Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist - DICE

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health healthcare provider in Birmingham seeks a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist, responsible for delivering specialist assessments and interventions for children and young people with autism and learning disabilities. The role requires advanced communication skills and significant experience, emphasizing collaboration to improve crisis situations and community integration. Competitive salary offered.

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience working with individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Experience of delivering training to families and professionals.
• Experience of working in crisis or intensive support services.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist communication assessments and interventions.
• Support staff, families, and carers in implementing personalized communication strategies.
• Work within the MDT to reduce barriers to participation.

Skills

Advanced knowledge of communication disorders in LD/autism

Leadership and organisational skills

Analytical and reflective practice skills

Ability to adapt approaches to meet complex individual needs

Compassion and creativity

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC and RCSLT registration

Certificate to practice as a SLT awarded by the RCSLT

Job description

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist - DICE

The closing date is 19 October 2025

Due to newly acquired funding, we are looking to expand our provision of enhanced support for children and young people with autism and/or learning disabilities who are at risk of psychiatric admission.

The DICE team provides intensive support for children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism during times of crisis and recovery when discharged back to the care of community services.

Our aim is to prevent avoidable hospital admissions, stabilise crises, and support recovery in the community.

The team provides short term intensive intervention, working collaboratively with individuals, families, carers, and local services, to stabilise and enable people to live safely and meaningfully in the community.

Speech and Language Therapy plays a vital role in this work, enabling communication, supporting safe eating and drinking, and ensuring people\'s voices are heard in all aspects of their care.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Speech and Language Therapist (Band 7) to join our team on a 0.5 whole time equivalent basis. You will be responsible for delivering specialist assessment and intervention for people with learning disabilities and/or autism in crisis.

Main duties of the job

• Provide specialist communication assessments and interventions.
• Support staff, families, and carers in implementing personalised communication strategies.
• Work within the MDT to reduce barriers to participation and stabilise crisis situations.
• Offer clinical and management supervision to identified members of the team

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

Training and Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• HCPC and RCSLT registration
• Certificate to practise as a SLT awarded by the RCSLT.
• Training in advanced clinical skills related to LD/autism.
• Postgraduate training in autism, or specialist communication approaches.

Experience

• Significant post-qualification experience working with people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Experience of delivering training to families, carers, or professionals.
• Experience of MDT working.
• Experience of continuing professional development and expertise relevant to the clinical role.
• Knowledge and experience of the interaction between complex social communication disorders, mental health issues and comorbid conditions in children and young people and of effectively adapting assessments to accommodate specific needs.
• Experience of providing high quality holistic care to children and young people with highly complex needs and their families/carers
• Experience of working in crisis or intensive support services.
• Experience of supervising junior SLTs, assistants, or students.
• Experience of service evaluation or research.
• Experience of assessment and treatment options available for psychiatric presentations
• An understanding of cultural, linguistic and demographic factors which influence service delivery
• Experience of working across team and organisational boundaries developing and maintaining multi-professional and multi-agency partnerships.
• Understanding of wider service issues and priorities plus an awareness of local and national policies, procedures and legislation relevant to health, social care and education and their application to clinical and service area

Skills and Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of communication disorders in LD/autism.
• High level of analytical and reflective practise skills
• Expert at analysing and interpreting complex information from SLT assessment in the context of a patient\'s strengths and challenges, home environment and educational setting in order to inform the assessment outcome within a multidisciplinary context.
• Established ability to advocate for patient need and to work collaboratively and to promote/support active service user/carer\'s involvement/participation in assessment, treatment and care.
• Knowledge of accessible information standards and inclusive communication.
• Ability to adapt approaches to meet complex individual needs.
• Strong leadership, organisational, and MDT collaboration skills.
• Commitment to person-centred, inclusive practice.
• Compassion, creativity, and adaptability.
• Enthusiasm for service development and continuous learning.
• Respect for dignity, equality, and rights.
• Able to use a computer, and clinical record keeping systems.
• Able to manage own time and workload.
• Knowledge of NHS policy in relation to Learning Disability and Autism (Transforming Care/Long Term Plan).
• Able to develop and mentor others through supervision, education, mentorship and coaching

Personal Qualities

• Able to work as a member of a team
• Awareness of personal strengths and limitations
• Able to meet the travel requirements of the role
• Able to demonstrate ethical values and attitude within a culture of equality and diversity

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

£47,810 to £54,710 a year, pro rata