Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Barnsley is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the Intensive Support Team. This role involves assessing communication needs and delivering therapeutic interventions to clients with learning disabilities. The successful candidate will have the opportunity for professional development and flexible working arrangements. A degree in Speech and Language Therapy and registration with HCPC are essential. Competitive salary of £31,049 to £46,580 based on experience.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Agile working policy

Qualifications

• Experience in clinical settings related to communication disorders.
• Knowledge of working with individuals with learning disabilities.
• Ability to implement evidence-based clinical practices.

Responsibilities

• Assess communication needs and provide appropriate interventions.
• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team.
• Support clients in community-based treatment activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Clinical judgment

Analytical skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent

Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Job description

Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 29 September 2025

We have an excitingopportunity for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendlyand welcoming Intensive Support Team (IST). We are looking for a Specialist Speechand Language Therapist who is motivated and enthusiastic, to work with adultswith a learning disability and mental health problems and/or behaviours ofconcerns, who are at risk of placement breakdown or hospital admission andrequire intensive input from a multidisciplinary team. This can be adevelopment post for a band 5 to 6 Speech and Language Therapist.

The successful candidate wouldoffer speech and language input to vulnerable clients and receive jobsatisfaction of knowing you are making a significant impact on a personsquality of life by helping those around them to understand them.

The IST is part of theCommunity Learning Disability Health Team, and we place a strong emphasis onmultidisciplinary working. We have strong and effective links with our partneragencies including the local authority and ICB as well as local care providers.

This post will be based at theMapplewell Centre, which has a specialist sensory room and a rebound therapyroom. The service is open Monday to Friday 9 to 5. We can offer flexibleworking hours and an agile working policy.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to befully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist isto assess the service users communication needs and provide advice andtraining to ensure the services users needs are understood by carers andservices that are supporting them.

You will be an integral part of the IST and contributetowards assessments, formulations and interventions based on your clinicalexperience, assessments and observations.

You will also be required to work independently and to makeautonomous decisions. In this role you will be given freedom to use your owninitiative and we will welcome candidates with a can do attitude.

You will receive clinical supervision from a Senior Speechand Language therapist, whilst also having the opportunity to link in with colleaguesin the other ISTs and community teams.

A key aspect of the post is the role of care coordinationand working closely with other agencies to bring about successful outcomes forour service users.

Professional development is actively encouraged, and wewould be able to offer the successful candidate opportunity to train uponapplicant preference and service need.

Atthe time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UKVisas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forwardto receiving your application.

About us

Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.

Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.

Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

For full job description, please see attached supportingdocuments.

Band 5

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will be required to work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, providing SLT assessment and treatment for service users in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a range of community based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in the promotion of SLT within the service area. The post holder will be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

Clinical

To provide clinical advice on the assessment, diagnosis and management of speech, language and communication difficulties and where applicable, swallowing difficulties, with a range of clients, including those with complex needs and to develop a clinical interest within the context of the caseload

To manage a caseload independently with regular supervision and to prepare, implement and evaluate communication programmes and advice for clients to ensure the delivery of designated standards of care consistent with service policy and RCSLT guidelines

To demonstrate sound clinical judgment, including negotiation, differential diagnosis, reflection, evaluation and the development of care plans. Clinical practice should be framed with reference to evidence based practice, having access to a supervisor, showing a recognition of own professional boundaries and the need for supervision, support and advice

To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.

To adopt a client centred and sensitive approach to therapy, collaborating with clients (and / or carer(s) where appropriate) in all aspects of the therapy process.

To work proactively alongside other staff and clients in meeting their needs and to assist each individual to integrate with the local community as fully as possible, using practical and creative problem solving approaches to gain the active participation of services users.

To provide SLT reports on assessment and treatment by written and verbal reports to Consultants, GPs and other agencies involved, and to ensure that all correspondence relating to caseload is dealt with promptly.

To provide SLT perspective in multi-disciplinary team meetings, ward rounds, clinics and case conferences as required.

To ensure that up to date records and activity data are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards and policies.

Management and Leadership

To manage your own caseload and day to day activities.

To assist in the co-ordination of day to day activities of unqualified staff in the service area.

To work effectively as a team member, operating flexibly to meet the needs of the service and collaborating with other team members.

Ensure the Team Manager is kept informed of all aspects of the work, especially the development needs of the service.

Band 6

JOB SUMMARY

The post holderwill be required to work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinaryteam, providing specialist speech and language therapy assessment andtreatment for service users in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a rangeof individual and group community based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in thepromotion of Salt and Language therapy within the service area. The post holder will be required to workflexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.

Thepost holder will contribute to the leadership and development of the SpecialistLearning Disability Health Team in accordance within local and nationalguidance.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1.Clinical

Toundertake specific standardised and non-standardised assessments to formulateeffective treatment plans in conjunction with the service user, family andcarer.

Formulateand deliver individual treatment programmes based on specialist knowledge fordifferential diagnosis for communication and dysphagia, (evidence basedpractise, national and local guidelines using profession specific clinicalskills and techniques. (eg standardised assessments, AAC, group and individualwork).

Tointerpret the assessment results in order to plan and implement a clientcentred speech and language therapy treatment programme on an individual and/orgroup basis to achieve therapeutic goals.

Toensure therapeutic interventions are of a high professional standard, informedby evidence based practice and involves the service user and carer in allaspects of the care programme.

Todemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the effect of disability providingtraining and advice on lifestyle changes/adaptations to the clients social andphysical environments.

Toact as the care programme co-ordinator as required and to offer carers anassessment and care plan where appropriate.

Tocontribute to a co-ordinated team approach throughout the assessment and inmeeting the service users needs including developing and maintaining closeworking relationships with all relevant services, and agencies within thevoluntary sector.

Toregularly evaluate the effectiveness of group and individual speech andlanguage therapy interventions by undertaking specific audits and using outcomemeasures such as standardised / other relevant assessments and service usersatisfaction questionnaires.

Tocontinue treatment interventions where necessary to assist in the transition ofskills from an inpatient setting to living independently within the community.

Towork effectively within the multi-agency team ensuring that both written andverbal communication is clearly maintained to ensure a seamless service.

Tobe responsible for the maintenance of appropriate clinical records concernedwith service user treatment, in accordance with risk management documentationguidelines.

Toarrange/attend appropriate clinical team meetings, referral meetings, caseconferences, care programme approach meetings and any other as required byclinical need and as directed by the Lead AHP.

Toprovide accurate and timely reports, statistical data through the electronic recordingsystem and other information as required.

Toparticipate in monthly clinical and managerial supervision and to provideclinical supervision to other speech and language staff.

To work as an autonomous practitioner.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicantsare using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job applicationforms.Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms isstrongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process beforeselecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI toenhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs applicationform.

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

• Ability to implement all of the 6C values & behaviours expected of health care professionals.
• Values contribution of others.
• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Organisational skills.
• Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
• Willingness to work flexibly.
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
• Hold a full driving licence.

Training

• Band 5
• To be willing to undertake post graduate training to further skills, knowledge and expertise.
• Band 6
• Post graduate Dysphagia training or ability to successfully complete the training within 2 years.
• Evidence of ongoing training and relevant post graduate courses in communication and dysphagia.
• Band 5
• Evidence of post qualification training.
• Band 6
• Post graduate training relevant to Learning Disability.

Qualifications

• Band 5
• Degree in speech and language pathology or therapy or equivalent.
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist Certificate to Practice.
• Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Band 6
• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent.
• Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• RCSLT Registration.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
• A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Band 5
• A demonstrable range of core professional skills, including familiarity with a range of clinical protocols.
• Demonstrable knowledge of communication disorders presenting in a range of clients with communication difficulties in order to provide assessment, diagnosis and intervention.
• Flexible clinical skills which take account of the needs of the individual client.
• Demonstrable knowledge of issues related to the delivery of training to a range of recipients.
• Insight into issues of confidentiality in the context of health care.
• Insight into the requirement for excellence in clinical record keeping.
• An awareness of the functions of related professions, agencies and legislation relating to services to clients.
• Band 6
• Specialist knowledge and application of Speech & Language Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to learning disability.
• Extensive clinical practice skills including individual and group work.
• Understanding of and ability to use appropriate outcome measures.
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
• Supervisory / appraisal skills.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
• Ability to build effective working relationships.
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application.
• Band 5
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
• An awareness of screening procedure for swallowing difficulties.
• Band 6
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
• An understanding of the specific contribution of Speech and Language Therapists in Learning Disability Services.

Experience

• Band 5
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of working with people with Learning Disabilities.
• Band 6
• Post registration experience including in learning disabilities.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Supervision of staff and / or students.
• Band 5
• Experience of working with people with a learning disability in a clinical setting.
• Previous experience as a speech and language therapist working in the NHS.
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Band 6
• Experience of a range of learning disability settings.
• Supervision of staff and / or students.

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

£31,049 to £46,580 a yearDependant on experience