Job Title
Total Communication Co-ordinator (Learning Disability)
20 hours per week (over 4 days) Part-Time /Permanent
Pay
£15.30 per hour
28 days holiday plus bank holidays pro rata
Location
Buckfastleigh TQ11 0JN
Reports To
Registered Care Manager
Purpose of the Role
Camphill Devon Community is looking for a Total Communication Co-Ordinator to be responsible for promoting and developing effective communication approaches that enable people we support to understand information, express their views, make informed choices, and actively participate in everyday life. The role champions person-centred communication by ensuring staff have the knowledge, skills, and resources to meet each person's individual communication needs.
Key Responsibilities
Communication Support
- Promote a Total Communication approach across the service.
- Ensure each person has an individual communication profile that is accurate, up to date, and reflects their preferred methods of communication.
- Support staff to use appropriate communication methods tailored to each individual.
- Encourage meaningful participation in daily living, decision-making, and community activities through effective communication support.
Development of Communication Resources
- Create and maintain accessible communication materials including:
- Social Stories
- Visual schedules
- First/Then boards
- Choice boards
- Easy Read documents
- Communication passports
- Visual timetables
- Emotion scales
- Behaviour support visuals
- Makaton symbols and resources
- Develop personalised visual support tools to promote independence and reduce anxiety.
- Liaise with Speech and Language Therapists (SaLT) regarding specialist communication recommendations.
Staff Development
- Coach and mentor staff in effective communication techniques.
- Deliver or coordinate communication training including:
- Makaton awareness
- Total Communication
- Active Listening
- Accessible information
- Positive communication strategies
- Monitor staff competency and provide ongoing guidance.
Support Planning
- Ensure communication needs are clearly documented within support plans.
- Review and update communication sections following assessments or changes in need.
- Support the development of communication-related outcomes and goals.
- Ensure reasonable adjustments are made to maximise understanding and participation.
Quality Improvement
- Audit communication resources across the service.
- Identify areas for improvement and implement action plans.
- Monitor whether communication strategies are being used consistently.
- Promote compliance with the Accessible Information Standard and best practice guidance.
Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with:
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Families and advocates
- Key workers
- Multidisciplinary teams
- Share best practice and support continuous improvement.
Person Specification
Essential
- Good understanding of learning disabilities, autism, and person-centred care.
- Knowledge of Total Communication approaches.
- Experience using or developing visual communication resources.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to produce accessible information.
- Supporting individuals with understanding and maintaining routines including everyday tasks such as meal planning, shopping, budgeting and personal care.
- Supporting peoples community access; engaging safely in community activities leisure pursuits, medical and social appointments and and excursions and holidays and maximising people’s choice in these.
- Strong IT, organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to develop Alternative and Augmentative Communication strategies
Desirable
- Makaton training (or willingness to undertake).
- Knowledge of British Sign Language (BSL).
- Experience creating Social Stories.
- Understanding of AAC systems.
- Experience working alongside Speech and Language Therapists.
Personal Qualities
- Creative and innovative.
- Patient and compassionate.
- Person-centred in approach.
- Positive role model.
- Excellent coaching and mentoring skills.
- Passionate about improving communication and inclusion.
Key Outcomes
- People we support can communicate their wishes, feelings, and choices using their preferred method.
- Staff consistently use agreed communication strategies.
- Communication support plans remain accurate and meaningful.
- Visual resources are readily available, personalised, and regularly reviewed.
- Increased independence, reduced anxiety, and improved quality of life through effective communication support.
- Compliance with the Accessible Information Standard and best practice in person-centred communication.
Our Culture:
“An inclusive, supportive and rural environment where people have real freedom, are enabled to perform to the best of their strengths, and have the opportunities to learn and grow.”
Our Values:
· To promote a community ethos where everyone has a part to play, and has opportunities to make choices and take responsibility
· To involve people is at the heart of everything we do
· To understand, value and meet people’s needs
· To treat people with kindness, compassion and dignity
· To promote, respect and celebrate people’s diversity and individuality
· To learn from people to help us all adapt and continually improve and grow
Benefits
· Referral programme
· Free on-site parking
· Company pension
· Casual dress
· Health & wellbeing programme
Subject to clear DBS and references
Pay: £15.30 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Work Location: In person
