Job overview
We are recruiting! We are a friendly, innovative and dynamic speech and language therapy team, who have established and expanded adult learning disability (ALD) and autism SLT services across Suffolk, and are looking for an experienced clinician to fill this fixed term post to lead the ALD service.
This post offers an excellent opportunity for a skilled SLT who specialises in working with adults with learning disabilities and /or autism, to develop their leadership and management skills on a fixed term basis, as they work alongside experienced clinicians to lead the adult learning disability and autism speech and language therapy service for ESNEFT.
We are looking for a therapist who has specialist knowledge and experience of managing the communication and dysphagia needs of this ALD/A cohort, with the willingness to use leadership skills to help maintain, coordinate and oversee the countywide delivery of this service which is integrated with the local mental health learning disability and autism service offer.
We also provide the specialist SLT service into the Autism Diagnostic Service for Suffolk (ADSS), and therefore we would also welcome interest from clinicians with autism diagnostic experience, as this post offers the potential to also work alongside the existing senior SLT in the ADSS team.
The post-holder will be based in Ipswich or Bury St Edmunds, but will work across Suffolk. Car driver essential.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will need to have advanced clinical skills in dysphagia and communication. You will need to be able to work collaboratively and quickly build relationships with colleagues across health and social care, the voluntary sector and private provider services across the Suffolk Integrated Care Board region. As part of the ESENFT senior SLT team, you will be a key member of the integrated adult SLT services, which covers the full range of clinical disorders and includes clinical specialists in neurological disorders, aphasia, dysfluency, dysphagia and voice across both acute and community settings.
- Be accountable for the delivery of the adult learning disability SLT pathway according to knowledge and experience, ensuring the service is effectively maintained and well-coordinated across the county.
- Maintain effective working relationships with other NHS and social care provider organisations, commissioning, and third sector organisations
- Provide line management and clinical supervision to the specialist qualified speech and language therapists and assistant practitioner working in the adult learning disability team.
- Independently manage a caseload of complex clinical cases as needed.
- Work closely with the professional SLT and wider SLT clinical leads lead to share service critical information and advocate for the ALD service, ensuring there is effective integration and coordination of service delivery across the county.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant specialist experience of working with adults with learning disabilities post registration
- Experience of initiating and completing service development
- Experience of teaching others on speech and language therapy related topics
- Experience of working in demanding settings with patients with complex needs
- Experience of working as part of a multi-agency team, line managing staff, and running groups
- Participation in audit/research
- Experience of managing conflict, co-ordinating areas of work, and supporting colleagues in stressful situations
- Experience of working with people in acute distress
Desirable
- Working across a variety of community and social care settings
- Experience of leading teams
Qualifications
Essential
- RCSLT recognised degree or equivalent
- Eligible for registered membership of RCSLT
- HCPC membership
- Independent Dysphagia practitioner
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist courses at a Master’s degree equivalent (or an MSc if available in clinical specialism)
- Evidence of completion of formal/informal management training
- Membership of relevant CENs
- Evidence of training as clinical supervisor
- Ability to travel to different places of work/driving licence
Desirable
- Makaton Tutor
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) trained.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Significant advanced specialist knowledge in assessment and management of swallowing and communication disorders for the client group.
- Well established knowledge and interpretation of a broad range of relevant assessment tools and techniques, including informal assessment, standardised assessments relevant to the client group
- Knowledge of evidence-based practice / service developments in relation to specialism
- In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the specialism
- Differential diagnosis of patients with multiple aetiologies
- Assessment/knowledge of alternative/ augmentative communication systems
- Involvement in audit/clinical governance within Speech and Language Therapy
- Use of outcome measures and evidence-based practice
- Involvement with patient forums
- Involvement with relevant voluntary organisations
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge in assessment related to autism diagnosis
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapist with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Colchester, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (until 23rd August 2027). The application deadline is 23 Jul 2026.
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