Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Woolwich; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists within the NHS for a full-time specialist role in Forensic Neurodevelopmental Services. This position balances responsibilities between community-based support and the inpatient forensic service, aiming to facilitate the safe reintegration of individuals back into society while providing high-quality multidisciplinary care. The work requires a passion for improving lives and collaborating with fellow professionals to provide tailored therapeutic interventions.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years' post-graduate experience, 2 years in specialism.
• Experience in forensics and multi-disciplinary working.
• Experience in providing therapeutic interventions.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment, intervention, and consultation for individuals with forensic risks.
• Support service users in the least restrictive environments possible.
• Contribute to risk assessments and care planning.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Multidisciplinary working

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification

Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice

Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job summary

Exciting Opportunity in Forensic Neurodevelopmental Services

We are pleased to offer an exciting full-time position that spans two closely integrated services: the Oxleas Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disability (FIND) Community Team and the inpatient forensic service at the Bracton Centre. This role is equally divided between the two services, with 18.75 hours per week dedicated to each.

About the FIND Community Team

The Oxleas FIND Team plays a pivotal role in supporting individuals transitioning from inpatient forensic settings back into the community.

The team delivers specialist assessment, treatment, and consultation to support the safe and clinically appropriate reintegration of individuals with complex needs.. The primary aim is to ensure a well-coordinated, person-centred pathway from secure care to community living.

About the Bracton Centre Inpatient Forensic Service

Located in Kent, the Bracton Centre offers a comprehensive range of specialist forensic mental health services for adults aged 18-65. The serviceprovides high-quality, multidisciplinary care to individuals with significant mental health needs within a secure environment.

This dual-service role offers a rich opportunity to contribute to both community-based and inpatient forensic mental health services, while also being part of a forward-thinking partnership driving innovation in mental health care across South London.

Main duties of the job

In this role, the postholder will provide specialist assessment, intervention, and consultation for individuals with intellectual and/or neurodevelopmental disabilities who are involved in the criminal justice system or present with forensic risk. These individuals may present with complex communication needs, co-occurring mental health difficulties, and challenging behaviours that require tailored and collaborative therapeutic input.

The community arm of the role, within the Oxleas FIND team, involves working proactively with multi-disciplinary colleagues to support service users in the least restrictive environments possible, with a focus on risk reduction, communication accessibility, and support for meaningful engagement in community life. The inpatient component at Bracton Centre involves supporting individuals through their rehabilitation and recovery pathways, contributing to risk assessments, care planning, and discharge preparations.

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

• We're Kind
• We're Fair
• We Listen
• We Care

Details Date posted

04 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£51,883 to £58,544 a year pa inc

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

277-7224031-FOR

Job locations

Memorial

Shooters Lane

Woolwich

SE18 3RG

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further detailed information relating to this post

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further detailed information relating to this post

Person Specification Qualifications and Registration Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist

Desirable

• Completion of Post-Basic Dysphagia Competencies (Level C and above)

Experience Essential

• Minimum of 4 years' post-graduate experience, 2 of which are within area of specialism.
• Experience in Forensics
• Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working.
• Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
• Experience of providing a range of therapeutic interventions necessary for client group

Desirable

• Evidence of management skills obtained through experience.
• Experience in ASD/LD
• Experience of Dysphagia

Skills and knowledge Essential

• In-depth knowledge of specialist clinical area
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service area.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills

Person Specification Qualifications and Registration Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist

Desirable

• Completion of Post-Basic Dysphagia Competencies (Level C and above)

Experience Essential

• Minimum of 4 years' post-graduate experience, 2 of which are within area of specialism.
• Experience in Forensics
• Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working.
• Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
• Experience of providing a range of therapeutic interventions necessary for client group

Desirable

• Evidence of management skills obtained through experience.
• Experience in ASD/LD
• Experience of Dysphagia

Skills and knowledge Essential

• In-depth knowledge of specialist clinical area
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service area.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills

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

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Memorial

Shooters Lane

Woolwich

SE18 3RG

Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Memorial

Shooters Lane

Woolwich

SE18 3RG

Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)