Job Description – Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Job Title: Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Overall Purpose of the Post: To deliver a high quality Speech and Language Therapy Service to pupils with learning disabilities.

Grade: Buckinghamshire Pay Range 3

8:15 am – 3:45 pm daily (35 hours per week, 39 weeks a year)

Responsible to: Line Manager – Cate Bill (Deputy Headteacher)

Clinical Supervisor – Kate Hopcraft (Speech & Language Therapist - SALT)

Clinical Responsibilities

  • To complement the work of the therapist, substantially contributing to a range of activities and to work collaboratively as part of a professional team
  • To carry out specified observations and information gathering to contribute to the assessment process, collating information and feedback findings to SALT.
  • Contribute to effective planning and preparation of sessions
  • To use communication, reasoning and negotiation skills to establish a therapeutic relationship with pupils, managing barriers to communication.
  • Have high expectations of pupils with a commitment to helping them fulfil their potential.
  • To encourage the social and emotional development of pupils.
  • To carry out therapy activities/programmes in a variety of settings including classes, houses and off site, under the guidance and supervision of the therapist.
  • To carry out therapy activities/programmes in 1:1, paired, small group and whole-class groups independently. The Therapist may not always be present in the classroom/groups but the Speech and Language Assistant will work within the framework established by the Therapist.
  • To utilise opportunities throughout the school day to promote communication strategies and approaches across the school, modelling these approaches for all staff.
  • To support Dysphagia (Eating and Drinking) caseload, implementing feeding advice and strategies, within agreed clinical competencies, under the supervision of SALT and Specialist Consultant SALT.
  • To maintain accurate and upto date documentation of all intervention with pupils in line with legal and departmental requirements.
  • To model and demonstrate tasks to the pupils and staff/carers/parents.
  • To organise and prepare activities/equipment to enable students to participate in therapy programmes
  • To liaise with SALT to feedback results of observations/therapy programmes, to analyse the students response to treatment, and development of the student’s skills, and discuss any possible changes
  • To be aware that a student may not be able to co-operate or comply in an activity and may present with behaviour that challenges. To form productive relationships with students who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties and motivate them to engage in activities/programmes.
  • To sensitively communicate with and respond to students, using a ‘Total Communication Approach’; with support from the therapist
  • To develop the communicative environment and support and develop student’s communication skills.
  • To recognise potential communication barriers or conflict when they occur, and seek advice and support to resolve these issues, this may relate to working with an individual student or working with the Multi-Disciplinary team.
  • To actively participate in clinical supervision sessions with the therapist using reflection and analysis to inform practice and identify training needs.
  • To be accountable for own actions and recognise own boundaries, working within a clear supervisory framework, with clinical support from the therapist and supervision from the Line Manager
  • To acknowledge the physical and emotional demands of all aspects of the role and to follow the procedures and systems provided at Chiltern Gate School to manage these
  • To plan use of time effectively and ensure quality of service delivery
  • To use IT resources effectively to produce AAC materials (symbols, photos) to support pupils’ communication
  • To develop resources to facilitate the implementation of therapy programmes
  • To identify any training needs for appropriate use of resources and make these known to the therapist.
  • Devise clearly structured activities that interest and motivate
  • To contribute to identifying, planning and delivering formal in-house training, for appropriate clinical areas.

Communication

  • With the support of the therapists, to contribute to the Multi-Disciplinary Team, liaising with other health professionals, education staff (at class, managerial and administrative levels), boarding staff.
  • To maintain regularly (weekly) liaison with boarding staff, and monthly MDT meetings with Occupational Therapy, and feedback for reflection and planning.
  • To attend parents’ evenings, coffee mornings and other opportunities for parental liaison.
  • Communicate effectively and sensitively with children, young people colleagues, parents and carers
  • To attend meetings as the SALT team representative where appropriate
  • To attend whole-school and key stage briefing meetings
  • To present and feedback clinical information to the SALT team ina timely fashion, and in an agreed format.
  • Make up files for new students, add information to files and organise appropriately.
  • Collate feedback forms and information for updating student profiles.
  • Organise and update office resources and equipment.
  • To research appropriate therapy resources for the SALT team.
  • Keep therapists up to date with information from educational/boarding services.
  • Prepare slides for handouts, materials for training purposes
  • To follow relevant procedures/statutory requirements including health and safety, safeguarding children, SEN procedures, and other legal frameworks.
  • To participate in the implementation of Chiltern Gate School’s Development Plan
  • To comment on proposed service/policy developments as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for the safety, care and maintenance of all equipment ensure standards of infection control and safety are maintained.

Training:

  • To participate in and ensure that all mandatory training required by ChilternGateSchool is up to date.
  • To participate in the appraisal/performance management scheme, ensuring the objectives set reflect the line manager and the therapy team plans, and to be responsible for carrying out the agreed objectives.
  • To attend relevant courses and in-service training identified during performance management meetings in order to further develop skills in implementation and knowledge of therapy procedures/programmes.
  • To monitor and develop own performance, aiming to achieve and maintain a high standard.
  • To participate in Symbol’s Clinical Competencies framework for Speech and Language Therapy Assistants/Co-workers, linking in any objectives set with the school performance management process.

Additional Information:

In emergencies on an Ad-Hoc basis the Speech and Language therapy assistants will be required to cover classes on a short-term basis.