Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Retford; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Retford is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to help patients with mental health challenges improve their communication skills. The role involves direct patient care and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Ideal candidates will have a strong advocacy for communication needs and skills in delivering person-centered interventions. Competitive salary and opportunities for development available.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Childcare vouchers

Employee assistance programs

Qualifications

• Experience as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team.
• Experience with mental health problems or within forensic settings.
• Post-graduate dysphagia training or supervised experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage caseload and delegate tasks.
• Identify training needs and workforce development.
• Supervise junior staff and professionals.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Adaptability

Interpersonal skills

Conflict resolution

Education

Recognised Professional Qualification

Registration with HCPC and RCSLT

Job description

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 05 October 2025

We are seeking a passionate and skilled Speech and Language Therapist to join our team at Rampton Hospital. This role is at Band 6, or a 5-6 development post.

You will support patients with mental health difficulties and complex communication needs, helping them access high-quality rehabilitation. Your work will involve:

• Direct patient care: Assessing communication strengths and needs, delivering targeted interventions, supporting access to other therapies and addressing clinical risk and safety.
• Collaborative working: Partnering with multidisciplinary teams to create communication-friendly environments and improve overall care quality.

You'll be supported by a Clinical and Professional Lead SLT and a Professional Lead, and work in a team of assistants, apprentices, and fellow therapists.

We're seeking someone who is:

• Committed to advocacy: Championing the needs of individuals with SLCN and dysphagia.
• Clinically skilled: Able to identify complex needs and deliver person-centred, functional interventions.
• Team-oriented: Skilled in influencing and collaborating with the wider MDT.
• Adaptable and proactive: Able to manage needs in broader contexts, resolve conflict, and shape environments for better care outcomes.

Rampton Hospital offers a unique and rewarding setting for SLTs to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact. Hear directly from our team about their experiences:

Main duties of the job

Direct care duties will include:

• Facilitating and interpreting assessments of SLCN and dysphagia.
• Supporting junior colleagues' clinical practice, and providing second opinions.
• Providing written information regarding patients\' SLCN and dysphagia needs in the form of reports, care plans and easy-read information.
• Engaging in joint goal setting with the patient and wider MDT.
• Accurate record keeping and caseload administration.
• Appropriate understanding and management of safeguarding concerns.
• Directly providing, or developing and supporting other staff to deliver, direct interventions to address SLCN and dysphagia. This may be through 1:1 or group interventions.
• Supporting offender/psychological programmes to optimise accessibility.

Indirect duties will include:

• Working in a manner informed by key care drivers for people with mental health needs, such as Trauma Informed Care, reducing restrictive practices and person-centred care.
• Supporting the Clinical Leads in identifying and addressing service development needs.
• Advising on environmental adaptations and good practice in regards to SLCN and dysphagia.
• Actively seeking CPD and self-directed learning.
• Sharing knowledge and skills to assist with workforce development.
• Delivering training for other staff on SLCN and dysphagia.
• Mentoring and supervising others.
• Prioritising and balancing direct patient care and administrative duties.
• Modelling good communication practices and supporting others in implementing the same.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire\'s biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description and person specification for full details.

Your responsibilities, with support from the Professional Lead SLT, will include:

• You will be responsible for the caseload management of your care stream, including delegation of tasks.
• You will be responsible for identifying training needs and workforce development within your care stream.
• You will be responsible for supervising junior SLT staff, and other professionals.
• You will be responsible for ensuring that you work within good practice standards.

Speak to us about:

• Visa sponsorship
• Support for re-location costs
• Our refer a friend scheme
• Opportunities for career development in our trust

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Professional Qualification
• Registration with HCPC and RCSLT

Physical Requirements

• To undertake relevant mandatory training and engage in the management of violence and aggression
• Ability to escort and maintain custody of patients both within and outside of secure environments.
• Ability to respond to serious and emergency incidents.

Values and Behaviours

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust\'s expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Training

• Post-graduate dysphagia training at a basic level or supervised experience of treating dysphagia
• Evidence of relevant CPD

Experience

• Experience of working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team
• Experience of working with adults or children with mental health problems or within forensic settings
• Experience in delivery of structured groups
• Experience of working with adults with special needs i.e. Intellectual Disabilities, Autism or Deaf patients

Knowledge

• An in depth awareness of issues regarding challenging behaviour
• Ability to manage complex cases including dual diagnosis, presentation and effects of the environment.
• Ability to evidence specialist knowledge of communication problems in Mental Health or Intellectual Disability
• Knowledge of clinical evidence base and relevant literature
• An awareness of relevant legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act,

Skills

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to communicate effectively with other professionals and carers
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to recognise conflict and generate potential solutions.
• Good time management
• Able to prioritise workload
• Adaptability in response to others
• Established negotiation skills, management of conflict and the ability to generate solutions
• Research and/or clinical audit skills
• Skills in developing/delivering structured groups

Contractual requirements

• Able to work within all Trust and hospital policies and procedures and in line with the code of ethics of the relevant professional body.
• Able to work within hours and duties to meet service needs.

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.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearHigh secure allowance of £7000 pro rata.