Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Preston; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust is seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for a new mental health inpatient unit in Preston. The role involves delivering specialized care, managing complex cases, and leading clinical initiatives to enhance patient outcomes. This position offers a chance to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals with learning disabilities in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Current professional registration with HCPC as Speech and Language Therapist.
• Evidence of CPD in related field (Autism, Mental Health).

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive speech and language therapy assessments.
• Establish individualized management and treatment plans.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision within the MDT.

Skills

Dysphagia

Positive behavioural approaches

Learning disabilities

Clinical governance

Risk assessment

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Masters module/post grad qualification in relevant field

Job description

Job summary

Water Meadow View is a new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities, which is due to open in late Autumn 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston. As we prepare to open this unit, we have an exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join us and support the Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person centred care.

One of the Trust's aims is to deliver the best possible care to our patients, and this new inpatient unit will do just that. Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient-centred care at its heart.

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, treatment, planning, delivery and evaluation of evidence -based highly specialised speech and language intervention.

The post holder will be responsible for a highly specialist speech and language portfolio which will include provision of expert advice to speech and language therapists, senior clinicians, Multi-Disciplinary Team across LSCFT to support them in taking up their duty of care.The post holder will have management of a clinical caseload of patients/service users with highly complex and/or additional speech and language needs.

When you join us, you'll be making a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disability by delivering person centred, compassionate care, in a purpose built, co-produced environment, with opportunities to for you to learn and develop throughout your career.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will deliver on key responsibilities within the inpatient service:

• Provide clinical triage and support service demand management.
• To undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of patients/service users with highly complex presentations, using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine a diagnosis. Develop and implement a system to record and evidence patient outcomes
• To establish individualised management and treatment plans, using advanced clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of evidence based treatment skills and options to formulate highly specialised interventions and programmes of care, which may include working with staff across organisational boundaries.
• To promote health and reduce inequalities for patients/service users, families and communities accessing the speech and language therapy service, so that they may be able to maximise their potential in terms of health, education and social well-being.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision facilitating a culture of learning and reflective practice within speech and language therapy and the MDT.
• To take the role of Clinical Lead in an agreed clinical area -ensuring evidence based practice, driving good practice development and offering second opinions across LSCFT. To be an active member of the Speech and Language (SLT) team across LSCFT and as part of the community of SLTs within the network/LSCFT.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Details Date posted

19 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

351-SPS1417-MF

Job locations

Water Meadow View

Preston

PR3 2JH

Job description Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Job description Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Current professional registration with HCPC as Speech and Language Therapist and responsibility for maintaining this registration
• Masters module/post grad qualification in relevant field of clinical expertise (or working towards) / post-grad qualification/equivalent knowledge & experience to masters level
• Evidence of CPD in related field of clinical expertise (Autism, Mental Health).

Knowledge Essential

• In depth knowledge relevant to the post including dysphagia , positive behavioural approaches and Learning disabilities
• Understanding of clinical governance framework and implications for practice including audit and research governance.
• In-depth understanding of current NHS/government policy/Public Health/NICE guidelines on organisational change and the ability to adapt these appropriately to local service needs through publication of documents
• Knowledge and appreciation in the assessment and management of risk including lone working risks - policy and procedure.

Experience Essential

• Treatment of a broad range of conditions relating to clinical speciality
• Demonstrable evidence of improving and developing service and practice
• Evidence of leading and implementing clinical change
• Supervision and/or mentoring of staff/students.
• Highly advanced and specialised practice skills in field of expertise including dysphagia, behaviours that challenge and learning disabilities

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Current professional registration with HCPC as Speech and Language Therapist and responsibility for maintaining this registration
• Masters module/post grad qualification in relevant field of clinical expertise (or working towards) / post-grad qualification/equivalent knowledge & experience to masters level
• Evidence of CPD in related field of clinical expertise (Autism, Mental Health).

Knowledge Essential

• In depth knowledge relevant to the post including dysphagia , positive behavioural approaches and Learning disabilities
• Understanding of clinical governance framework and implications for practice including audit and research governance.
• In-depth understanding of current NHS/government policy/Public Health/NICE guidelines on organisational change and the ability to adapt these appropriately to local service needs through publication of documents
• Knowledge and appreciation in the assessment and management of risk including lone working risks - policy and procedure.

Experience Essential

• Treatment of a broad range of conditions relating to clinical speciality
• Demonstrable evidence of improving and developing service and practice
• Evidence of leading and implementing clinical change
• Supervision and/or mentoring of staff/students.
• Highly advanced and specialised practice skills in field of expertise including dysphagia, behaviours that challenge and learning disabilities

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Water Meadow View

Preston

PR3 2JH

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Water Meadow View

Preston

PR3 2JH

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)