Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist Dysphagia&Complex Needs

Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist in Barnet Children's Integrated Therapies, delivering services for children aged 0-5 years, including those with complex needs and dysphagia.

The postholder will work within the Barnet Complex Needs and Dysphagia SLT Team, providing assessment and intervention for complex children in homes, clinics and early years settings. They will support communication development and swallowing/feeding needs, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and provide training, supervision and second opinions to other therapists.

• Carry a personal clinical caseload to a high level of professional competence.
• Assess, differentiate diagnose, plan and implement therapy for children with dysphagia and speech, language and/or communication difficulties, and supervise others in this process.
• Work effectively with clients, carers and colleagues on case management, providing advice, guidance and support and involving them in planning and prioritisation of care.
• Provide second opinions to Whittington Health clinical staff on complex communication disorders.
• Reflect on clinical practice, identify strengths and needs of clients, review responses to therapy and provide evidence of sound clinical judgement.
• Monitor and review progress of children on caseload, and modify packages of care or targets as appropriate using evaluation/outcome measurement tools.
• Adapt practice to meet individual client/carer circumstances, taking into account cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Produce accurate, detailed reports, therapy programmes, advice and information in a timely manner.
• Respond to the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014, completing written advice (EHCP) for children/young people with special educational needs.
• Refer children to other Health, Education or Social Services professionals as necessary.
• Undertake home visits in compliance with the local Home Visiting Safety Policy.

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy.
• Degree or equivalent and Licence to Practice.
• Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC.
• Further study to master's or equivalent level in clinical field, including completion of short courses.
• Member of a relevant clinical excellence network.

• Work with babies and children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties, including complex needs and feeding difficulties.
• Collaborative work with parents and other professionals across settings.
• Training others, supervising and supporting colleagues.
• Knowledge of the evidence base for feeding difficulties of babies and children.
• Experience of working in the community.
• Work with the Clinical team lead managing other team members, including annual leave, sickness monitoring and carrying out appraisals.
• Experience of clinical governance framework to monitor and improve patient care.
• Experience of organising and implementing training programmes for colleagues and other professionals.
• Use of outcome measures.
• Involvement in audit and research.
• Clinical educator training.
• Minimum 5 years post graduate experience working with children in a paediatric setting.
• Dysphagia experience at a highly specialist level including a minimum of 2 years working with babies and infants with complex needs.

• Awareness of NHS Plan, NICE and clinical governance.
• Sound understanding of confidentiality.
• Understanding of health needs in a culturally diverse and socio economic community.
• Knowledge of normal child development of speech and language and most developmental milestones.
• Advanced knowledge of assessments and interventions for education and for complex physical and cognitive disabilities, utilising a range of approaches and comparing benefits for individual children.
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals, especially within multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of professional standards of record keeping.
• Holistic view of communication and associated philosophy.
• Awareness of adapting communication styles with different people.
• Knowledge of the evidence base for feeding difficulties.
• Previous NHS experience and familiarity with current policies and procedures.

• Good organisational skills.
• Good problem solving skills.
• Manual dexterity required for Makaton signing and working with children with physical disabilities, including moving and handling.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Good auditory discrimination skills.
• Teamwork and leadership abilities.
• IT literacy, including word processing and email.
• Independent management of own and others' caseloads, prioritising as required.
• Clear, concise verbal and written reporting skills and excellent presentation of complex information.
• Reflection and practice adaptation to suit individual needs.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Sensitivity to others' differing needs.
• Analytical and reflective skills.

Ensure compliance with the Trust's safeguarding policies, including London Child Protection Procedures, Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults procedures, and local information sharing protocols. Participate in required training and supervision, adhere to professional boundaries and codes of conduct, and know appropriate contact numbers and reporting lines.