Job Summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Band 7 to cover maternity leave and lead our Special Schools Team of Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants in Special Schools in Brighton and Hove four days a week.

Experience in dysphagia is desirable. Previous experience of supervision & management would be an advantage.

Main Duties of the Job

This is a Clinical Lead role for Complex Needs in the Brighton and Hove area. The applicant would work in conjunction with the Clinical Leads from neighbouring West Sussex localities. There are regular county wide meetings to review cases and opportunities to be part of a wider multi-disciplinary team ensuring a high quality service is delivered to children across the Special Schools.

The ideal candidate will be able write complex clinical reports based on assessment findings. They will have knowledge and skills suitable to be able to contribute to projects, data collection and strategic developments within the Special School's Pathway. They will have a solid understanding of universal, targeted and specialist service offers and how this is managed within a special school environment. The initial focus of the role within the Special Schools is to work with the school to understand the needs of the children and adapt the communication environment to meet their needs. This will require training staff, introducing appropriate visuals and introducing targeted intervention groups as well as individual assessments and therapy. The role requires strong communication skills and strengths in building relationships with educational partners. Regular meetings with senior leadership teams in both schools will be needed to support embedding of the balanced model within the schools.

About [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us? Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing. Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex. Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement. Excellent training, development, and research opportunities. Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton. Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks. Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust. Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast.

Job Responsibilities

• To provide assessment, diagnosis and management to children within the designated caseloads, providing highly specialist care plans.
• To provide advice to other professionals and parents in order to support the needs of children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder in specialist area.
• To organise caseloads within the scope of the highly specialist post advising the Team Lead of shortfalls and difficulties as they arise.
• To negotiate with parents, carers and others Multi-Disciplinary team members around individual case management, demonstrating compassion and empathy alongside well developed negotiation skills and management of conflict.
• To be responsible for administration and record keeping conforming to Departmental and Trust regulations concerning the format and security of patient records and the Data Protection Act.
• To be aware of, and adhere to, legal requirements relating to the provision of a Speech and Language Therapy Service and of procedures relating to Child Protection.
• To recognise own professional boundaries and seek advice and support as appropriate.
• To lead in the development of innovative practices, projects and therapy packages in specialist area in collaboration with SLT management team.
• To participate in the development of Team and Service clinical policies and plans as directed by SLT management team.
• To provide timely and accurate statistics as required by the Department.
• To provide appropriate and timely reports and other client related correspondence, according to service standards and requirements of other agencies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree / Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• A masters level qualification or equivalent knowledge and skills demonstrated through wide range of paediatric experience and training

Experience

• Wide ranging paediatric SLT experience significant experience as a Specialist SLT (normally band 6 or above)
• Assessment, diagnosis and independent management of a wide range of paediatric caseload
• Clinical supervision of students, support staff and assistants

Skills and Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of assessments and therapy techniques and of different models and frameworks of working
• In-depth knowledge of issues relating to differential diagnosis and aetiology in a range of speech, language and communication difficulties
• Working knowledge of government policies, including Education systems, National Curriculum and National Service Framework for Children
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Competent IT skills
• Highly developed auditory skills for assessing speech and language
• Car owner/driver or suitable alternative

Additional Information

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer Details

Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Address: Brighton General Hospital, Brighton and Hove, BN2 3EW

Website: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/

Contact

For questions about the job, contact: Elaria Wahaba, Operational Team Lead, [contact hidden], [contact hidden]