Speech & Language Therapy Early Years Complex Needs Team Lead

Are you passionate about working with children with complex needs? We are looking for an experienced, dysphagia qualified Speech and Language Therapist to lead our small team of Early Years complex needs SLTs, as well as manage a caseload of 0-5 year olds with complex eating, drinking, swallowing and communication needs. You will be supported by the Clinical Lead for Dysphagia and work alongside the School Age Complex Needs Team Lead.

The Children’s Therapy Services identify, assess, support and manage the health needs of children and young people aged 0-18 years, working closely with children and their families in health settings and family homes; and with education colleagues in early years and school settings.

The team lead aspect of this role will see you manage and lead our small team of dedicated Early Years complex needs SLTs across BNSSG, supporting them with Service changes, clinical supervision, SEND work and much more. You will also be responsible for triage, data reporting and quality, alongside other team leads.

Clinically you will work across South Gloucestershire and Bristol supporting pre-school children with complex needs and their families in the community. The majority of the clinical work is dysphagia but there will also be some communication work, usually involving augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). You will see children for uni-professional appointments and as part of our multi-disciplinary child centred assessments.

• A highly specialist clinical practitioner, being a source of expertise, providing support, supervision, teaching, advice and consultation across BNSSG. You will offer highly specialist clinical expertise within complex needs and dysphagia and carry your own highly specialist caseload.
• You will collaborate with Professional Lead, Clinical Leads and other Team Leads to manage the Speech & Language Therapy Service.
• You will line manage staff and be responsible for holding team meetings.

You will triage new referrals to the team according to agreed referral criteria.

You will support the overview of team performance on RTTs and EHCP targets

You will be working with Operational Leads & data teams on EMIS optimisation.

You will provide clinical and day to day leadership for Early Years Complex Needs and be a first point of contact for the team for queries and concerns.

You will make decisions on queries raised by team members around aspects of policy implementation in consultation with departmental policies. You would refer significant queries to Clinical/Professional Lead.

Support the Professional Lead/Head of Service with accountability and responsibility for the activity, performance, outcomes and clinical governance of your team

Support the Professional Lead/Head of Service with recruitment including interviewing and induction for new recruitment

Ever dreamt about a career that sparks excitement and fosters your professional growth? Picture yourself waking up eager to make a real difference in our community, surrounded by teams who value your unique ideas. It's time to turn your dream into reality!

We are Sirona care & health – England’s largest provider of Adult’s and Children’s Community Services and we’d love for you to join us in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire.

Agenda for Change Salary, full NHS benefits, 27+ days’ annual leave, and participation in the NHS Pension Scheme – just a glimpse of the benefits we offer.

Whether you're starting your journey in healthcare, looking for a fresh challenge within the NHS, or contemplating a career change, don't be daunted by the prospect of something different – we create development opportunities for all our colleagues and apprentices.

Interested? View our benefits leaflet which you can find as an attachment on this vacancy.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Fran Jones Job title: Clinical Lead for Dysphagia Email address: frances.jones15@nhs.net

Please feel free to email me if you would like more information.