Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; Whittingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A new mental health inpatient unit, Water Meadow View, is set to open in Whittingham, offering an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. The role involves delivering person-centered care, working as an autonomous practitioner in a supportive multi-disciplinary environment. Successful candidates will contribute significantly to the development of high-quality services for individuals with learning disabilities.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Ability to work independently as an autonomous practitioner.
• Professional skills in assessment and treatment.
• Experience with complex cases and multi-disciplinary teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload independently, making high-level decisions.
• Work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team and external agencies.
• Ensure effective communication networks within care teams.

Skills

Communication

Autonomous practice

Problem solving

Education

Relevant degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Water Meadow View is a new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities, which is due to open in late Autumn 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston. As we prepare to open this unit, we have an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join us and support the Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person centred care.

One of the Trust's aims is to deliver the best possible care to our patients, and this new inpatient unit will do just that. Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient-centred care at its heart.

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, treatment, planning, delivery and evaluation of evidence –based specialist speech and language intervention.

The post holder will communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the MDT in order to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary and multi-agency service and to facilitate and maintain good working relationships.

The post holder will work closely with Highly Specialist Speech and Language therapist, Operational Leads and Professional Leads to provide efficient and effective SLT service.

When you join us, you’ll be making a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disability by delivering person centred, compassionate care, in a purpose built, co-produced environment, with opportunities to for you to learn and develop throughout your career.

The post holder will deliver on key responsibilities within the inpatient service:

• As a member of the team, to establish effective communication networks as appropriate in the wider multi-disciplinary team, social services, third and private sector agencies
• Possess the professional skills and wide range of clinical knowledge to work as an autonomous practitioner. To undertake independent, direct consultation and provision of care including rationale for decision making and evaluation of outcomes. To exercise high levels of judgment and decision making in the care and treatment of service users.
• To manage a caseload including complex cases as an autonomous practitioner evidencing high level problem solving and reasoning skills and independence of judgement. To advise the Highly Specialist SLT of any identified risks.
• To assume responsibility and accountability for a caseload of service users with complex and/or additional needs holding the duty of care and prioritising and managing the caseload independently based on the principles of risk and clinical risk, liaising with and referring to senior clinicians and relevant agencies as appropriate.
• To use specialist knowledge to inform and contribute to the development, review and implementation of the Network/ LSCFT policies and procedures as required/if appropriate
  
  

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Hayley Bannister Job title: AHP Associate Director Email address: [e-mail]