JOB TITLE

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist – Hearing Impairment

MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE JOB

The main purpose of this role is to develop the communication, listening, understanding and speaking skills of young deaf children. Integral to this is the building of relationships with the children’s parents and other professionals, working with them to best support the child and family.

POSITION IN ORGANISATION

Reports To:

Director of Children and Family Services

Responsible For:

Intervention and therapy for deaf and hard of hearing babies, toddlers and pre school children, specifically focusing on communication, speech, language and listening development using a multi-sensory oral approach.

Budget Responsibilities:

The staff member will be responsible for reporting the budget needs and expenditure of this service to The Director of Children and Family Services.

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1)To implement The Elizabeth Foundation programmes for deaf and hard-of-hearing babies, toddlers and pre-school children, specifically focusing on communication, speech, language and listening development using a multi-sensory oral approach

2)To provide ongoing assessment, recording and reporting on development of communication, speech, language and listening skills of pre-school deaf and hard-of-hearing children, through formal and informal measures

3)To plan, prepare and implement teaching/therapy programmes that include receptive and expressive language, listening, phonological awareness and social skills development

4)To contribute to an ‘Individualised Education Plan’ for each child, highlighting progress and attainment and outlining specific goals and challenges targeting individual speech, language and listening levels

5)To provide a friendly, fun, non-threatening atmosphere in individual, small group and large group sessions from which children and their parents can benefit

6) To facilitate the development of speech and language protocols, therapy materials and resources

7)To assist with daily listening checks and continual monitoring and/or maintenance of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive listening devices, ensuring optimal listening conditions

8)To assist with the co-ordination of services for deaf and hard-of-hearing children – working closely with all other professionals, sharing information, ideas and concerns, goals, strategies and recommendations

9)To write and share written reports with parents and all professional members associated with each child’s speech, language and listening development

10)To provide observation time and information to visiting professionals

11)To provide parents with observation time in sessions using an ‘open door’ policy and to work alongside the parents in the Baby and Toddler Nursery

12)To provide parents with support and information on an as-needed basis, along with assisting with a more “formal” parent education programme

13)To support the nursery staff as appropriate, on issues related to speech and language development and understand the importance for everyone to work collaboratively, as part of a close-knit team. To mentor and support staff working in both our family centres – Hampshire and Yorkshire

14)To supportcollege/university students during work placements at The Elizabeth Foundation, providing written reports and feedback as well as pre-placement interviews as and when necessary

15)To help build, develop and promote an independent Speech and Language Therapy service for deaf children not attending The Elizabeth Foundation – pre-school and school-age children

16)To take every reasonable measure to ensure the safety of all the children while in attendance at The Elizabeth Foundation

17)To help keep up to date, The Elizabeth Foundation’s Policy documents, ensuring all procedures and OFSTED requirements are adhered to, particularly those relating to Child Protection and Safeguarding

18)To maintain an appropriate amount of continual professional development in line with Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy criteria

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • The job holder must understand and provide a commitment to equal opportunities in every regard
  • The job holder must ensure that he/she is aware of and adheres to all policies on safeguarding and child protection, behaviour management, medicines in nursery settings, welfare provision and health and safety
  • The job holder must understand and provide a commitment to the data protection act
  • The job holder will support the Director of Children and Family Services to annually review and renew policies for the above to the satisfaction of independent authorities (OFSTED) as well as the Elizabeth Foundation CEO and Board of Trustees
  • The job holder must work with The Director of Children and Family Services and Director of Resources and Business Development to take forward and develop the Elizabeth Foundations Services and to positively promote those services

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
In this section please list what skills the applicant would need to do the job / 1)The individual must have excellent communication skills – both verbal and non verbal
2)The individual must have strong leadership skills with the ability to positively interact with staff, key professionals, children and parents / carers.
3)The individual must be organised and able to manage a caseload, meeting deadlines for planning, and report writing.
4)The individual must possess strong time keeping skills and work to deadlines in a fast paced environment.
5)The individual must possess strong writing and literacy skills for report writing, resource development, liaison with parents and other professionals.
6)The individual must be able to present information clearly and succinctly to convey information to at a variety of levels, depending on the audience.
7)The individual must display discretion, tact and honesty at all times
EXPERIENCE
In this section please list what experience the person would need to do the job / 1)Experience with working with very young hearing impaired children and their families
2)Experience working with a range of technology, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, fm systems, and sound field systems
3)Experience supporting children and families in the auditory/oral approach for communication
4)Knowledge and awareness of formal and informal assessments for speech, language and listening development
KNOWLEDGE
In this section please list what knowledge this person would need to do the job?
Pleaseinclude any specific qualification or training requirements.
/ 1)A fully qualified Speech and Language Therapist with a minimum of 5 years experience working specifically with the hearing impaired population
2)The ability to use formal and informal assessment techniques to track speech, language and listening development
3)The ability to provide individual therapy session as well as small and large group sessions
4)Knowledge of the development of receptive language, expressive language, phonology/speech, phonological awareness, listening and pragmatic skills
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND
OTHER
REQUIREMENTS
In this section please list any other qualities you are looking for from the applicant / 1)The individual must be able to work both under their own initiative and as part of team. They must have loyalty to the organisation, their colleagues and to the families that they support.
2)The individual should be willing to work outside of normal hours and/or travel on occasion. The individual must be able to play a key part in the organisation providing instruction and information not only to the educational team, but also other appropriate personnel e.g. the fund raising team, to ensure the smooth running of the organisation as a whole.
3)The individual must be DBA verified