Band 6 Speech & Language Therapist – Autism Enhanced Support Team

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham is seeking a Band 6 Speech & Language Therapist for their Autism Enhanced Support Team. The selected candidate will provide specialist therapy, ensuring communication support for individuals with autism. Responsibilities include delivering clinical care, supporting discharge plans, and contributing to service development. A relevant professional degree and HCPC registration are essential for this role, with a salary ranging from £38,682 to £46,580 per year, pro rata.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration required.
• Specialist clinical knowledge and skills in assessment of communication.
• Experience in leading audit activities related to clinical practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy for autism.
• Ensure timely delivery of clinical care as an experienced Speech and Language Therapist.
• Support oversight and coordination of the inpatient cohort to prevent admissions.

Skills

Registered with HCPC

Clinical knowledge in Speech and Language Therapy

Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills

Understanding of legislation and national standards

Demonstrable evidence of continuous professional development

Experience of supervision of students

Education

Relevant professional degree

Job description

Band 6 Speech & Language Therapist – Autism Enhanced Support Team

The closing date is 14 December 2025

The post holder will provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy across Birmingham and Solihull as part of the developing Autism Enhanced Support Team within BSMHFT. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the appropriate communication, support and intervention takes place with service users, families and other stakeholders to offer immediate care and support for those deemed at risk of admission to a mental health hospital bed and requiring enhanced support within the community or hospital setting.

The post holder will provide specific therapeutic assessment and interventions with individuals that have diverse needs in language, communication, swallowing and social interaction skills who also have a diagnosis of autism. The post holder will work to develop confidence and competence within teams for managing complex clinical cases and issues. They will hold caseload working in a proactive way utilising therapeutic interventions and person centred approaches to avoid hospital admission for service users with autism, maintaining a flexible and responsive approach at all times.

The post holder will serve as a specialist therapeutic resource to support early discharge and using expert knowledge to develop highly specialised care packages for patients transitioning from in‑patient areas and living within community settings and develop junior staff and students.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the timely delivery clinical care as an experienced HCPC registered Speech and Language Therapist and will work within the Autism Intensive Support Service alongside Senior Specialist Learning Disability and Autism clinicians and the Head of Learning Disability and Autism whilst reporting and governance remains aligned to Corporate AHP service provisions.

The post holder is to be responsible for the delivery of specialist clinical care in line with clinical pathways between an Autism Enhanced Support Team within BSMHFT and other services (both internal and external). They will provide clinical guidance to others in risk assessment, risk management and positive problem solving when supporting people with autism and co‑existing conditions requiring intensive and crisis support and lead on debriefs following incidents.

The post holder will be expected to work alongside senior clinical leads and colleagues to support oversight and co‑ordination of the inpatient cohort including admission avoidance strategies, supporting to facilitate the discharging of individuals and ensuring that those who are delayed in their discharge get the clinical and professional support they need. The post holder will also contribute to the delivery and on‑going development of the service along with colleagues both in the trust and other partner organisations.

About us

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Job responsibilities

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

• Registered with HCPC
• Relevant professional degree to the requirements of the job description
• Demonstrable evidence of robust and continuous professional development
• Evidence of CPD relevant to the role.
• Specialist / specific clinical knowledge and skills in the assessment of communication.
• Knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and application within Speech and Language Therapy
• Understanding of legislation, national standards and changes in care provision and regulation for the population.
• Delivers care and treatment based on research/ evidence
• Understands the importance of listening and listens effectively.
• Ability to communicate effectively with professionals, service users and carers; demonstrates excellent interpersonal, negotiation skills and adaptability in response to others
• Ability to share verbal and written communication within confidentiality and information governance frameworks.
• Evidence of post graduate training accredited
• Experience of leading on audit and/or evaluation activity related to clinical practice
• Experience of supervision of students, NQTs
• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act particularly in relation to adherence to safer eating, drinking and swallowing recommendations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year, pro rata