Speech and Language Therapist

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Career development

Job summary

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is recruiting a Speech and Language Therapist for Oak Ward, Low Secure Learning Disability and Autism. The role emphasizes holistic care, risk assessment, and MDT collaboration to promote communication, eating and drinking safety, and patient discharge planning.

We welcome applicants with passion for Learning Disabilities and Autism, with mental health or forensic experience.

Qualifications

• Graduates in SLT with HCPC registration and RCSLT membership.
• Postgraduate study in dysphagia or equivalent is desirable.
• Experience in managing dysphagia and complex communication needs.

Responsibilities

• Deliver SLT across Turner ward with assessments and therapy programmes.
• Manage a complex caseload with advanced clinical reasoning.
• Use a holistic, MDT-led approach to plan interventions and discharge.
• Liaise with relatives/carers and other professionals to tailor care.

Skills

Speech and Language Therapy

Assessment skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication with patients and carers

Education

Graduate Diploma / Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Registered with Health Professions Council

Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Postgraduate study (e.g. dysphagia)

Job description

Site Springfield University Hospital Town London Salary £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 05/10/2026 23:59

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is “making life better together”.

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

It is a very exciting time to be joining Oak Ward, Low Secure Learning Disability and Autism Ward. We offer a supportive working environment, regular supervision, opportunities for CPD and annual appraisal. We are an innovative service, and you will be actively encouraged to develop your skills as a speech and language therapist. The role of the Speech and Language therapist on Oak Ward focuses on providing assessments and interventions to promote communication and inclusion, and safe eating and drinking amongst people who have a mental health diagnosis and learning disabilities and/or autism.

We are looking for someone who will work holistically with Learning Disability and Autism service users to ensure excellent patient-centred care, aiming towards a safe discharge into the community. We would like staff who are passionate about Learning Disabilities and Autism as well as an interest or experience in mental health services and/ or forensic mental health.

Main duties of the job

The speech and language therapist will be instrumental in ensuring service user's physical health is optimised and that they can benefit from the available treatment options, they will also use a total communication approach to ensure the service users voice is represented in all stages of the service user journey.

The speech and language therapist will plan and implement individual and/or group interventions collaboratively, to enable service user to achieve valued goals. A main part of the work on the ward will also include risk assessment and planning with the MDT. The post also offers an opportunity to develop managerial skills, we would ensure that you receive the relevant training and support when you join the team as required.

The successful candidate will need to be able to adapt these skills as appropriate to situation. The speech and language therapist will independently manage a clinical caseload of service user with complex mental health needs.

Working for our organisation

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be responsible for the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy across Turner ward providing assessment and implementing specialist SLT treatment and programmes of care, writing reports, reflecting specialist knowledge.
• To independently manage, triage and prioritize own complex caseload providing a highly specialist SLT assessment, formulation, diagnosis, intervention and advice based on evidence-based practice
• To use specialist knowledge to screen all new referrals where appropriate with the multi-disciplinary team, and allocate priority for intervention, based on client need.
• To independently assess people with complex mental health needs, LD needs or ASD needs within the unit using a range of standardized and non-standardized assessments and other assessment tools, together with advanced analytical clinical reasoning skills to form a baseline measure or differential diagnosis from which to plan intervention.
• To assess clients using clinical/technical skills including listening, phonetic transcription and analysis, linguistic profiling based on linguistic models of development, social communication analysis, use of AAC such as signing and use of electronic communication aids such as switches/IT support and a range of formal and psychological assessment tools.
• To demonstrate acute observational skills in working with clients with profound and multiple learning disabilities who display subtle communication.
• To use a holistic, client centred approach, gathering and synthesising information from other professionals and relatives/carers, in order to ensure that intervention packages are best suited to patient, relatives and place of delivery
• To develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment plans for individuals and groups using expertise to create innovative ways of working where appropriate, to promote and maximise individual potential as well as to plan for and advise others regarding the management of clients with communication and/or feeding/swallowing difficulties within the context of an MDT and in consultation with patients and relatives
• To frequently be required to make complex clinical decisions taking into account conflicting priorities of airway protection, quality of life, nutritional compromise and client autonomy
• To liaise with other team specialists and professional groups to refer clients for further investigation and/or second opinion as required.
• To manage the emotional consequences of working with people who have distressing, degenerative conditions alongside serious mental health conditions and be aware of the needs, demands and pressures on their relatives and carers
• To provide second opinions and advice to clients, carers and colleagues as well as other SLTs, based on expertise and clinical specialism regarding the diagnosis, treatment, management and care of clients with communication or feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Training and Qualifications

• Graduate Diploma / Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent
• Registered with Health Professions Council
• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Evidence of relevant in depth postgraduate study or qualification at a level equivalent to a Masters where it exists e.g. dysphagia

Experience

• At least 2 years post dysphagia training experience of managing clients with dysphagia needs.
• Experience of working in a range of mental health settings including with learning disabilities and/ or forensic mental health
• Experience of working as part of a SLT team and/or multi disciplinary team
• Experience of supervising other SALTs

Knowledge & Skills

• In depth knowledge of management and treatment of communication difficulties and dysphagia in individuals with serious mental health conditions
• Ability to teach specific SLT treatment packages, and theory to patients / carers / professionals/ others
• To be competent in handling the mental, emotional and psycho social aspects of working in acute in-patient units.
• To be familiar with relevant legislation relating to the care of people with serious mental health conditions
• Understand the impact of communication breakdown on the client’s emotional wellbeing, mental health, functional ability, life chances, family dynamics and social and educational inclusion

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust’s authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.

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.