Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Bishop Auckland; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dedicated Speech and Language Therapist to join their dynamic team. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with individuals facing complex mental health challenges, providing vital support and expertise. You'll be responsible for assessing and treating communication and swallowing difficulties, while also contributing to policy development and clinical supervision. This position not only allows you to make a significant impact on patients' lives but also offers a collaborative environment where you can grow professionally and personally. If you're passionate about making a difference in mental health care, this is the role for you.

Qualifications

• Must have significant experience in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Clinical Supervisory Skills course is essential.
• Willingness to achieve post-graduate training in specialist areas.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment to inpatients within the Mental Health Service.
• Assess and treat communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Facilitate team development through clinical leadership.

Skills

Speech and Language Therapy

Clinical Supervisory Skills

Communication Skills

Quality Improvement

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Registration with HCPC

Post-graduate training in specialist areas

Tools

ITQ level 2

Job description

Job summary

Are you seeking a new challenge and a unique opportunity to develop your career in Speech and Language Therapy (SLT)? If so, then this post would be an excellent opportunity for you! We are looking for a dynamic, passionate, and proactive individual with excellent communication skills to join our inpatient wards.

This role requires a highly skilled and knowledgeable team-player who is able to think holistically and creatively in order to deliver intensive support and expertise. This is your chance to make a real difference to people living with dementia or complex, enduring mental health conditions who are experiencing acute mental health problems and associated distress.

The post holder should be committed to the provision of high-quality, evidence-based practice and excited by the opportunity to represent SLT in this post and service.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be expected to carry out clinical work as part of the multi-disciplinary team, providing specialist assessment to inpatients within our Mental Health Service for Older People (MHSOP). You will be professionally accountable for your own caseload, providing clinical supervision to speech and language therapy staff and students.

This collaborative, multi-disciplinary service provides access to specialist Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, and psychological support to deliver 'high intensity interventions' following a structured assessment of the person, their wellbeing, and Behaviour Support Plans. You will have a key role in facilitating others within the team to develop their own skills by providing clinical leadership and specialist clinical advice on more complex cases.

The post holder will assess and treat communication difficulties and eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties, and contribute to policy development, audit, research activities, pathway development, staff and student training. The diversity of the caseload will enable you to further specialise in the field of mental health, whilst also incorporating complex physical health comorbidities.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York, and Selby.

From education and prevention to crisis and specialist care -- our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities, and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in, and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families, and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Details

• Date posted: 07 May 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 346-DDM-087-24-C

Job locations

Auckland Park Hospital, Westfield Road, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6AE

Job description

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Additional contact details: Helen Curry, Service Manager, MHSOP Inpatient Services - 07585206655

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• Registration with HCPC
• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Post-graduate training in specialist areas relevant to the role e.g. Intensive Interaction, Talking Mats, Dysphagia, Autism, etc. (or willingness to achieve within an agreed timescale)
• Clinical Supervisory Skills course
• Trust training in Appraisal and Recruitment (within an agreed timescale)
• Numeracy, Literacy, and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)

Desirable qualifications

• Membership of RCSLT

Experience (Essential)

• Significant experience in Speech and Language Therapy, including working with service users in mental health or learning disabilities with complex needs
• Experience of supervising students on placement
• Participation in quality improvement activities
• Using prioritisation systems
• Supervision of staff
• Participation in clinical governance activities
• Developing and delivering training

Desirable experience

• Supervisory experience
• Additional quality improvement activities

Knowledge (Essential)

• National guidance and key standards in own specialist area
• Health and Safety legislation
• Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
• Clinical Risk Assessment and Management
• Clinical Governance
• Care Programme Approach
• Safeguarding
• Needs and difficulties of service in designated area
• Evidence-based practice
• Research methodology
• Knowledge of the Trust's Quality Improvement System (or willingness to learn)

Additional information

This post is subject to a DBS check. Applications from those requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Further details can be found on the NHS Careers website and UK Visas and Immigration website.

Employer details

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Auckland Park Hospital, Westfield Road, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6AE

https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/