Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

An exciting development opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and innovative Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to provide maternity cover in the Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT) in Buckinghamshire.

The successful candidate will work as an influential and integral member of a diverse multi-disciplinary specialist learning disability health team working to support adults with a learning disability with a health need.

You will be forward thinking and able to demonstrate sound clinical knowledge in the area of adult learning disabilities based on current evidence. You will autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions with individuals with both communication difficulties and dysphagia.

You receive regular clinical supervision and support from the Professional Lead Speech and Language Therapist, Community Team Manager and peers. You will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing professional development activities and service development.

Main duties of the job

Role summary:

To provide high quality, comprehensive Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention for specified service user group

To manage a caseload using evidence-based, person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in community settings

To provide this service to service users, who present with communication and/or dysphagia difficulties

To undertake supervision of junior staff and students as required

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Relationships:

• To work with service users and carers
• To work with other members of Specialist Learning Disability Service
• To work with other stakeholders including Health Facilitation, Learning Disability in-patient services, Primary and Secondary Care Services, county council and any other relevant stakeholder group
• To link with other SLTs particular those in the Learning Disabilities and Forensic business stream

Duties and Responsibilities:

• To manage a mixed caseload, using evidence-based person centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions for the specified service user group
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team
• To maintain clinical records
• To develop skills and knowledge

Clinical Responsibility

• To assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users, including those with - profound learning disabilities, additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour.
• To be responsible for managing a defined complex caseload with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectiveness
• To work with and be available to other SLTs and Assistant Therapy Practitioners (ATPs) for support and joint consultation regarding clinical practice as required
• To be an autonomous practitioner
• To work with service users and carers to identify SLT requirements as part of the overall care plan
• To plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the service user and carer
• To monitor, evaluate and modify interventions with service users to ensure effectiveness of intervention and positive outcomes
• To have knowledge and understanding of the application of alternative and augmentative communication
• To have the skills needed to facilitate group work with service users
• To undertake complex risk assessment and risk management for individual clients
• To ensure that clients are consulted and involved in decision about their care

For full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role please refer to the job description and person specification documents attached.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.