Job Description

Based at a large Special School in Crawley, we are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Band 7 to lead our Complex Needs Team of Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants.



The role has a high clinical component and excellent clinical skills with at least 2 years experience in complex needs are required. Experience in dysphagia is desirable, and training in this area could be funded and supported. Some previous experience of supervision & management would be an advantage.



There is a strong and supportive Band 7 Speech and Language Therapy network in the locality - and across the wider Trust.



This is a Clinical Lead role for Complex Needs in the Central Area of West Sussex, the applicant would work in conjunction with the Clinical Leads from neighbouring Brighton and Hove, as well as West Sussex. 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 CDCs



The ideal candidate 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 Complex Needs Pathway. They will have a solid understanding of universal, targeted and specialist service offers and how this is managed within a special school environment.



Some experience of managing or supervising a small team would be an advantage.



The Trust has an extensive Leadership Programme and is supportive of staff training and development. There will be opportunities to further skills and knowledge through CPD: in house management skills, access to colleagues across West Sussex Brighton & Hove as well as an Education and Training Department for funding external courses and other opportunities for development.



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

Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence --guide everything we do.



We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.



This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.



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 provide advice to other professionals and parents in order to support the needs of children with Eating and Drinking difficulties.



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.



Please see attached and Person Specification for more details