specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Peterborough seeks a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join their dedicated team. In this role, you will assess and manage a complex caseload of adults with learning disabilities, oversee specialist interventions, and collaborate with multidisciplinary professionals. Successful candidates will have post-registration training in dysphagia management and the ability to work independently, prioritizing effectively. This position offers flexible working options and contributes to enhancing communication care within the service.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Free on-site parking

Qualifications

• Post-registration training including dysphagia management.
• Experience with complex health conditions like palliative care and epilepsy.
• Ability to liaise with multidisciplinary teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage a caseload of adults with learning disabilities.
• Oversee Speech and Language Therapy interventions.
• Travel independently around the county to meet deadlines.

Skills

Highly specialised knowledge and clinical skills

Extensive understanding of Health and Social Care policies

Proficient in assessing and managing complex cases

Implementing alternative communication strategies

Training development for support workers

Job description

Are you looking to further develop your expertise as a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist? We have an exciting and rare opportunity for a Band 7 clinician to join our dedicated team at The Hollies, a specialist service providing assessment, treatment and support for adults with learning disabilities. The Hollies is a 6‑bedded unit based at the Cavell Centre on the Peterborough City Hospital campus, with free on‑site parking and flexible working options available. You will be working as part of a compassionate and skilled multidisciplinary team (MDT), committed to delivering high‑quality, person‑centred care. In your role as clinical lead for Speech and Language Therapy at The Hollies, you will guide best practice, contribute to service development, and help shape the future of communication and dysphagia care within the service.

Responsibilities

• Autonomously assess and manage a caseload of adults with a learning disability, which is highly specialised and complex.
• Oversee the delivery of a specialist learning disability Speech and Language Therapy intervention and manage all referrals related to communication and/or swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) within the Adult Learning Disability Inpatient Services.
• Require independent travel around the county meeting strict time deadlines.
• Utilise highly specialist observation skills to assess service users and staff interactions, encouraging adaptive communication strategies and being aware of cultural or linguistic differences.
• Liaise and communicate effectively and sensitively with other professionals within the MDT and external agencies (Older People’s Teams, Mental Health Teams, Drug and Alcohol, Palliative and Children’s Services, Local Authority) providing specialist advice as necessary.
• Develop close working relationships with other agencies involved in current cases, maintaining confidentiality to promote complementary working relationships and ensure quality service in relation to service user care.

Qualifications & Skills

• Highly specialised knowledge and clinical skills; post‑registration training including dysphagia management.
• Extensive understanding of Health and Social Care policies and legislation applicable to the service user group.
• Independently prioritise, maintain, and manage a complex specialist caseload within the multidisciplinary framework of the Adult Learning Disability Inpatient Service.
• Highly proficient in assessing, identifying, treating, and managing the specialist health and communication needs of adults with a learning disability, including risk assessment and addressing complex conditions such as dysphagia, challenging behaviour, forensic issues, palliative care, mental health, and epilepsy.
• Highly proficient in identifying and implementing appropriate communication support, including manual signing, symbol use, accessible information, and approaches such as Intensive Interaction.
• Enable implementation, adaptation, and use of alternative and augmentative communication across various communication environments, collaborating with service users and their support networks.
• Identify the need for and participate in the development and delivery of training packages aimed at enhancing the communication and other skills of support workers and others within the area working with adults with a learning disability.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under‑represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.