Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive employment package

Support for development and training

High cost area supplement included in

Job summary

Central London Community Health Trust is seeking a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join the adult community services in Hertfordshire Division on a fixed-term basis to October 2027. The role focuses on assessing and treating adults with acquired communication, swallowing and voice difficulties in homes, care homes and clinics, requiring regular travel between patients.

Experience in managing dysphagia is essential and a car is required for business use.

Qualifications

• Qualification to practise as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Advanced-level dysphagia training.
• Specialist short courses and/or experience up to Master’s degree equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Manage adults with acquired communication and swallowing needs across clinics, care homes and patients' homes.
• Complete specialist assessments independently and make clinical decisions and differential diagnoses.
• Develop evidence-based care plans covering treatment, advice, review, discharge and communication with patients, carers and colleagues.
• Adapt care plans as needs and goals change and decide when individual or group therapy is most suitable.
• Book patients from the waiting list and plan follow-up appointments and reviews.
• Work with the multidisciplinary team and other professionals, including writing clinical reports.
• Attend Speech and Language Therapy team meetings.
• Assess the need for high- and low-tech communication equipment and coordinate trials or purchase.
• Support patients and carers to use communication equipment.
• Support Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists.

Skills

Dysphagia management

Adult caseload

Clinical decision making

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

HCPC registration

Master's degree or equivalent

Tools

Videofluoroscopy knowledge

Job description

This Band 6 post sits in the adult community services of Central London Community Health Trust's Hertfordshire Division, offered on a fixed term to October 2027. The work centres on assessing and treating adults with acquired communication, swallowing and voice difficulties, in their homes, care homes and clinics. The caseload is varied and covers a range of medical conditions, and the community setting means regular travel between patients. Experience of managing dysphagia is essential and the role needs a car for business use.

What the job involves

• Manage adults with acquired communication and swallowing needs across clinics, care homes and patients' homes
• Complete specialist assessments independently and make clinical decisions and differential diagnoses
• Develop evidence-based care plans covering treatment, advice, review, discharge and communication with patients, carers and colleagues
• Adapt care plans as needs and goals change and decide when individual or group therapy is most suitable
• Book patients from the waiting list and plan follow-up appointments and reviews
• Work with the multidisciplinary team and other professionals, including writing clinical reports
• Attend Speech and Language Therapy team meetings
• Assess the need for high- and low-tech communication equipment and coordinate trials or purchase
• Support patients and carers to use communication equipment
• Support Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists

Qualifications

• Qualification to practise as a Speech and Language Therapist
• Advanced-level dysphagia training
• Specialist short courses and/or experience up to Master's degree equivalent

Registration & licences

• Health and Care Professions Council licence to practise
• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Membership or attendance at relevant Special Interest Groups

Experience

• Experience relevant to an adult caseload
• Management of dysphagia in acute, rehabilitation, community and outpatient settings
• Experience providing training to others
• Well-established knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions for adult communication, swallowing and voice disorders, including dementia
• Well-established knowledge of progressive neurological conditions, communication aids and the videofluoroscopy protocol

Skills & knowledge

• Good verbal and written presentation skills with strong organisation and prioritisation
• Highly developed hearing, concentration and perceptual skills, including phonetic transcription of speech
• High-level interpersonal skills, empathy and the ability to manage the emotional impact of distressing conditions
• Ability to reflect on and develop own performance and seek support when needed

Checks & eligibility

• Full valid UK driving licence and access to a car for business use, unless disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010

Nice to have

• Knowledge of the application and protocol for use of videofluoroscopy

What’s offered

• Competitive employment package
• Support for development and training
• High cost area supplement included in pay