Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Patient care

To be responsible for clinical delivery of a specialist SLT service to a caseload of children with a range of speech, language and communication needs around the borough of Barnet.

To evaluate the effects of communication difficulties on the psychosocial well-being of children and their families. 

Complete assessments, write individual programmes, implement groups, provide specialist advice and resources and review outcomes with a functional based focus.

To work collaboratively with children, families and other professionals to achieve outcomes for individuals, providing support, programmes, ideas, advice and assessment.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures. This requires knowledge of current research and agreed best practice in working in the field of specialism.

To provide a service considering the needs of clients from a range of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.

To liaise with specialist teaching staff, classroom teachers and education support staff to provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy input to curriculum and programme planning.

To liaise closely with the Special Needs Services staff within Barnet and with members of the Learning Support Services working with children.

To maintain close links with Speech and Language Therapy staff working in Early Years, School Age and Adult Teams within the trust to ensure smooth transition between phases as required. 

Clinical – Direct 

To provide a comprehensive specialist Speech and Language Therapy service to clients referred with speech, language and communication difficulties within mainstream schools in the borough. 

To deliver appropriate formal and informal assessments for a range of clinical specialisms. 

To make differential diagnosis based on this assessment and communicate complex condition related information from assessment to children, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professionals.

To always maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of clients/carers when imparting complex and distressing information regarding the nature of the client’s difficulties and the impact of this on individuals and their families.

Following assessment and differential diagnosis, to design and develop evidence-based treatment and management programmes by working closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to client management, and providing the family with sufficient information to ensure meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence and quality of life.

To deliver programmes devised through a combination of 1:1 therapy, therapy groups, and indirect therapy to be implemented within the multi-disciplinary teams available, and within the child’s family.

To demonstrate skills in motivating clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.

To work closely with school staff to embed inclusive speech, language and communication practice within the classroom.

To impart principles and provide training to establish the use of speech, language and communication enrichment techniques by parents/carers and fellow practitioners.

To review, adapt and facilitate treatment programmes and the use of augmentative communication systems according to client’s needs.

To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.

To maintain a high level of concentration in all aspects of patient care at all times, in order to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of communication adaptations, and to facilitate treatment programmes and the use of augmentative communication systems communication aids according to perceived need, with regard to cultural and linguistic differences.

To initiate referrals to other health professionals, specialist services and agencies. 

To be computer literate and ensure accurate recording of actions, updating patient’s records whilst maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Policy/Service Development/Implementation

To work within the Trust SALT service guidelines for children’s services. 

To contribute to the provision of speech and language therapy packages of care and clinical care pathways.

To input into service redesign projects.

To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines. 

Computer/Administration

To undertake general administrative and client related administrative tasks in line with speech & language therapy service operational policies.

To provide accurate statistical information as required.

To produce specialist reports circulated to a wide range of professional colleagues across agencies, clients and carers regarding clients’ needs and summarising proposed care plans.

To share information with others observing data protection guidelines.

To be responsible for developing and maintaining clinical assessments and resources for own caseload, requesting additional equipment according to the needs of the clients.

To maintain contemporaneous and accurate records in accordance with RCSLT professional standards and local operational policies and quality standards maintaining standards of confidentiality in storing and using records.