Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

Speech and Language Therapist

• Do you think everyone under arrest is guilty of a crime?
• Or that all criminals should be locked up for as long as possible?

If so, this is NOT the job for you.

• Do you believe that a person under arrest should be entitled to be interviewed in a way that they can understand and engage with?
• Do you believe that people should be able to understand their bail conditions instead of being rearrested for unknowingly breaking them?

By identifying speech, language and communication needs vulnerable people can be supported to partake in the Criminal Justice System and adhere to conditions set out for them which can make positive changes to their experience through the justice system and reduce their risk of reoffending.

We’re looking for a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to join our Liaison and Diversion team.

Ideally, you’ll be an enthusiastic, experienced, and registered Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in health and justice and a passion for supporting people making their way through police custody or court. Previous experience in criminal justice and offender health is desirable, but we’ll consider candidates without this.

If you’re passionate about how supporting speech, language and communication needs can help change lives of people within the criminal justice system, we’d love you to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To support the delivery of the Speech and Language pathway in line with the Liaison and Diversion agenda.
• To be responsible for a specialist speech and language portfolio which will include provision of expert advice to speech and language therapists, senior clinicians, Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) across Hampshire & IOW and to provide the police and court with written information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal.
• To attend police stations, custody suites, community settings and magistrates’ courts and provide specialist speech and language assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways, for individuals where a potential vulnerability has been identified.
• To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court and probation, acting as a single point of contact for health.
• To deliver specialist training on Speech and Language need within Criminal Justice pathways to custody sergeants, magistrate and crown court and other key stakeholders.
• To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.

Work base: The team works across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You may be required to attend police custody suites throughout these areas, primarily in Southampton, Portsmouth and Basingstoke, with occasional travel to the Isle of Wight as needed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Your base location will be agreed at interview, and you may also be required to work from other Hampshire sites to meet service needs. The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree
• Health Professions Council licence to practise
• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Significant experience at Band 5 or equivalent in a community setting.
• Driving licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to multiple sites across Hampshire/IOW as required.

Working pattern + Service operating hours

This role is Monday – Friday, 9-5pm. Requests for specific working pattens can be considered in line with our flexible working policy. Our service operates in police custody from 7am – 8pm, 7 days a week using a combination of early shifts, late shifts. Our service does not operate at night.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Laura Pring on 07816 648965 or email: laura.pring@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help arrange for you to visit the team.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

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.