The Role

Are you able to support young people and their families in a crisis?

Do you have experience of working with young people with identified and unidentified needs and their families within a Pupil Referral Unit?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Our Youth Offending Team (YOT) and Pupil Referral Units are looking to recruit a Speech and Language Therapist on a permanent basis to join our amazing team and help play a central role in achieving positive outcomes for children.

This role is employed under the Shared Staffing Arrangement between Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. Staff are expected to deliver high quality and responsive services wherever they are based, as well as having the ability to adapt to sometimes differing processes and expectations.

About the service

The YOT places the well-being of children & young people at the centre and works hard to help them realise their potential to become accomplished adults.

We use the skills of a multi-disciplinary team to support children and their families to address issues that may be causing them difficulties.

Wandsworth’s Pupil Referral Units provide support to primary and secondary aged children and is set over three sites - Victoria Drive, Francis Barber: Franciscan and Westdean.

We were inspected by OFSTED in December 2017 and received a Good report. Behaviour and Safety were identified as outstanding features of the school.

Victoria Drive Primary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) works with all Wandsworth primary schools to provide support for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Victoria Drive PRU values a multidisciplinary approach and has a CAMHS team, play therapists, sports mentor, learning mentor, attendance mentor and a social worker.

Francis Barber works with groups of pupils who have found it challenging in mainstream schools or who have complex special needs. There is a large and experienced staff team working together to maximise pupil progress and achievement.

About the Team

As the role sit between two teams Youth Offending Team/Pupil Referral Unit under a Shared Staffing Arrangement between Richmond and Wandsworth.

With a friendly and experienced team of 29 in our Youth Offending Team alone with varied levels of experience levels and background you will find and abundance of knowledge to and support to draw upon.

Our Pupil Referral Units is a friendly place to work and there are a variety of lessons and activities taking place. These along with good key working help young people make changes which enable them to be successful in their education.

About the role

This role is employed under the Shared Staffing Arrangement between Richmond and Wandsworth Councils.

The Shared Staffing Arrangement aims to be at the forefront of innovation in local government and the organisation will invest in the development of its staff and ensure the opportunities for progression that only a large organisation can provide.

The main purpose of the job is to be responsible for the management of a general caseload of children/young people with speech, language and communication disorders who attend Wandsworth Pupil Referral Units. The role requires an ability to assess, diagnose and treat/manage interventions ensuring that programmes are integral to children’s education and development.

As the Speech and Language Therapist in the PRU your work will be spread across a day week, 2.5 days will be spent working with children in the Secondary PRU, O.5 days will be spent working with children in the Primary PRU and 0.5 days will be spent completing administrative tasks and attending supervision.

To be shortlisted your CV and personal statement will cover following:

• To operate as practitioner with a developing knowledge of learning disability and/or autism and associated mental health difficulties
• Knowledge of the clinical evidence base, assessment and intervention approaches relevant to speech, language, and communication difficulties
• Some experience of practice placement or working as a Speech and Language Therapist within an educational setting
• Some experience of managing, organising and prioritising workload and caseload need.
• Registration with professional and governing bodies RCSLT and/or HCPC.

If you enjoy working with young people, have initiative and are a good team player we would welcome your application.

Contact details

For an informal discussion, please contact Paulette Edwards on Paulette.Edwards@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Benefits

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including, working from home, compressed or part-time hours, term time only, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities. In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

• Closing Date: 11:59pm Sunday 8^th August 2021
• Shortlisting Date: Week commencing 9th August 2021
• Interview Date: Week commencing 16th August 2021

Useful Information: The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible. Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

Equality Statement

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

How to apply?

To be considered for interview your application must highlight your knowledge, skills and experience listed in the Job Profile located at the bottom

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils

Attached documents

•  Speech and Language Therapist - Job Profile