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Job description

Job Title: Speech, Language and Communication Lead. Project: Communicate to Learn - Promoting ORACY. Contract Type: Fixed term (aligned to Raise Funding period). Responsible For: Delivery of speech, language and communication support within the Communicate to Learn project. Location: Dry Arch Children's Centre, Limavady RAISE Catchment Area: community-based delivery across schools and family settings

Responsibilities

• The Speech, Language and Communication Lead will provide a combination of direct support, early intervention, parent engagement, school-based capacity building and multi-agency collaboration.
• Implementation of the "ORACY" Framework.
• The role will include work with individual children and young people, small groups, parents and carers, school staff and wider community partners.
• The postholder will support early identification of speech, language and communication needs and will develop practical strategies that can be embedded across home, school and community settings.
• The role is preventative and developmental in nature and will complement, not replace, statutory Speech and Language Therapy services. Where specialist or statutory support is required, the postholder will support appropriate referral pathways.
• The postholder will be required to work within recognised guidelines, progress a variety of activities independently and make appropriate decisions using their own initiative, while seeking guidance and supervision where required.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy, communication development, education, psychology, early years, child development or another relevant field.
• Registration with a relevant professional body, where applicable.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to children’s speech, language, communication, learning, emotional wellbeing or family support.
• Applicants must have experience of: Working with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
• Experience of working collaboratively with schools, early years settings, community Dry Arch Children’s Centres or statutory agencies.
• Applicants must demonstrate a strong knowledge of speech, language and communication development. Understanding of speech, language and communication needs and how these can affect learning, behaviour, emotional wellbeing and attendance.
• Awareness of barriers to learning, including anxiety, disadvantage, low confidence, emotional dysregulation and Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).

Desirable Skills

• Experience of delivering training or coaching to school staff, parents or community partners.
• Knowledge of ORACY-based approaches or similar communication frameworks.
• Experience working in disadvantaged communities or within programmes similar to RAISE.
• Experience supporting children or young people experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance.
• Experience working across pre-school, primary and post-primary settings.

Further Information

Work Time: To be confirmed. Flexible working may be required, including occasional evening or family-friendly sessions, to support parent and carer engagement. The role will require travel across the Limavady RAISE locality. The postholder may be required to work across a range of venues including schools, early years settings, homes, community settings and Dry Arch Children’s Centres. Appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, references and Enhanced Access NI clearance. Duties may be reviewed in line with project development, funding requirements and Dry Arch Children’s Centre’s need.

Application Information

Please contact Joanne.Craig@dryarchcentre.co.uk for an application pack