Speech and Language Department
Greenshaw is a large, successful mainstream comprehensive secondary school with
1500 students plus 6th Form and extensive staff. The Speech & Language
Department forms an integral part of the school.
Speech & Language students are fully integrated, attending all mainstream lessons.
The students are only withdrawn for speech and language therapy and the hours of
therapy they receive are dependent upon their individual needs. We have an intake
of 6 students per year for the Department and entrance is dependent upon a
diagnosis of specific language impairment.
Therapy is delivered either on a 1:1 basis or in a small group as well as providing
support in mainstream lessons; again this is flexible so that it is appropriate for the
individual. Therapy is delivered by our Senior Speech & Language Therapist,
Speech & Language Therapist, Speech Therapy Assistant or the Speech &
Language Department Manager. Students are supported in their mainstream lessons
by Department staff and by specialist trained Learning Support Assistants.
In KS4 all of the Speech & Language students sit a minimum of 8 GCSEs. The
school is very proud of the students’ achievements and our past results have been
significantly higher than the national average for students with Statements of Special
Educational Need.
Speech and Language Department staff are supported in trialling and developing
new and innovative ways of working with pupils and staff, both at Greenshaw and at
neighbouring secondary schools as required. We are also involved in individual,
small group and whole school staff training. In addition to this we offer Elklan training
to staff in the borough. We also offer an outreach consultancy service providing
training and advice to other schools and local authorities.
Please do not hesitate to contact the following personnel for further information;
Yvonne Duffin, Director of Learning Inclusion
(Tel: 020 8715 1001 e-mail: yduffin@suttonlea.org)
Karen Cordes, Speech & Language Department Manager
(Tel: 020 8715 1001 e-mail: kcordes@suttonlea.org)
Job Description
HIGHLY SPECIALIST SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST
RESPONSIBLE TO: Headteacher
HOURS: Part time maternity cover for one year (Term time only with paid school
holidays)
To effectively manage a caseload of pupils, with complex speech, language and
communication needs including specific language impairment (SLI), within a school
setting. To take an active part in the development of the Speech and Language
Department and the school.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Pupil Related Activities
1.
Adhere to national and local standards and guidelines relating to Professional
Practice (Communicating Quality III), and maintain professional registration
through the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Health
Professions Council.
2.
Be aware of and adhere to current legislation.
3.
Be responsible for collecting own work statistics e.g. amount of contact time,
outcome measurements etc as required.
4.
To participate in pre admission assessments as required.
5.
Be responsible for a defined caseload of pupils with SLI in terms of assessment
and differential diagnosis; devising; delivering and evaluating programmes;
contributing to IEPs, annual reviews, transition plans and statements of
educational need as appropriate.
6.
Provide speech and language assessment and intervention to identified
mainstream pupils with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
7.
Be responsible for the planning and administering of a range of appropriate
intervention programmes, calling upon specialist staff for advice as appropriate.
8.
Work autonomously in collaborative, intensive and innovative ways.
9.
Work autonomously within the school environment, utilising knowledge of
curriculum and recent educational initiatives and of literacy strategies
appropriate to pupils’ ages.
10.
Be a reflective practitioner. Considering and evaluating alternative and
innovative approaches to the management of pupils with SLCN, and
participating in research as required.
11.
Seek second opinions, and/or make referrals within or outside the school when
necessary, according to school/local policy.
12.
Disseminate skills, knowledge and experience through training and offering
advice to other staff, parents, carers and significant others about individual and
groups of pupils. Demonstrating practical procedures when appropriate.
13.
Liaise with staff (usually teachers and speech and language therapists) in other
locations regarding individual pupils at transfer into and out of the
school/service.
14.
To liaise with mainstream staff to monitor, support, evaluate and adjust pupils’
participation in mainstream activities as required.
Speech and Language Department
1.
Work with assistants as appropriate, deploying time and allocating duties within
the multidisciplinary team context.
2.
Be involved in support and supervision of students on placement as requested.
3.
Be involved in the support and supervision of junior staff as requested.
4.
Develop or maintain a special interest in a relevant area to a high level (clinical
and/or curricular) agreed with the principal SLT, and to collate and disseminate
relevant information, and be a source of knowledge and expertise to other staff.
5.
Take a lead in aspects of the Department Development Plan.
School/Service
1.
Attend and contribute to staff meetings and Inset.
2.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective joint working
practices.
3.
Contribute to developing and sustaining an appropriate communication
environment within the school.
4.
Mentor colleagues from other professional groups new to the school.
Personal Development
1.
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the impact of SLI on pupils learning,
keeping abreast of relevant initiatives and development within the fields of
Speech and Language Therapy and Education, sharing this knowledge across
the school as appropriate.
2.
Develop and/or maintain knowledge and competency in dealing with SLCN in
children.
3.
Participate and contribute to one’s own performance appraisal and supervision
sessions.
The list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder
may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required.
The job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification
PERSON SPECIFICATION
HIGHLY SPECIALIST SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPIST
CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL
Qualifications
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Experience
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Skills and
Knowledge
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Other Factors
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Registered member of the Royal college
of Speech and Language Therapists
and HPC
Degree/diploma recognised by RCSLT
3 years minimum post qualification
experience
Experience of working with secondary
aged pupils
Experience of working with pupils with
SLI
Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
Experience of working in an educational
setting
Knowledge of evidence base for
effective intervention for young people
with SLI
Knowledge of current developments in
education
Knowledge of the impact of SLI on
learning and school experience
Good organisational Skills
Writing reports to a high standard
An imaginative and intellectually
rigorous approach to therapy planning
An ability to work individually with
children who have a range of needs
The ability to work with groups of
children and young people
Ability to reflect on own practice and
modify approach
Highly develop clinical reasoning skills
The ability work effectively as part of a
team
A flexible approach to work
Excellent written/oral communication
skills to a range of audiences,
colleagues, parents and to other
professionals
A desire to continue the development of
professional skills
Commitment to the ethos and practices
of the department and school
Fitness to undertake duties of the post
DESIRABLE
Language Unit experience
Experience of working in a
secondary school
Involvement in research
projects
Understanding/knowledge
of National Curriculum
Skills in evaluation of
service approaches