Candidate
Information
Pack

Speech and
Language Therapist
(‘SALT’)

02

Contents

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

WELCOME FROM OUR HEADTEACHER

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

THE ROLE

Role Overview & Application Process
Person Specification
Job Description

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05

06

07
08
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03

ABOUT
OUR SCHOOL

Our dedicated staff are committed to ‘Changing children’s lives,
building better futures’.

We achieve this through a consistent approach towards understanding the needs and
motivations of children and young people (‘CYP’); and through recognising and celebrating their
efforts and achievements.

As a non-maintained special school, West Kirby School and College caters for CYP, aged 5-19
years, with a range of complex special educational needs and disabilities (‘SEND’). We support
pupils with social and communication difficulties; Autistic Spectrum Condition; ADHD; PDA;
related learning and emotional, sensory and motor needs, across a range of cognitive abilities.

Our aim is for young people to leave West Kirby School and College with academic
accreditations, together with developed social, emotional and communication skills. We achieve
this through a structured, supportive learning environment with an individualised curriculum,
based on relevant and meaningful learning, where CYP make aspirational progress from
individual starting points.

In tandem with this, we promote the development of life skills, personal wellbeing and good
mental health through structured activities and adventures, both in and outside school. These
enrich learning opportunities and give pupils an appreciation of the wider world, of community
and charitable partnerships.

Our broad approach enables pupils to experience
and develop career pathways which, we hope,
will lead them towards a successful adult life. Due
to its location to the North West of the Wirral
peninsula, West Kirby is able to offer a wide range
of opportunities for community relationships,
sports, water recreation and natural history.
Liverpool and Chester with their wealth of art,
culture and history are within easy reach.

The school is close to the centre of West Kirby
village and is 200m from
the nearest beach and
local marine lake.

04

WELCOME FROM OUR
HEADTEACHER

Dear Candidate,

I am delighted that you are interested in joining West Kirby
School & College as a Speech and Language
Therapist.

I hope that this information pack gives you a flavour of this
role and our wonderful school community.

Welcome to West Kirby School and College, a non-maintained special school initially founded over
100 years ago as a hospice for children. Since that time we have grown and developed into the
successful school we are today. Times have changed, but we remain enthused by the opportunity
to support, enable and develop children and young people towards realising their aspirations.

Ultimately, we want to support each of our pupils towards ‘living their best life’.

As a team, we are driven to inspire and motivate pupils, ensuring they are equipped with
knowledge, skills and experiences which will help them achieve their goals and ultimately reach
their full potential. We understand that each child and young person is different and has individual
needs. Therefore we tailor teaching, learning and therapeutic interventions - making activities
accessible so pupils can flourish and thrive.

Our nurturing environment, culture of respect, and promotion of acceptance and diversity is a
backdrop which allows pupils to grow into young adults, who have an understanding of
themselves and those around them.

Our safe and accepting space also allows pupils to express themselves so they feel part of our
community. Coupled with this, we are dedicated to working within our community, using our
expertise to offer support to local schools, colleges and parent groups in areas of Special
Educational needs and Disabilities. We are currently developing a programme of free training and
support which will be offered across the Local Authority.

As Headteacher of WKS, I would be delighted to welcome you to the school to see for yourself our
inspirational environment and for you to meet our equally inspiring pupils.

With Warm Regards,

Richard

Mr Richard Hicks
Headteacher

05

EMPLOYEE
BENEFITS

Looking After You and Your Health

All employees are enrolled (free of charge) into our Healthcare Scheme – provided by Benenden
Healthcare. From day 1 of your employment, and through your Benenden membership, you can:

✓ Get access to and talk to a GP 24/7 and a 24/7 mental health helpline
✓ Get care planning and social care advice
✓ Get access to medical diagnostics (when the wait on the NHS is over 3 weeks)
✓ Get support with medical treatment and surgery (when the wait on the NHS is over 3 weeks)
✓ Get access to physiotherapy and mental health counselling support

School Facilities

Building Your Capability

You will have access to our School Gym and Sauna

You will also have access to a free school lunch – a
choice of hot meal, salad bar, sandwiches and wraps
as well as a selection of cakes

We offer half-termly well being afternoons for our
staff where they can take part in a variety of
activities such as yoga, golf … and more!

From day 1 of your employment you
will be supported with your
Continuous Professional
Development, with a focus on
supporting you
to build your personal levels of
capability; helping you to become the
best version of you that you can be.

Looking After You and Your Family
in the Difficult Times

Saving for the Future

All employees are enrolled (free of charge) into our
Group Life Assurance Scheme – provided by Unum.
After 6 months of employment, and through Unum,
if you were to die unexpectedly your nominated
beneficiary would receive up to 4 x your annual
salary.

All non-teaching staff are eligible (and
will be automatically enrolled) to join
the School’s Private Pension Scheme,
after 3 months of employment.

The School will match your
contributions (like for like) to your
private pension up to 7% of your
annual salary.

*Please note, Employee Benefits are subject to change from time to time and are non-contractual.

2306

ROLE OVERVIEW
& APPLICATION PROCESS

West Kirby School & College is seeking to appoint a
talented Speech and Language Therapist

Salary Band: £33,004.00 - £38,152.62 (point 23 – point 27)

Working hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent, working term time only (44.6 weeks)

Role Overview:

As a member of the Speech and Language Therapy Team you will provide a highly
specialised clinical service to children/ young people with SCLN, ASC and a range of
other special needs in a special school setting. You will work under the leadership of
the Head of Department, alongside Speech and Language Therapy colleagues, and
report to the Deputy Headteacher.

Application Process:

Application forms and further information can be downloaded from the school
website: www.wkrs.co.uk or contact recruitment@wkrs.co.uk for further
information. The School does not accept CVs.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The
successful applicant will be subject to rigorous recruitment checks. West Kirby
School & College is an exempt employer as defined in the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975) and as such, we have a lawful basis for
requesting an enhanced DBS disclosure certificate for all employees.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient
applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your
application as early as possible.

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PERSON
SPECIFICATION

Person Specification – Speech and Language Therapist

West Kirby School and College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essential

Desirable

These are qualities without
which the applicant could not
be appointed

These are extra qualities which
can be used to choose
between applicants who meet
all of the essential criteria

Method of
Assessment

Qualifications

Knowledge

Experience

• Qualification i.e. degree in
Speech and Language
Therapy, which gives license
to practice.

• Registered Member of
RCSLT and HCPC.

• Drivers licence.

• Able to provide rationales
for interventions from
evidence based practice and
individual need

• Understand and promote

holistic approach

• Understand the difficulties
of motivating young people
with low self-esteem and
high anxiety

• Have an understanding of

ASC and possible co-
occurring diagnoses.

• Working with children/
young people with SEN,
particularly those on the
Autism Spectrum.

• Working with children /

young people with receptive
and/ or expressive language
difficulties

• Differential diagnosis;
formulation of therapy
plans; providing appropriate
intervention(s); evaluating
outcomes

• PECS

• How SLCN impacts the

development of functional
skills, independence, life
skills – and how this can be
supported.

Production of the
applicant’s
certificates

Contents of the
Application Form.

Interview

Professional
references

•

Joint working with
education staff in a
classroom environment
• Working with children/

young people with SEMH
e.g Attachment and
Trauma, anxiety
• Delivering Training

Contents of the
application form

Interview

Professional
References

08
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PERSON
SPECIFICATION (Cont.)

Person Specification – Speech and Language Therapist

West Kirby School and College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Essential

Desirable

These are qualities without
which the applicant could not
be appointed

These are extra qualities which
can be used to choose
between applicants who meet
all of the essential criteria

Method of
Assessment

Experience
(Cont.)

Skills

Personal
Attributes

• Carrying out formal and
informal assessments,
observations
• Report Writing
• Using Autism specific

strategies/ approaches

• Effectively manage a
personal caseload

• Relate theory to practice
•

Initiative, problem solving
skills

• Approach therapy with
creativity and flexibility
• Excellent communication
and interpersonal skills;
• Clear written and spoken

English

• Good organizational skills

• Emotional resilience in
working with children/
young people who may
present with behaviours
which challenge

• Ability to work as a team

and independently
Sense of humour

•
• Patience
• Ability to build good

relationships with pupils,
teaching staff, parents and
carers – whilst maintaining
appropriate boundaries.

Contents of the
Application Form

Interview

Professional
References

Contents of the
Application Form

• Experience of planning and
delivering group/ class
interventions

• Support others in working

Interview

with children/ young people
e.g. providing (indirect)
intervention programmes,
advice.

Professional
references

Contents of the
application form

Interview

Professional
references

• Adaptable and flexible
• Passionate about

maximising each child’s
potential

• Enthusiasm. Ability to
motivate others, and
promote positive behaviour
in a nurturing environment.

• Willingness to become

involved in all aspects of
school life.

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JOB
DESCRIPTION
Job Description – Speech and Language Therapist
West Kirby School and College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Summary of The
Role:

You will be a member of the Speech and Language Therapy Team; providing a
highly specialised and clinical service to children / young people with SCLN,
ASC and a range of other special needs in a special school setting. You will work
under the leadership of the Head of Department, alongside Speech and
Language Therapy Colleagues, and report to the Deputy Headteacher for
Personal Development/ SENCO.

Line Management
Responsibility To:

Deputy Headteacher

Clinical

Main Duties &
Responsibilities:

• Promoting and Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people for
who you are responsible and with whom you come into contact with.

• To carry a personal caseload and be responsible for managing the

assessment; treatment; implementation and documentation (including
target setting and evaluating outcomes) of speech and language therapy
interventions.

• To provide speech and language therapy specialist assessment/

observations, recommendations and interventions – using differential
diagnosis, clinical reasoning, prioritisation, demonstrating critical thinking,
reflection and analysis.

• To write, implement and evaluate measurable targets and interventions for

pupils

• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness, underpinned by the use of evidence

based practice and outcome measures.

• Use sound clinical reasoning skills, to analyse and interpret assessment
findings in order to help establish appropriate goals and integrate these
appropriately into interventions, advice/ recommendations, IEP’s and
EHCP’S.

• To be responsible for the review and discharge of pupils.
• Participate with collecting and submitting timely caseload data.
• Provide advice/ recommendations, targets, resources, or other pupil

specific information for others to follow.

• To model and demonstrate specific approaches, strategies or therapeutic

techniques to others.

• Work collaboratively with all staff in order to ensure speech and language
therapy is embedded within the school and integrated into curriculum
planning, IEP targets and delivery.

• To be aware of all departmental and professional standards required. To
strive to achieve these standards in all work carried out, and to inform
senior staff if difficulties should arise.

• To communicate with pupils, parents/ carers and other professionals in a

clear and concise manner.

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JOB
DESCRIPTION (Cont.)

Duties &
Responsibilities
(Cont.):

• Refer on to other services where appropriate, ensuring consent is obtained.
•
Liaise with outside agencies as appropriate; providing professional advice
and feedback

• To work collaboratively with education staff
• To write comprehensive reports for pupils, as required. To attend and
contribute to Annual Review meetings and other pupils meetings, as
required.

• To maintain contemporaneous case notes and clinical records.

Personal and Professional Development
• Access Clinical Supervision and demonstrate reflective practice.
• To be accountable for own professional actions and recognise own

professional boundaries, seeking advice and (Specialist) support where
necessary.

• Maintain up-to-date Health and Care Professions Council and Royal College
of Speech and Language Therapists registration; working to their standards
of proficiency., conduct, performance and ethics

• Demonstrate commitment to continuous professional development and

acquisition of up-to- date skills and knowledge. Participate in the planning,
organising and delivering of training.

• Participate in the school’s appraisal/performance management process.
• Attend staff meetings, as required
• Support other less experienced members of the team to develop their

clinical and case management skills and to resolve problems

• To support the Department in facilitating university students in clinical

placements, as required.

General
• To be aware that pupils may not be able to co-operate or comply in an
activity and may present with behaviour that challenges. To form
productive relationships with pupils who may be under stress and/ or have
complex social, emotional or language difficulties – and motivate them to
engage.

• To potentially work with pupils in Primary, Secondary and Post 16 and

residential settings.

• To provide an environment which optimises pupil learning and enables

them to reach their potential; maximising their academic , social, emotional,
language, communication and independence skills.

• To complete admin tasks within the team which will aid with the smooth-

running of the Speech and Language Therapy Department.

• To carry out other duties as may be reasonably required; compatible with
the post and commensurate with its seniority, so as to meet the changing
demands of the school. You may be asked to undertake such other duties at
the discretion of the SENCO or Principal.
• Adhere to school policies and procedures
• Maintain confidentiality in line with legislation
• To deal with complaints in a professional manner and that which follows

protocol

• To be aware of, and implement Health and Safety Regulations – such as risk

assessment.

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West Kirby School & College
Meols Drive
West Kirby
Wirral
CH48 5DH

0151 632 3201
schooloffice@wkrs.co.uk