Senior Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Derby; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider seeks a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist for community-based work in Derby. The position includes assessments and interventions for individuals with learning disabilities, focusing on effective communication and swallowing difficulties. Candidates must be dysphagia trained and experienced in supporting diverse needs. This is a full-time, fixed-term role, offering opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Access to professional development training

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience working with a dysphagia caseload is required.
• Knowledge and skills in learning disabilities is advantageous.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality assessment and intervention.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Prioritise your own caseload and supervise assistants.

Skills

Dysphagia training

Teamwork

Communication skills

Independence

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification

Health Care Professions Council Registration

Completion of post graduate dysphagia training

Job description

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join our team. The Adult Learning Disability (LD) Service covers Derby City and South Derbyshire geographical area. This post will include community visits, working from home and from a base.

We are a small, friendly and supportive team of Speech and Language Therapists who keep in regular contact with each. We are also alliancing with North Derbyshire so have access to a wider team of speech and language therapists who can offer support.

As a member of the team you will have access to regular caseload and clinical supervision, plus an annual appraisal that supports you to plan and achieve goals from your own Personal Development Plan. There are opportunities to explore different specialist areas within the LD team and continue your professional development by shadowing others and attending training courses or clinical excellent networks.

Main duties of the job

The people that we support are individuals and our approach is always person centred. Our focus is to provide high quality assessment and intervention to support people (and those closest to them) to communicate as effectively as possible. Swallowing assessments and advice are delivered with a view to reduce negative health outcomes associated with dysphagia, promote choice and facilitate good quality of life.

You will be working as part of a Multidisciplinary Team alongside Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Therapy Assistants and Psychiatrists.

As a band 6 you will have your own caseload to prioritise and will be involved in the supervision of our band 5's and assistants. Your role will also include being involved in service projects and improvements.

The successful candidate should be able to work well independently and as part of a team. Knowledge and skills in learning disabilities is advantageous. The post holder must be fully dysphagia trained and have experience of working with a dysphagia caseload.

About us

The successful candidate will need to have means of transport to cover the different community localities in Derby city and south Derbyshire area.

As a clinical employee it will be your responsibility to ensure that your behaviour and values reflect those set out in the DHcFT way.

Details Date posted

31 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

383-SPE-5921-25

Job locations

St Andrews House

201 London Road

Derby

DE1 2SX

Job description Job responsibilities

Physical EffortDue to the broad geographical area this post covers the post holder will need to be a car driver or to demonstrate that they can travel within the area frequently, transporting Service Users as needed occasionally, without compromising service needs.The post holder is expected to work with Service users in their homes and occasionally they will need to be aware of and respond to hazards.The post holder will need to be computer literate and use of IT systems on a daily basis.Frequent, light physical effort for short periods of time driving, walking short distances, computer use.Mental EffortThe working environment is one of unpredictability, due to the needs of the patient group. The work pattern requires frequent concentration when assessing the needs of the patients where the work can be both predictable and unpredictable. There will be times when the post holder will need to deal with patient crisis.Concentration in preparation of complex funding applications and specialist reportsEmotional EffortThe post holder may experience occasional verbal or physical abuse and aggression.May need to deal with safeguarding incidents and may be called to give evidence in some cases.There may be occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances; and difficult family situations/patients or service users with challenging behaviour.Dealing with service users and/or carers with complex challenging behavioursWorking ConditionsThe post holder will be working in the community setting within personal environments where, there may be unpleasant smells and odours present. The post holder may occasionally be in contact with unpleasant conditions that relate to suicide, self-harm and potential aggression from patients who may be suffering from a degree of distress. Occasionally the levels of patient impact may relate to highly unpleasant conditions.May encounter contact with bodily fluids, odours, dust, dirt.

The successful candidate should be able to work well independently and as part of a team. Knowledge and skills in learning disabilities is advantageous. The post holder must be fully dysphagia trained and have experience of working with a dysphagia caseload.

Job description Job responsibilities

Physical EffortDue to the broad geographical area this post covers the post holder will need to be a car driver or to demonstrate that they can travel within the area frequently, transporting Service Users as needed occasionally, without compromising service needs.The post holder is expected to work with Service users in their homes and occasionally they will need to be aware of and respond to hazards.The post holder will need to be computer literate and use of IT systems on a daily basis.Frequent, light physical effort for short periods of time driving, walking short distances, computer use.Mental EffortThe working environment is one of unpredictability, due to the needs of the patient group. The work pattern requires frequent concentration when assessing the needs of the patients where the work can be both predictable and unpredictable. There will be times when the post holder will need to deal with patient crisis.Concentration in preparation of complex funding applications and specialist reportsEmotional EffortThe post holder may experience occasional verbal or physical abuse and aggression.May need to deal with safeguarding incidents and may be called to give evidence in some cases.There may be occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances; and difficult family situations/patients or service users with challenging behaviour.Dealing with service users and/or carers with complex challenging behavioursWorking ConditionsThe post holder will be working in the community setting within personal environments where, there may be unpleasant smells and odours present. The post holder may occasionally be in contact with unpleasant conditions that relate to suicide, self-harm and potential aggression from patients who may be suffering from a degree of distress. Occasionally the levels of patient impact may relate to highly unpleasant conditions.May encounter contact with bodily fluids, odours, dust, dirt.

The successful candidate should be able to work well independently and as part of a team. Knowledge and skills in learning disabilities is advantageous. The post holder must be fully dysphagia trained and have experience of working with a dysphagia caseload.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Health Care Professions Council Registration
• Completion of post graduate dysphagia training
• Experience working with a dysphagia caseload

Desirable

• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellent Networks
• Experiential training to demonstrate specialist skills

Experience Essential

• Experience of working as a Speech and Language Therapist
• Experience of working with a dysphagia caseload
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping

Desirable

• Experience of working in a registered SLT post with people with learning disabilities
• Experience of delivering training packages
• Experience of supervising assistants

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Health Care Professions Council Registration
• Completion of post graduate dysphagia training
• Experience working with a dysphagia caseload

Desirable

• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellent Networks
• Experiential training to demonstrate specialist skills

Experience Essential

• Experience of working as a Speech and Language Therapist
• Experience of working with a dysphagia caseload
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping

Desirable

• Experience of working in a registered SLT post with people with learning disabilities
• Experience of delivering training packages
• Experience of supervising assistants

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

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Andrews House

201 London Road

Derby

DE1 2SX

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Andrews House

201 London Road

Derby

DE1 2SX

Employer's website

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