/ Speech and Language Department

Greenshaw is a large, successful mainstream comprehensive secondary school with 1500 students plus 6th Form and extensive staff. The Speech & Language Department forms an integral part of the school.

Speech & Language students are fully integrated, attending all mainstream lessons. The students are only withdrawn for speech and language therapy and the hours of therapy they receive are dependent upon their individual needs. We have an intake of 6 students per year for the Department and entrance is dependent upon a diagnosis of specific language impairment.

Therapy is delivered either on a 1:1 basis or in a small group as well as providing support in mainstream lessons; again this is flexible so that it is appropriate for the individual. Therapy is delivered by our Senior Speech & Language Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Speech Therapy Assistant or the Speech & Language Department Manager. Students are supported in their mainstream lessons by Department staff and by specialist trained Learning Support Assistants.

In KS4 all of the Speech & Language students sit a minimum of 8 GCSEs. The school is very proud of thestudents’ achievements and our past results have been significantly higher than the national average for students with Statements of Special Educational Need.

Speech and Language Department staff are supported in trialling and developing new and innovative ways of working with pupils and staff, both at Greenshaw and at neighbouring secondary schools as required. We are also involved in individual, small group and whole school staff training. In addition to this we offer Elklan training to staff in the borough. We also offer an outreach consultancy service providing training and advice to other schools and local authorities.

Please do not hesitate to contact the following personnel for further information;

Yvonne Duffin, Director of Learning Inclusion

(Tel: 020 8715 1001 e-mail: )

Karen Cordes, Speech & Language Department Manager

(Tel: 020 8715 1001 e-mail: )

/ Job Description

HIGHLY SPECIALIST SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST

RESPONSIBLE TO: Headteacher

HOURS: Part time maternity cover for one year(Term time only with paid school holidays)

To effectively manage a caseload of pupils, with complex speech, language and communication needs including specific language impairment (SLI), within a school setting. To take an active part in the development of the Speech and Language Department and the school.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Pupil Related Activities

  1. Adhere to national and local standards and guidelines relating to Professional Practice (Communicating Quality III), and maintain professional registration through the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Health Professions Council.
  1. Be aware of and adhere to current legislation.
  1. Be responsible for collecting own work statistics e.g. amount of contact time, outcome measurements etc as required.
  1. To participate in pre admission assessments as required.
  1. Be responsible for a defined caseload of pupils with SLI in terms of assessment and differential diagnosis; devising; delivering and evaluating programmes; contributing to IEPs, annual reviews, transition plans and statements of educational need as appropriate.
  1. Provide speech and language assessment and intervention to identified mainstream pupils with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
  1. Be responsible for the planning and administering of a range of appropriate intervention programmes, calling upon specialist staff for advice as appropriate.
  1. Work autonomously in collaborative, intensive and innovative ways.
  1. Work autonomously within the school environment, utilising knowledge of curriculum and recent educational initiatives and of literacy strategies appropriate to pupils’ ages.
  1. Be a reflective practitioner. Considering and evaluating alternative and innovative approaches to the management of pupils with SLCN, and participating in research as required.
  1. Seek second opinions, and/or make referrals within or outside the school when necessary, according to school/local policy.
  1. Disseminate skills, knowledge and experience through training and offering advice to other staff, parents, carers and significant others about individual and groups of pupils. Demonstrating practical procedures when appropriate.
  1. Liaise with staff (usually teachers and speech and language therapists) in other locations regarding individual pupils at transfer into and out of the school/service.
  1. To liaise with mainstream staff to monitor, support, evaluate and adjust pupils’ participation in mainstream activities as required.

Speech and Language Department

  1. Work with assistants as appropriate, deploying time and allocating duties within the multidisciplinary team context.
  1. Be involved in support and supervision of students on placement as requested.
  1. Be involved in the support and supervision of junior staff as requested.
  1. Develop or maintain a special interest in a relevant area to a high level (clinical and/or curricular) agreed with the principal SLT, and to collate and disseminate relevant information, and be a source of knowledge and expertise to other staff.
  1. Take a lead in aspects of the Department Development Plan.

School/Service

  1. Attend and contribute to staff meetings and Inset.
  1. Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective joint working practices.
  1. Contribute to developing and sustaining an appropriate communication environment within the school.
  1. Mentor colleagues from other professional groups new to the school.

Personal Development

  1. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the impact of SLI on pupils learning, keeping abreast of relevant initiatives and development within the fields of Speech and Language Therapy and Education, sharing this knowledge across the school as appropriate.
  1. Develop and/or maintain knowledge and competency in dealing with SLCN in children.
  1. Participate and contribute to one’s own performance appraisal and supervision sessions.

The list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required.

The job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification

PERSON SPECIFICATION

HIGHLY SPECIALIST SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST

CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications /
  • Registered member of the Royal college of Speech and Language Therapists and HPC
  • Degree/diploma recognised by RCSLT

Experience /
  • 3 years minimum post qualification experience
  • Experience of working with secondary aged pupils
  • Experience of working with pupils with SLI
  • Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of working in an educational setting
/ Language Unit experience
Experience of working in a secondary school
Involvement in research projects
Skills and Knowledge /
  • Knowledge of evidence base for effective intervention for young people with SLI
  • Knowledge of current developments in education
  • Knowledge of the impact of SLI on learning and school experience
  • Good organisational Skills
  • Writing reports to a high standard
  • An imaginative and intellectually rigorous approach to therapy planning
  • An ability to work individually with children who have a range of needs
  • The ability to work with groups of children and young people
  • Ability to reflect on own practice and modify approach
  • Highly develop clinical reasoning skills
/ Understanding/knowledge of National Curriculum
Skills in evaluation of service approaches
Other Factors /
  • The ability work effectively as part of a team
  • A flexible approach to work
  • Excellent written/oral communication skills to a range of audiences, colleagues, parents and to other professionals
  • A desire to continue the development of professional skills
  • Commitment to the ethos and practices of the department and school
  • Fitness to undertake duties of the post