Senior Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Crawley; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A mental health care provider is seeking a Senior Specialist Speech & Language Therapist to work across multiple wards. This role involves managing a dysphagia caseload, delivering training, and collaborating within a multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience and a strong commitment to improving patient communication and care. The position offers competitive pay and requires some travel between wards.

Qualifications

• Qualified and experienced Speech and Language Therapist with at least 5 years post-graduate experience.
• Extensive experience with clients having a range of abilities and disabilities.
• Experience in applying SLT assessment tools and interventions.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex dysphagia and communication caseload for adults.
• Communicate assessment findings to colleagues and family/carers.
• Develop and deliver training packages for Communication and Dysphagia.

Skills

Dysphagia assessment

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Supervision of students

Service development

Education

Licence to practice as a Speech & Language Therapist

HPC registration

Job description

Senior Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

We are seeking an experienced SLT to work across 4 wards in Langley Green Hospital (Acute Adult Mental Health) and Uckfield Hospital (Beechwood Dementia ward). The successful candidate will provide SLT input within a MDT framework, work with patients, carers and ward staff to co-produce care, and support the wider SLT team across Sussex with duty cover for the referral inbox and occasional cover in other areas. The role requires experience with adults in various settings, a proactive approach to service delivery, leadership skills, and a passion for providing communication input as well as dysphagia assessment and intervention.

You will be familiar with working with other professions, agencies and families and carers. You will have an understanding of the changing landscape of the NHS, several years of clinical experience in one or more adult settings, and be confident in supervision, supporting students, working alongside a MDT and communicating at all levels. Experience in service improvement and design is welcome, as is a flexible approach to implementing and leading innovative changes.

Main duties of the job

• Manage an often complex dysphagia and communication caseload for adults in acute inpatient settings; provide assessments, interventions, training and support to the MDT
• Communicate the findings of your assessments to colleagues, other agencies and family/carers
• Contribute to MDT risk assessments and care plans
• Develop and deliver training packages for both Communication and Dysphagia
• Regularly support and cover the duty rota
• Contribute to the maintenance and development of the Service
• 0.6 WTE
• Regularly share and supervise students on practice placement

Interviews are likely to be held on 14/05/2025.

About us

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire. You will be working with adults with mental health and Dementia diagnoses in our acute inpatient services.

Working in Sussex: Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns. Embrace city life with access to Brighton and London. Easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow with excellent railway links.

We are rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the Care Quality Commission. 82% of staff recently recognised that care for patients is our top priority. Other key staff survey results include: 70% flexible working opportunities; 79% able to make suggestions to improve work; 77% opportunities to show initiative.

See the attached 'Partnership Perks' document for details about our benefits package.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Qualified and experienced Speech and Language Therapist, with at least 5 years post-graduate experience.

Responsible for managing a complex dysphagia and communication caseload for adults in acute inpatient settings; providing assessments, interventions, training and support to the MDT.

Communicate the findings of assessments effectively to colleagues, other agencies and family/carers.

Contribute to MDT risk assessments and care plans.

Develop and deliver packages of training for both Communication and Dysphagia.

Regularly support and cover the duty rota.

Contribute to the maintenance and development of the Service.

0.6 WTE; regularly supervise students on practice placement.

For further information or to discuss the post, contact the SLT team lead, Mary-Helen L'Heureux at [e-mail] or 07471 032042 (working days Tue, Wed).

Travel is an essential part of the role, requiring travel between wards. Some home-based work is possible (hot desking and other options may be offered).

MAIN DUTIES: See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Please apply using the link in this advert, or contact Mary-Helen L'Heureux for more information. Informal visits may be arranged (currently Covid dependant).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Licence to practice as a Speech & Language Therapist
• HPC registration

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience as a qualified SLT
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of abilities and disabilities
• Experience of both group and individual work
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Experience in a clinical area related to the post
• Experience of multi-agency work
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of relevant SLT approaches
• Audit experience
• Experience of service development
• Expert knowledge of SLT assessments and interventions including dysphagia

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a DBS disclosure.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For details see the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants must present a criminal records certificate from each country they have resided in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For information see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Langley Green Hospital, Martyrs Avenue, Crawley, RH11 7EJ

Employer's website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata for part time