Specialist Speech and Language Therapist LDA Service

Job overview

Are you a passionate and experienced healthcare professional ready to take the next step in your career? Join our dynamic team as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT)  and contribute to transforming the quality of care for individuals with mental health needs, learning disabilities, and autism in acute inpatient settings.

This exciting role is part of the Mental Health Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Quality Transformation Programme (MHLDA IQTP), a national initiative dedicated to improving outcomes and experiences for service users and their families. Learn more about the programme here. You will work alongside other professionals such as an Occupational Therapist, Approved Clinical Specialist and a Medic. who are part of this project.

Our SLTs have an active professional network across the trust and you will be part of the wider AHP network with access to training and development opportunities .

Main duties of the job

• Supporting and training staff to develop skills around communication and swallowing issues for  service users with complex needs, particularly those with learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
• Driving research, quality improvement initiatives, and innovative care approaches.
• Acting as a role model, supervisor, and mentor for less experienced staff within the MDT.

• Providing assessments and interventions to promote communication and inclusion, amongst people who have complex needs , particularly those with learning disabilities and neurodiversity .
• Where there are identified needs, to  assess  and plan interventions for safe eating and drinking
• Leading the implementation of speech and language practices across inpatient services.

You will be working alongside a multidisciplinary team and fostering collaborative relationships within the Trust and beyond, ensuring inclusivity, resilience, and hope in care delivery.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for clients with complex acquired/ developmental speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties

To autonomously manage time to access / have a presence on all acute and rehabilitation wards and meet the speech and language needs of adults who meet the criteria of being autistic or having learning disabilities.

If required, to clinically supervise junior Speech and Language Therapists within the service

The post holder will work collaboratively with the ward and the MDT to plan and deliver interventions to assist communication / a dysphagia service, with a high level of independent working.

This role requires a high level of clinical and professional expertise in learning disabilities and autism to ensure those individuals with complex communication issues have their needs met.

To act as lead specialist in dysphagia and communication, and act as a resource and support for other therapists and professionals working with adults with mental health conditions and learning disabilities or autism with any acquired speech, language or swallowing disorders.

Provide timely and targeted individualised management and treatment for identified adults, involving relatives and carers and providing appropriate recommendations and training to professionals from other agencies and other professions.

To devise and provide training to multi-agency staff / advice to service users and carers in the field of acquired communication issues or swallowing, speech and language disorders.

To be a point of expertise re communication and swallowing issues and share skills/ model interventions to improve staff awareness and skills around working with people with learning disabilities / autistic people.

To participate in continuing professional development and other activities to maintain evidence based best practice and provide observation opportunities for other professionals

To share skills as a core part of Speech and Language Therapy provision

Working with our IM&T specialists and Deputy Head of Therapies, the post holder will lead on designing and setting up robust data collection systems to demonstrate clinical need and support, setting out a strategic development plan to expand services.

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, initiating, participating and supporting the line manager & professional lead in team development and service improvement, ensuring that systems and processes are in place to deliver an efficient and effective service

The post holder will be required to develop and oversee an effective and  comprehensive speech and language service for service users who meet the project criteria and ensure these are embedded within their pathways.

To train, deliver and (where appropriate) advise on the delivery of high-quality care and ensuring consistently high standards of practice. They will be required to contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working ensuring that care is delivered in a holistic way which involves service users and carers.

To work as an autonomous practitioner within the standards of professional practice stipulated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)