Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Radlett; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 59,000; Part time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to join the in-patient Learning Disability service in Hertfordshire, primarily providing assessment and intervention for service users with communication needs and dysphagia.

The post requires leadership of the SLT in-patient service, support for junior staff and students, and collaboration with MDT colleagues to achieve positive outcomes for service users.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy and HCPC registration are required.
• Postgraduate training/experience in learning disabilities, mental health/challenging behaviour and physical/sensory disabilities.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Dysphagia training.

Responsibilities

• Assess and develop treatment plans for in-patients with communication needs and/or dysphagia.
• Manage a defined caseload with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectiveness.
• Provide line management and supervision to junior SLTs and assistants.
• Collaborate with other SLTs, practitioners, and students for joint clinical practice.
• Identify SLT requirements with service users and carers as part of the care plan.
• Plan and implement individual interventions with service users and carers.
• Monitor and modify interventions for effective outcomes.
• Facilitate augmentative/alternative communication approaches.
• Lead group work with service users.
• Conduct complex risk assessment and management.
• Ensure informed consent and involvement of clients in decisions about their care.
• Contribute to case formulations as part of the MDT.

Skills

Specialist SLT knowledge

Clinical supervision

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC registration

Post graduate training in learning disabilities/mental health/challenging behaviour

CPD

Dysphagia training

Job description

Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Speech and Language Therapist Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 18.75 hours per week Job ref 367-LD&F-101482-A

Site Elm ward Town Radlett Salary £51,657 - £58,785 per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS) Salary period Yearly Closing 04/10/2026 23:59

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form.

An exciting opportunity is available for a passionate and forward-thinking Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to join the specialist in-patient Learning Disability services based in Hertfordshire, primarily providing highly skilled communication assessment and intervention to service users with a learning disability who are presenting with challenging behaviour and / or mental health problems, and are receiving care as an in-patient

You will confidently lead the SLT in-patient service, taking proactive steps to improve services and will have a key role in supporting junior staff and students to develop their skills.

The person successful in their application will be an essential member of the MDT, working alongside Psychiatry, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Arts Therapies, Physiotherapy and Social Care colleagues to support our service users achieve their goals.

Main duties of the job

To assess and develop treatment plans for service users within the specialist in-patient setting presenting with communication needs and/or dysphagia. This may include those with additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour

To be responsible for managing a defined caseload, in the context of the service caseload, with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectiveness

To provide line management and supervision to junior Speech and Language Therapists and/or Assistant Therapy Practitioners.

To work with and be available to other SLT’s, assistant therapy practitioners and students for support and joint consultation regarding clinical practice as required

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 be skilled and confident in facilitating group work with service users

To undertake complex risk assessment and risk management for individual service users

To ensure that clients are consulted and involved in decisions about their care

To contribute to case formulations as part of the multidisciplinary team

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. E verything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To assess and develop treatment plans for service users within the specialist in-patient setting presenting with communication needs and/or dysphagia. This may include those with additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour

To be responsible for managing a defined caseload, in the context of the service caseload, with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectiveness

To provide line management and supervision to junior Speech and Language Therapists and/or Assistant Therapy Practitioners.

To work with and be available to other SLT’s, assistant therapy practitioners and students for support and joint consultation regarding clinical practice as required

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 be skilled and confident in facilitating group work with service users

To undertake complex risk assessment and risk management for individual service users

To ensure that clients are consulted and involved in decisions about their care

To contribute to case formulations as part of the multidisciplinary team

Qualifications

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

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
• Participation in research projects and audit
• Experience of working in a relevant in-patient setting

Please note, we do not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. Please see the Trust careers vacancy webpage and Trac as the only authorised routes for recruitment communications, applications and verification of job offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Suzi Woodhouse Job title Professional Lead Speech & Language Therapist Email address [e-mail]