Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

Are you an enthusiastic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist looking to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and autistic people?

We are seeking a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly and supportive Intensive Support Team (IST). This is an exciting opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team supporting individuals with complex communication and behavioural needs, helping to improve outcomes and reduce the need for hospital admissions.

The successful candidate will provide specialist assessment, intervention and consultation for individuals supported by the Intensive Support Team (IST) and Learning Disability Inpatient Services. Working closely with service users, carers and multidisciplinary colleagues, you will play a key role in delivering person-centred care and supporting positive outcomes.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Is confident assessing and supporting individuals with complex communication needs.
• Works well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Is passionate about delivering person-centred care and improving service user outcomes.

If you are looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist within the Adult Learning Disability Intensive Support Team, providing specialist assessment, advice and intervention for adults with a learning disability who present with communication and/or dysphagia needs. The role will support people in the community who may be experiencing increased risk, crisis, or complexity, and will contribute to admission prevention, safe care planning and effective discharge pathways.

The post holder will provide a defined satellite Speech and Language Therapy contribution to The Hollies Learning Disability Ward, supporting continuity of care between community and inpatient pathways. This will include specialist assessment, formulation, intervention planning, dysphagia management, communication support, staff advice and contribution to multidisciplinary risk management and discharge planning.

The post holder will work autonomously within professional and organisational standards, maintaining HCPC registration and RCSLT professional guidance.

The post holder will manage and prioritise a specialist caseload, support clinical decision-making, contribute to service development, participate in audit and quality improvement activity, and support the development of communication-friendly and dysphagia-aware practice across Adult Learning Disability Services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• To provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis and intervention for adults with a learning disability who present with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing needs.
• To independently manage and prioritise a specialist caseload within the Intensive Support Team, using clinical reasoning, risk assessment and evidence-based practice to inform intervention and support planning.
• To provide defined sessional Speech and Language Therapy input to The Hollies Learning Disability Assessment and Treatment Service, supporting assessment, care planning, dysphagia management, communication support and discharge planning.
• To assess and support people with complex communication needs through accessible information, reasonable adjustments, Total Communication approaches and Augmentative and Alternative Communication where appropriate.
• To undertake dysphagia assessment and intervention in line with professional competency, local policy and clinical governance requirements, including development of safe eating and drinking recommendations and risk management plans.
• To contribute to multidisciplinary assessment, formulation, care planning, positive behaviour support, safeguarding, capacity related discussions, risk review and discharge planning.
• To provide timely specialist advice to colleagues, carers, families and providers regarding communication support, dysphagia management, reasonable adjustments and communication-friendly practice.
• To work autonomously within professional and organisational boundaries, seeking advice and support appropriately through supervision and professional networks.

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.