Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

It is a very exciting time to be joining Oak Ward, Low Secure Learning Disability and Autism Ward. We offer a supportive working environment, regular supervision, opportunities for CPD and annual appraisal. We are an innovative service, and you will be actively encouraged to develop your skills as a speech and language therapist. The role of the Speech and Language therapist on Oak Ward focuses on providing assessments and interventions to promote communication and inclusion, and safe eating and drinking amongst people who have a mental health diagnosis and learning disabilities and/or autism.

We are looking for someone who will work holistically with Learning Disability and Autism service users to ensure excellent patient-centred care, aiming towards a safe discharge into the community. We would like staff who are passionate about Learning Disabilities and Autism as well as an interest or experience in mental health services and/ or forensic mental health.

Main duties of the job

The speech and language therapist will be instrumental in ensuring service user's physical health is optimised and that they can benefit from the available treatment options, they will also use a total communication approach to ensure the service users voice is represented in all stages of the service user journey.

The speech and language therapist will plan and implement individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service user to achieve valued goals. A main part of the work on the ward will also include risk assessment and planning with the MDT. The post also offers an opportunity to develop managerial skills, we would ensure that you receive the relevant training and support when you join the team as required.

The successful candidate will need to be able to adapt these skills as appropriate to situation. The speech and language therapist will independently manage a clinical caseload of service user with complex mental health needs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be responsible for the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy across Turner ward providing assessment and implementing specialist SLT treatment and programmes of care, writing reports, reflecting specialist knowledge.
• To independently manage, triage and prioritize own complex caseload providing a highly specialist SLT assessment, formulation, diagnosis, intervention and advice based on evidence-based practice
• To use specialist knowledge to screen all new referrals where appropriate with the multi-disciplinary team, and allocate priority for intervention, based on client need.
• To independently assess people with complex mental health needs, LD needs or ASD needs within the unit using a range of standardized and non-standardized assessments and other assessment tools, together with advanced analytical clinical reasoning skills to form a baseline measure or differential diagnosis from which to plan intervention.
• To assess clients using clinical/technical skills including listening, phonetic transcription and analysis, linguistic profiling based on linguistic models of development, social communication analysis, use of AAC such as signing and use of electronic communication aids such as switches/IT support and a range of formal and psychological assessment tools.
• To demonstrate acute observational skills in working with clients with profound and multiple learning disabilities who display subtle communication.
• To use a holistic, client centred approach, gathering and synthesising information from other professionals and relatives/carers, in order to ensure that intervention packages are best suited to patient, relatives and place of delivery
• To develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment plans for individuals and groups using expertise to create innovative ways of working where appropriate, to promote and maximise individual potential as well as to plan for and advise others regarding the management of clients with communication and/or feeding/swallowing difficulties within the context of an MDT and in consultation with patients and relatives
• To frequently be required to make complex clinical decisions taking into account conflicting priorities of airway protection, quality of life, nutritional compromise and client autonomy
• To liaise with other team specialists and professional groups to refer clients for further investigation and/or second opinion as required.
• To manage the emotional consequences of working with people who have distressing, degenerative conditions alongside serious mental health conditions and be aware of the needs, demands and pressures on their relatives and carers
• To provide second opinions and advice to clients, carers and colleagues as well as other SLTs, based on expertise and clinical specialism regarding the diagnosis, treatment, management and care of clients with communication or feeding and swallowing difficulties.