Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Cambscommunityservices; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An established health organization is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join their dynamic team. This role focuses on providing high-quality therapy services to adults with learning disabilities, ensuring they receive personalized care that promotes their independence and well-being. As part of a collaborative team, you will manage complex cases, supervise staff, and contribute to service development. This position offers opportunities for professional growth and the chance to make a significant impact in the community. If you are passionate about improving lives through effective communication support, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible working

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Proficient in assessment and treatment of communication needs in adults with learning disabilities.
• Experience in managing complex caseloads and providing clinical supervision.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team caseload of clients with complex learning disabilities.
• Provide professional supervision to staff and students.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary working within the Learning Disability Partnership.

Skills

Speech and Language Therapy

Dysphagia Management

Alternative and Augmentative Communication

Clinical Supervision

Communication Skills

Time Management

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Post Basic Dysphagia Qualification

Registered member of RCSLT

Registration with HCPC

Job description

Main area Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 310-MASMH-7068587

Employer Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Hereward Hall Town March Salary £37,338 - £44,962 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 21/05/2025 23:59

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 6

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for and Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, working with adults with learning (intellectual) disabilities in the Cambridgeshire Learning Disability Partnership (LDP). The service is well-established and there are many opportunities for development.

The LDP comprises five locality-based integrated community specialist health and care management Teams (Social Workers, Adult Support Co-ordinators, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Occupational, Arts, and Speech & Language Therapists) and day and accommodation services organised by the Local Authority for adults with a learning disability. The SLT team comprises a Band 8a Lead Speech and Language Therapist, two Band 7 Advanced SLTs two Band 6 Specialist SLTs and a Band 4 Apprentice SLT, all employed by CPFT. We have close links with colleagues working with people with learning disabilities elsewhere in CPFT and with clinicians and/or researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge. The service regularly provides placements in learning disabilities for Speech and Language Therapy undergraduates at UEA.

The five teams aim to provide person-centred integrated specialist health and care management services that promote an individual’s right to choice, independence, health and wellbeing in line with their assessed needs and in a way that will promote their reaching their full potential.

Main duties of the job

To participate in the delivery of countywide specialist LD Speech and Language Therapy by managing a team caseload of clients with complex learning disabilities.

To provide professional supervision to other staff /students as appropriate including appraisal and professional development, particularly mandatory training.

To contribute to the planning, development, and evaluation of learning disability services, including contributing to defined projects as delegated by the LDP management team.

As an autonomous practitioner, to manage a specialist case load providing assessment, identification and treatment of communication and swallowing needs of adults with a learning disability.

To participate in multi-disciplinary/ multi agency working within the LDP and with key partners.

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting andempowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

Clinical:

The post holder will demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills and have undertaken appropriate post registration training.

To be proficient in the assessment, identification, treatment and management of the communication and swallowing needs of the learning disability population including risk assessment.

To be proficient in Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) including manual signing and symbol use across a variety of communication environments.

To have knowledge of and skills in sensory impairment as related to Adults with Learning Disability

To facilitate clients to access generic services as appropriate (reasonable adjustment).

To facilitate and guide others in the development of information that is accessible to service users, staff, and carers.

To provide Dysphagia assessment where there may be risk of contact with substances such as body fluids (saliva etc) and infection guidelines must be followed.

To independently prioritise, maintain and manage a complex specialist Team SLT caseload within the context of the Learning Disability Partnership.

To take a lead in the coordination of complex case work as a case manager for individuals.

To have a good understanding of the specific needs of the service user group including at times of crisis. e.g. during placement breakdowns, mental health and physical health relapses and periods of distress behaviour.

To recognise the impact of a person’s communication needs and tailor interaction to meet this need.

To provide specialist clinical advice in relation to individual case work to professionals within the LDP.

To work to reduce health inequalities for people with a Learning Disability by working with partners in primary and secondary care.

Equipment & Systems

To have skills to input, analyse and present data/statistics to inform evidence-based practice.

To develop a working knowledge of MOSAIC an integrated electronic system and Teams.

Decisions & Judgements

To be accountable for own professional development and actions in line with professional registration requirements, national and local guidelines.

To have understanding of Health and Social Care policy and legislation for the service user group in relation to your professional practice.

Research & Audit

To contribute to the implementation of local, national strategies and service development using evidence-based practice.

To participate in research and practice-based projects within the multi-agency context and present findings when required.

To participate in health audit as required.

To have the knowledge and skills to offer quality student practice placements.

To provide regular management and clinical supervision in line with HCPC and CPFT Policy where appropriate.

Person specification

Other

• Ability to Travel within a rural location.

Education & Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered member of RCSLT
• Registration with HCPC
• Post Basic Dysphagia Qualification
• Experience of supervising staff
• Additional clinical training relevant to specialism

Experience

• Experience of working with adults with Learning Disability
• Experience of managing a caseload
• Experience of speech and language therapy assessment and intervention relevant to adults with LD
• Experience of managing Dysphagia in LD population
• Post qualifying experience within a Community MDT
• Care Co-ordination in CPA/Case Management
• Experience in providing clinical supervision

Knowledge & Skills

• Good knowledge of alternative and augmentative communication as applicable to adults with Learning Disabilities
• In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to adults with learning disability)
• MHA and MCA Knowledge
• Understanding of research and audit processes
• Understanding of Clinical governance
• Awareness of current trends legislation and guidance in support for people with learning disabilities and their carers
• Knowledge of treatment strategies
• Knowledge of the Enabling approach to support people to meet their full potential
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Counselling Skills
• Ability to deliver health education training

Personal Qualities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance and of those you supervise
• Ability to priorities your own work and the work of those you supervise
• Ability to use own initiative
• Ability to work as part of MDT
• Ability to work under pressure and cope with stress
• Ability to manage conflict
• Ability to motivate others
• Willingness to learn
• Demonstrable Knowledge and practice of good customer care skills
• Emotional resilience
• Ability to participate in research and audit

Here at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) we are dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion. We deliver many of the NHS services that are provided outside of hospital and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services.

We are a health and social care organisation, offering a wide range of services, including:

• Integrated physical and mental health services for adults and older people;
• Specialist mental health and learning disability services;
• Children’s community services in Peterborough;
• Ground-breaking research

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities. For further information about our positive equality, diversity and Inclusion work, please visit https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/equalityanddiversity .

CPFT is looking to build upon its pool of temporary workers with Temporary Staffing Services (TSS). You will be asked at interview if you would be willing to register with TSS. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to take on additional hours that are flexible around your personal circumstances.

Please be advised that in line with the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, 2020 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust currently are unable to accept applications from overseas candidates whose country of residence is classed as a ‘Red List’ country.

Applicants who require entry into the UK will be required to provide a valid police certificate from the relevant authority from each country (except the UK) where the applicant has been present for 12 months or more, 10 years before the date of visa application, while aged 18 or over.

If you are successful at interview you will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a DBS (if appropriate), references and Occupational Health. To ensure a smooth process please bring all identity documents to your interview. A list of required identity documents will be attached to your interview invitation.

All communications will be sent to you via TRAC Systems. By applying for this post you are agreeing to CPFT transferring the information contained in this application to TRAC. If you are made an offer, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

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.