Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Aurora Ivy Lane School

Overview and Responsibilities

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist –  Aurora Ivy Lane School

Location:  Wakefield (City Centre)

Salary: £37,668.80 to £44,699.20 pro rata, depending on skills, experience and qualifications 

Hours:  40hrs per week - Term time only but full year would be considered for the right candidate

The Aurora Group is an innovative provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities with an ambitious growth plan.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to work as part of a therapy team in our West Yorkshire  Aurora School. Aurora Ivy Lane School provide flexible day placements for students aged 11 to 19 years with complex care needs including behaviours that challenge and learning disabilities, often in association with autism spectrum conditions.  

When it comes to looking after our young people, we strive for excellence, with this in mind, we are looking for a Speech and Language Therapist to expand our communication friendly statutes and who shares our vision  ; to develop independence through learning in a school and a community environment that offers warmth, security and consistency. We believe that learning opportunities occur throughout the day in all settings and in a unique way for each young person.

Working collaboratively with the inter-disciplinary team at our school, including Behaviour Therapists, Education Psychology, Occupational Therapy  and  trained education staff, you will deliver bespoke assessment and intervention packages for our young people with a range of Special Educational Needs. Whilst working within our inter-disciplinary Positive Behaviour Support model, you will play an important role in supporting the school to meet the needs of children with complex communication needs and in supporting good practice across core, indirect and direct support approaches

You will be responsible for holding a  Speech and Language therapy caseload for the school, whilst managing and supervising Therapy Assistants who work with you to carry out all levels of intervention across the school day.  You will also contribute to staff training, consultation and reflective practice.

This is both a challenging and highly rewarding role, with a great emphasis on wellbeing, this position would suit an enthusiastic, resilient individual, with a nurturing, holistic approach and the ability to make decisions, as well as manage their own workload.

Our well-established educational team maintain a caring and warm environment where our young people can flourish, always putting our young people at the forefront of everything they do. All our settings maintain a strong safeguarding culture, and our young people are heard, respected, and involved in decisions that affect them wherever possible.

Job Description 

• To provide effective, person centred Speech and Language therapy assessment and interaction for children with a range of complex needs
• Select and use appropriate formal and informal assessment practices and able to analyse, interpret and report findings in order to produce person centred, functional and effective communication plans to support our students and staff in school
• Communicate and effectively report findings and recommendations to education staff, families and others who support the student
• Working collaboratively with internal and external with other professionals
• Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings and reviews
• Supervise Therapy Assistants and SaLT students, as appropriate
• Maintain accurate records of involvement with each students in accordance with RCSLT and HCPC best practice guidance
• Participate in regular clinical supervision
• Maintain your own clinical professional development (CPD) and records in accordance with HCPC and RCSLT standards

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Criteria: 

• You will be a registered member of RCSLT and HCPC
• You will hold a professional Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent. 
• Experience working with young people who have complex communication including autistic children, those who have Learning Disabilities and behaviours that challenge
• Ability to carry out safe, effective and functional Speech and Language therapy assessments and interventions, including both individual, group and active support levels
• Strong observation and interpretation skills
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Makaton experience
• Experience of working at a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy level or equivalent and managing a complex caseload
• Working with and supervision of Therapy Assistants
• Experience with working collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team and contributing towards Education Health Care Plans and targets
• Skills in developing and delivering specific training for education staff for a variety of communication needs

Desirable Criteria: 

• Dysphagia qualified, or a willingness to work towards a Post-Basic Dysphagia qualification
• Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support

Benefits and Additional Information

What’s on offer?