Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Radlett; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health trust in Radlett is looking for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join their dedicated team. In this role, you will provide high-quality assessments and interventions for individuals with learning disabilities, managing a diverse caseload. Candidates should have a degree in Speech and Language Therapy and experience in relevant settings. This position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a Learning Disability setting.
• Ability to facilitate therapist development through effective supervision.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• To provide high quality, comprehensive Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention.
• To manage a mixed caseload using evidence-based principles.
• To assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users.

Skills

Specialist knowledge of speech and language therapy

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Registration with HCPC

Post graduate training in learning disabilities

Job description

Go back Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 19 October 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and innovative Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to join the Specialist Learning Disability in-patient services based at Kingfisher Court in Hertfordshire.

The successful candidate will work as an influential and integral member of a diverse multi-disciplinary specialist learning disability health team working to support adults with a learning disability admitted to hospital to support their mental health needs.

You will be forward thinking and able to demonstrate clinical knowledge in the area of adult learning disabilities based on current evidence. You will autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions with individuals with both communication difficulties and dysphagia.

You receive regular clinical supervision and support from the Senior Lead Speech and Language Therapist and peers. You will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing professional development activities.

Main duties of the job

Role summary:

To provide high quality, comprehensive Speech and language Therapy assessment and intervention for specified service user group

To manage a caseload using evidence-based, person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in community settings

To provide this service to service users, who present with communication and/or dysphagia difficulties

To undertake supervision of junior staff and students as required

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Job responsibilities

Key Relationships:

• To work with service users and carers
• To work with other members of Specialist Learning Disability Service
• To work with other stakeholders including Health Facilitation, Community Learning Disability Teams, Primary and Secondary Care Services
• To link with other SLTs particular those in the Learning Disabilities and Forensic business stream

Duties and Responsibilities:

• To manage a mixed caseload, using evidence-based person centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions for the specified service user group
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team
• To maintain clinical records
• To develop skills and knowledge

Clinical Responsibility

• To assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users, including those with - profound learning disabilities, additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour
• To be responsible for managing a defined caseload with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectiveness
• To work with and be available to other SLTs and Assistant Therapy Practitioners (ATPs) for support and joint consultation regarding clinical practice as required
• To be an autonomous practitioner
• To work with service users and carers to identify SLT requirements as part of the overall care plan
• To plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the service user and carer
• To monitor, evaluate and modify interventions with service users to ensure effectiveness of intervention and positive outcomes
• To have knowledge and understanding of the application of alternative and augmentative communication
• To have the skills needed to facilitate group work with service users
• To undertake complex risk assessment and risk management for individual clients
• To ensure that clients are consulted and involved in decision about their care

Person Specification

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Specialist knowledge and application of speech and language therapy assessments and interventions
• Detailed knowledge of evidence-based practice and its contribution to practice governance
• Extensive clinical experience and ability to demonstrate application of advanced clinical skills
• Ability to facilitate therapist, generic technician and student development through effective supervision
• Experience of working within a Learning Disability setting
• Planning and coordination of treatment packages
• Leadership and first line management experience
• Experience of working in a relevant in-patient setting
• Participation in research projects and audit

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registration with HCPC
• Member of the RCSLT
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Post graduate training/experience in learning disabilities, mental health/challenging behaviour and physical/sensory disabilities
• Dysphagia training

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Clear and effective communication through written, verbal and non-verbal modes
• Broad knowledge of current best practice in SLT, Learning Disabilities and mental health
• Understanding of team dynamics
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

• Contributing to formulations and care planning formally and informally
• Broad knowledge of current best practice in SLT and mental health
• Planning and co-ordination of treatment packages
• Ability to identify and analyse problems and be proactive in their solution
• Ability to analyze professional and ethical issues
• Applied knowledge of mental health legislation
• Applied knowledge and risk assessment and management
• Understanding of SLT outcome measures

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.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£50,008 to £56,908 a yearper annum, pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)