Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

This is an excellent opportunity for a permanent Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in Intellectual Disabilities and associated physical and sensory needs and mental health conditions. The role involves providing communication and dysphagia support to service users across the Orion Unit (Assessment and Treatment Unit) and Lister Ward (Forensic Unit).

This post is split across Orion Unit, Highbury Hospital (3 days/week), and Lister Ward, Wells Road Centre (2 days/week), offering varied experience and opportunities to develop skills across both settings.

Using person-centred approaches, you will be responsible for providing Speech and Language Therapy assessment, developing formulations and interventions for patients, and provide written recommendations for a range of audiences.

You will use best practice to inform your practice and where appropriate standardised assessment tools and outcome measures.

Orion Unit supports adults with intellectual disabilities and complex mental health needs or behaviours that challenge, requiring inpatient care. Here, you will assess changes in communication during crises, support behaviour management, and implement visual and environmental communication strategies.

Lister Ward is a 14-bed low-secure male forensic ward for adults with intellectual disabilities, Autism, mental health conditions and complex histories. In this setting, you will assess and manage complex communication and create person centred resources tailored to forensic needs to support understanding of legal and care processes and contribute to communication profiles to reduce risk.

Main duties of the job

The role requires specialist clinical and professional expertise in order that people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their support providers benefit from a well-co-ordinated pro-active, specialist, efficient and effective speech and language therapy service within the designated setting. The service includes individual therapy and management, training, advice and consultation within the context of a supportive SLT team and diverse MDT.

You will be working alongside a Band 7 SLT and a full multidisciplinary team consisting of nurses, health care assistants, psychologists, occupational therapists, health care support workers and social workers. The use of direct and indirection interventions provides patients with appropriate opportunities for communication and enhances autonomy and choice, enabling them to be at the centre of their own care pathway.

The post holder is responsible for SLT individual and group assessment, formulation and diagnosis, individual therapy and management, training, advice and a consultative/coaching approach to meet communication and/or dysphagia needs.

The post holder will work as an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team across both settings and with a variety of agencies to maximise communication opportunities for service users and to provide support and advice to others on speech and language therapy issues.

In each setting the post holder will assess, treat, and manage their own caseload, with supervision from highly-specialist SLTs.

The post holder will contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring, and adjustment of care pathways for these user-focused services.

The post holder will employ evidence-based practice, promoting this approach to all staff, volunteers, and students.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be responsible for SLT individual and group assessment, formulation and diagnosis, individual therapy and management, training, advice and a consultative/coaching approach to meet communication and/or dysphagia needs.

To work as an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team across both settings and with a variety of agencies in order to maximise communication opportunities for service users and to provide support and advice to others on speech and language therapy issues.

In each setting to assess, treat and manage own caseload, with supervision from highly-specialist SLTs.

To contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and adjustment of care pathways for these user-focused services.

To employ evidence-based practice, promoting this approach to all staff, volunteers and students.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more detailed description of responsibilities attached to the role.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.