Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Forensic Medium Secure LD

East London NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in London seeks a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to join their dynamic forensic team. The role involves providing crucial communication and dysphagia support to patients with learning disabilities in a secure ward setting. You will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, manage risk, and supervise junior colleagues while ensuring high standards of care. Candidates should be HCPC-registered SaLTs and have a strong interest in forensic mental health. This role presents excellent development opportunities and the chance to positively impact patients’ lives.

Qualifications

• HCPC‑registered Speech and Language Therapist with a valid qualification.
• Experience in forensic mental health preferred.
• Passion for working with individuals with learning disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide communication and dysphagia support to patients.
• Contribute to understanding patient needs for therapy access.
• Screen, identify, and manage risk related to swallowing disorders.
• Supervise junior colleagues and provide training.
• Maintain clinical records as per professional guidelines.

Skills

Communication support

Dysphagia management

Clinical supervision

Risk management

Collaboration with MDT

Education

HCPC registration

Speech and Language Therapy qualification

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at East London NHS Foundation Trust. Are you a qualified SaLT with an interest in forensic mental health? We are a dynamic forensic SaLT team, looking for someone who is eager to learn about working with patients with a learning disability who are detained under the Mental Health Act. This role offers the exciting opportunity to work with culturally diverse populations in East London and to challenge the traditional constraints of communication models in Speech and Language Therapy.

Responsibilities

• Work in the Forensic Inpatient Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities and provide communication and dysphagia support to patients on a medium secure LD forensic ward within the John Howard Centre.
• Contribute to a clinical understanding of patient needs, supporting their access to therapy and treatment, and reintegration into community life.
• Offer assessment, therapy, adaptation of the communication environment, training and input around MCA assessments.
• Screen, identify and manage risk related to swallowing disorders.
• Collaborate with MDT colleagues, external agencies and families.
• Clinically supervise junior colleagues and students, with excellent opportunities for CPD and line management.
• Maintain appropriate records in line with Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists guidelines.
• Develop and evaluate clinical practice and achieve personal and professional development goals.
• Identify, plan, deliver and evaluate specialist training.
• Provide specialist clinical support to other Speech and Language Therapists, assistants, students and volunteers.
• Be involved in clinical governance and audit projects within the local service.
• Act as a clinical resource on issues relating to the specialist area of people with learning disability in a forensic setting.
• Hold a specialist caseload of adults with learning disabilities/Autism in a forensic setting.
• Assess and manage a dysphagia caseload, or work towards these competencies if required by the service.
• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of professional and clinical work, working to agreed local, national, and professional standards.
• Provide specialist advice to the Trust and support the organisation through provision of resources, training and education.

Qualifications

• HCPC‑registered Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) with a valid qualification.
• Qualified SaLT with an interest in forensic mental health.
• Experience working with people with learning disabilities or a passion to develop skills in this area.

Values

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. We care, we respect, and we are inclusive – we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users, carers, and colleagues.

This advert closes on Sunday 15 Feb 2026.