Job Overview

We are a dynamic Learning Disabilities Service well established within Jersey in the Channel Islands who are looking for a Senior Speech & Language Therapist to provide services to adults with a learning disability & associated conditions. 

Plan, develop and lead on the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy Services for the Adult Learning Disability Service for the Government of Jersey ensuring the provision of a highly specialist speech and language assessment and treatment services for adults with complex needs, in line with organisational policies, professional best practice standards and legal requirements.

For an informal discussion, please contact Robert Gardner @ r.gardner@health.gov.je

Job Specific Outcomes

Act as an advisor to senior managers providing professional advice and guidance regarding Learning Disability Speech and Language Therapy services and develop, implement and maintain strategy and policy to ensure a high-quality, effective service in line with organisational objectives.

Monitor and review working practices and procedures and recommend changes in relation to current legislation, professional and best practice

Manage, develop and motivate Adult Learning Disability Service junior team members; to monitor performance in allocated areas of responsibility and to ensure that appropriately qualified, experienced and motivated staff are in place to deliver their responsibilities to the best of their abilities.

Establish, maintain and monitor quality assurance programmes to ensure compliance with agreed internal and external standards and service level agreements and to support the development and direction of Adult Learning Disability Service Speech and Language Therapy Services.

Receive, manage and prioritise referrals from a range of professionals diagnosing and screening complex clients in order to identify how they may benefit from speech and language therapy and provide expert assessment and intervention to groups and individuals.

To assess complex cases and use highly specialist skills to formulate a diagnosis and care coordinate a caseload as an autonomous practitioner within an MDT framework

To manage and prioritise a complex caseload using specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement and decision making

Prescribe appropriate treatment to assist the client to gain additional function where possible and enable the client to maximise existing function and/or to reduce anxiety and frustration by modifying the communication/physical environment to minimise the impact of disability on quality of life.

To develop and deliver training programmes, providing information and advice to professional qualified and unqualified staff, voluntary organisations and family carers in order to improve understanding of client’s needs.

To develop care protocols/packages relating to a range of issues in areas of specialism, and to review relevant statistics for planning and monitoring the effectiveness of intervention, and for auditing the efficacy/effectiveness of adult learning disability according to departmental and national guidelines.

Qualifications

A degree or post graduate diploma in Speech and Language Therapy with a Certificate to Practice from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Post-graduate training in specialist area to master’s level or equivalent experience.

Registration with Heath Care Professionals Council and RCSLT.

Professional Portfolio demonstrating experience and evidence of CPD.

Advanced Practitioner in Dysphagia

Knowledge

Demonstrated extensive experience of working in a highly specialist role (Learning Disabilities )

Specialist knowledge of AAC, Autism, Mental Health, Dysphagia and learning disabilities to inform assessment of clients.

Specialist knowledge in area of speech and language

Awareness of the roles of other services (Health, Social Care and Education) and the interface with speech and language therapy.

Experience of developing case therapy (e.g. dysphagia, autism).

Good understanding of medical diagnostic schedules and classification systems (e.g. ICD, DSM) and medical conditions impacting on communication and swallow function.

Knowledge of anatomy, physiology and neurological development

Understanding of the range of communication and eating and drinking disorders and current professional best practice guidelines for assessment and management.

Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessments tools relevant to clients with a learning disability and/or autism

Experience of managing and supervising staff

Knowledge of clinical governance and audit

Familiarity with codes of practice of Health and Social Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT).

Excellent understanding of safeguarding.

Knowledge of alternative and augmentative communication systems

Technical Work Based Skills

Able to demonstrate a range of information technology skills i.e. an ability to effectively use IT equipment and role critical software.

Able to use a range of AAC devices including Grid 3, iPads and eye gaze technology

General skills / attributes

Highly specialised skills for independently assessing clients in a complex caseload.

Strong relationship building with both internal and external stakeholders.

Excellent interpersonal skills

High level of clinical reasoning for diagnosis

Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills

Demonstrates an understanding of ethical and moral dimensions of practice, particularly ethical feeding decisions

Able to understand and manage a range of complex facts or situations requiring analysis.

Strong problem-solving acumen. Excellent communication; verbal and written.

Communicates effectively across all levels

Ability to adapt personal style in order to influence others and gain support for ideas.

Demonstrates empathy towards individual clients.

Supports the development of and shares learning with other members of staff.

Able to remain professional and effective under pressure.

Committed to continuous service improvement and also continued professional development for themselves and their team.

Self-directed and resourceful.

Autonomous practitioner with flexible approach to work and ability to work under time constraints

Experience

Significant post-qualification experience within areas of service, including experience of working in Learning Disability areas.

Extensive relevant experience in LD provision of Speech & Language Therapy and advice to adults.

Extensive experience of working effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Facilitation and tutoring of clinical staff and delivering HR management, such as appraisals

Experience and understanding of ethical and moral dimensions of practice, especially around feeding dilemmas and end of life care.