Senior Speech and Language Therapist - Merseyside in Merseyside inMerseyside PUBLISHED WED 12 FEB 2025 Jump to job information section

Would you like to deliver more specialist therapy to children and families? We are calling all SLT's looking for a new role. Our therapists work closely with schools and families to develop strong communication provision and provide continuous support.

"Chatterbug gives me the opportunity to build relationships with a variety of children, parents and professionals. This allows me to feel like I am making a real difference in the lives of the children. Working at Chatterbug feels like working with a family where support is always available". - SLT

In conjunction with the Consultant Speech and Language Therapist/Team Leader, you will plan, develop and deliver a Speech and Language Therapy service both working in Clinic and School based service.

About us

• Brief Job Description:

  • To co-ordinate provision of suitable Speech and Language Therapy service in line with the needs of the client base and the Business KPIs
  • To identify gaps in provision and actively seek opportunities to develop the service in line with Business KPIs
  • To participate in and support assessment and diagnosis of children/ young people with a range of SLCN.
  • To provide high-quality support and supervision to junior staff, including providing second opinions.
  • To provide line management to junior staff
  • To encapsulate and represent the Chatterbug Ethos and Values
  • To ensure a high quality evidence based service is delivered across all Chatterbug sites
  • To actively lead on and co-ordinate multiple projects ensuring these are delivered in line with the business KPIs
  • To work proactively at a strategic level to support the growth and development of Chatterbug by representing the organisation at a local/national level.

  Duties and Responsibilities

  Clinical

  • To assess, diagnose and provide support children with a range of SLCN including complex needs.
  • To contribute highly specialist knowledge to multi and uni disciplinary teams to ensure a client focused assessment and approach to treatment
  • To represent the service at health and education panels where required
  • To provide highly specialist assessment and advice on optimising the clients communicative environment taking into consideration the communication skills of parents / guardians, carers and other professionals
  • To provide specialist clinical advice, support and second opinions for therapists and other professionals working with children with a wide range of SLCN
  • Taking a specialist lead within the team, offering case discussions, joint assessments, joint intervention and supporting joint therapy programmes as appropriate
  • To develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment and programmes and to measure and evaluate outcomes
  • To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures

  Communication

  • To employ excellent verbal/written communication skills
  • Communicate complex information from specialist assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals effectively.
  • To produce detailed reports, reflecting specialist knowledge, regarding clients needs and summarising proposed treatment plans
  • To provide highly specialist verbal and written advice and programmes to parents / guardians, carers and other professionals regarding the management and care of children these will be accessible to a range of audiences and easy to understand.
  • To ensure that clients / parents / teaching staff are involved in the planning and prioritisation of the treatment plans.
  • To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews as appropriate and support other staff in the development of these skills
  • To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and service policies
  • To share information with clients, carers and other professionals, observing current data protection guidelines

  Teaching Skills

  • To develop and deliver specialist training to others in a wide range of areas, disorders, behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties and special needs
  • To demonstrate the ability to target training appropriately to the needs of course participants
  • To demonstrate the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
  • To have advanced skills in motivation and coaching

  Clinical Governance Requirements

  • To gather statistical data punctually
  • To participate in service research as required
  • To undertake Clinical Governance / audit projects within the local service as required
  • To have a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: safeguarding children, SEN procedures, and other legal frameworks

  Continuing Professional Development

  • To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan / Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives
  • To demonstrate a passion and commitment to the profession through self guided study
  • To participate in individual performance review, ensuring that the objectives set reflect the service and trust plans, including objectives relevant for SLCN
  • To attend relevant special interest groups, specialist short courses and advanced training in order to develop and maintain skills and knowledge as required
  • To demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines and develop local guidance in specialist area for the department
  • To attend relevant in service training and meetings
  • To demonstrate knowledge of, and adherence to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines and best practice.
  • To take responsibility for maintaining and continually developing professional skills and knowledge in SLCN

  Business Development

  • To possess advance relationship building and networking skills which will enable you to form connections in health, education and other relevant sectors.
  • To promote and raise awareness of Chatterbug and the services we provide and represent the organisation at a local/national level.
  • To identify opportunities to help support the growth/ development of the organisation by bringing in new business and reducing costs where appropriate
  • To represent the company ethos and values and support junior staff in also emulating these.
  • To support the business in measuring the impact and value of the service and implement service business improvement targets
  • To identify and implement cost savings where appropriate
  • To effectively manage staff to ensure they are working in line with the business objectives and Chatterbug ethos and values
  • To proactively develop solutions for supporting the growth of the service

  Clinical Leadership

  • To supervise the work of specialist, generalist therapists, newly qualified therapists and assistants
  • To co-ordinate and participate in student placements as appropriate
  • To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapist to visitors, students/ volunteers, new staff and other professionals
  • To take a lead role in the development, implementation and review of evidence based care pathways, utilising evidence based practice and clinical research.
  • To provide clinical supervision and ensure a high standard of evidence based practice is provided at all times
  • Identify gaps in service and problem solve appropriately

  Management of Staff

  • To actively participate in recruitment and retention of staff
  • To manage and motivate staff to provide high levels of care and deliver an effective and efficient service
  • To participate in PDR/ Appraisal process as directed by the Consultant SLT
  • To ensure all staff uphold the Chatterbug constitution and represent the Chatterbug ethos and values
  • To challenge and identify issues and deal with these, raising any serious concerns to the Senior staff as appropriate

  Analytical and Judgemental Skills

  • To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice independently, with peers and mentors to identify own strengths and development needs
  • To demonstrate a well-developed ability to integrate information taking account of all aspects of the clients communication including verbal, non-verbal and environmental
  • To anticipate and take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of relationships with parents / guardians and other professionals
  • To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessment, seeking support and advice from a specialist as appropriate
  • To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from specialist assessment seeking support from internal and external sources as appropriate

  Responsibility for Client Care and Contact with Carers

  • To demonstrate the well-developed ability to manage people with communication disorders and challenging behaviour including the application of appropriate management strategies
  • To work closely with clients, carers and other professionals to negotiate and agree client management
  • To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding exist
  • To respond sensitively at all times particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications
  • To demonstrate expert skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic process
  • To demonstrate expert skills in managing conflict within the clinical specialist area
  • To foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties and who may be under stress
  • To employ counselling skills with parents and clients with highly complex needs
  • To adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences
  • Extent of Responsibility for Planning and Organisational SkillsTo advise line manager on clinical issues of service delivery, including short falls, service pressures etc
  • To assume service tasks as delegated by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups
  • To use highly specialist knowledge to lead service / policy development as appropriate
  • To demonstrate independence in dealing with complex issues related to caseload management