on dates designated by NHS Borders

Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbook.

Superannuation:The post-holder is entitled to join the NHS superannuation pension scheme.

If Unsuccessful:

If you have NOT heard from us within 4 WEEKS of the closing date, then we regret that your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we appreciate your interest in working with NHS Borders and your time and effort in completing the application form. We would welcome your application for future posts.

Equal Opportunities:

In NHS Borders, we believe that all staff should be treated equally in employment. We will not discriminate against any member of staff, or job applicant, on grounds of:

age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Trade Union membership.

Disclosure checks:

We carry out criminal record checks on new staff who fall within certain staff groups within NHS Borders, through Disclosure Scotland. We send out Disclosure Forms to all shortlisted candidates for these staff groups, and ask for these to be completed and returned at interview. If a successful-at-interview candidate forgets to bring their completed form to interview, then they will be required to return the form (and proofs of identity) within 7 days, otherwise the provisional job offer will be withdrawn. Unsuccessful candidates forms will be shredded.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to this post.

Tobacco policy:

We have a Tobacco policy in place. When selecting staff, we do not discriminate against applicants who smoke, but staff must observe our policy on smoking.

Hepatitis B:

We offer Hepatitis B immunisation through our Occupational Health Service (OHS). If you think you may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis B through your job, you should ask for this immunisation at OHS.

If your work involves exposure-prone procedures, you must keep to the document “Protecting Health Care Workers and Patients from Hepatitis B”, and the NHSiS Management Executive Directive on this issue. You must be immune to Hepatitis B, and if you cannot prove that you are immune, OHS will investigate to find out whether you are Hepatitis B positive or not.

Health and Safety at Work:

You must take look after the health and safety of yourself and anyone else who may be affected by what you do at work. You must also co-operate with us to make sure that we keep to legal and organisational safety regulations. You can get more information from the NHS Borders’ Health & Safety Adviser.

The closing date for completed application forms is: 5pm onWednesday 20February 2013

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