Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - ALDHS

Sirona care & health; Clevedon; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a leading community service provider as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in a part-time, fixed-term role. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with individuals with learning disabilities, providing essential support and training within a multi-disciplinary team. You will develop skills in communication management, dysphagia, and training delivery while receiving excellent supervision and peer support. With a commitment to professional growth and community impact, this role is perfect for passionate therapists looking to make a meaningful difference. Enjoy the benefits of NHS employment, including generous annual leave and pension scheme participation.

Benefits

NHS benefits

27+ days annual leave

Participation in NHS Pension Scheme

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience in speech and language therapy for adults with learning disabilities.
• Knowledge of AAC, Signing, and Visual Strategies.

Responsibilities

• Manage a clinical caseload for clients with communication needs.
• Provide training and support to care staff and families.

Skills

Experience with Learning Disabilities

Speech and Language Therapy Assessments

Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration

Dysphagia Management

Training Development

Education

Recognised qualification in speech and language therapy

RCSLT approved Licence to Practice

HCPC Registration

Tools

Electronic Patient Records

Job description

Main area: Speech & Language Therapy

Grade: Band 6

Contract: Fixed term: 9 months (Until end of December 2025)

Hours: 26.25 hours per week (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm)

• Part time
• Flexible working

Job ref: 083-6910191-MC-A

Employer: Sirona care & health CIC

Employer type: NHS

Site: Castlewood Town, Clevedon

Salary: £37,338 - £44,962 Per Annum, Pro Rata

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 17/02/2025 23:59

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - ALDHS

Band 6

Please note that if you apply for a position with Sirona care & health, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac Account and email accounts.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received prior to the advertised closing date.

Job overview

The opportunity has arisen for a motivated Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) with an interest in working with people with a learning disability to take a Band 6 specialist role in the Sirona Adult Learning Disability Health Service (SALDHS).

This is a part-time and fixed term post position to cover a maternity leave and is based in North Somerset and Bristol. The service hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

This post can be ideal for either a current Band 6 Specialist SLT looking to extend skills and experience, or for a current Band 5 SLT who has worked for more than a year and has already gained NQP and dysphagia competencies. Secondment opportunity within the organisation may be considered.

You will work within a locality multi-disciplinary team, with the opportunity to work with specialist SLTs across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire delivering person-centred care and training to care and support staff.

The post offers excellent support with opportunities to develop skills in:

• Assessment and management of communication, including liaising with AACWEST
• Developing resources and accessible information
• Developing skills in Signing, using Talking Mats, and AAC
• Delivering training to carers and family members
• Opportunity to develop skills in managing eating, drinking and swallowing issues
• Excellent supervision and peer support available as well as regular Journal Club and opportunities to develop care pathways
• Regular team meetings and MDT working

Main duties of the job

You will hold a clinical caseload of people with learning disabilities who have communication and/or eating and drinking needs. Our service users have a broad range of communication needs including supporting the implementation of AAC, the use of signing, Talking Mats, Social Stories, and Visual support strategies. Management of complex dysphagia, including triage, prioritisation, assessment, risk assessment, and the development of individualised care plans as well as care and support staff education to support understanding and implementation of guidance given.

Your work will be in the community seeing people in their homes or other familiar and appropriate environments. You will also be working collaboratively within our multi-disciplinary team which provides a holistic approach to meet the service users' health needs. You will receive support from clinical specialist SLTs and the SLT Clinical lead to develop in this role. We actively encourage skill development and case discussion to ensure the team delivers a high-quality service that is innovative, safe, and continuously improving for a positive and meaningful service user experience.

Alongside your clinical caseload, there will be opportunities to provide advice, education, and training to health staff, social care workers, and family carers and information in a range of formats to meet service user needs.

Working for our organisation

Ever dreamt about a career that sparks excitement and fosters your professional growth? Picture yourself waking up eager to make a real difference in our community, surrounded by teams who value your unique ideas. It's time to turn your dream into reality!

We are Sirona care & health – England’s largest provider of Adult’s and Children’s Community Services and we’d love for you to join us in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire.

Agenda for Change Salary, full NHS benefits, 27+ days’ annual leave, and participation in the NHS Pension Scheme – just a glimpse of the benefits we offer.

Whether you're starting your journey in healthcare, looking for a fresh challenge within the NHS, or contemplating a career change, don't be daunted by the prospect of something different – we create development opportunities for all our colleagues and apprentices.

Interested? View our benefits leaflet which you can find as an attachment on this vacancy.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.

Sirona care & health currently recruit overseas nursing and therapy staff through an NHS Trust Supplier and we adhere to the NHSE Code of Practice in relation to applicants from Red List countries. We are therefore, unable to accept any direct applications to this advert from candidates who are not already based in the UK.

Person specification

Experience

• Experience working with adults with Learning Disability. Knowledge of Speech and language therapy assessments and interventions relevant to Learning Disability needs including AAC, Signing, Visual Strategies and Intensive Interaction
• Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary and multiagency teams
• Computer skills including use of electronic patient records
• Experience of developing and providing training
• Experience working in the community with adults with Learning Disability with associated mental health needs and challenging behaviour
• Completion of audits and or research
• Experience of managing dysphagia in the community
• Experience of using Talking Mats
• Experience of using Social Stories

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in speech and language therapy
• RCSLT approved Licence to Practice
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of CPD

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.

Name: Alison Crawley

Job title: Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Email address: [emailprotected]

Telephone number: 0300 124 5888