Speech and Language Therapist

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS organization in the UK is seeking a highly motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join their Intensive Support Service. This role focuses on providing support to adults with learning disabilities, promoting individualized care in various settings. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, managing a designated caseload, and collaborating within a multidisciplinary team. Ideal candidates will hold a degree in Speech and Language Therapy and be registered with HCPC. Ongoing professional development is expected, with a willingness to undertake further training.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy and HCPC registration required.
• Specialist knowledge and application of SLT assessments and interventions.
• Experience in Learning Disabilities or relevant settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist assessments and interventions for communication difficulties.
• Manage a defined caseload and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Develop and implement individual treatment plans.

Skills

Clinical knowledge in adult learning disabilities

Evidence-based person-centred principles

Communication skills

Management of caseload

Group work skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Registration with HCPC

Member of the RCSLT

Job description

Overview

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to work within our Intensive Support Service. The intensive support service provides specialist multidisciplinary community intensive support to adults with learning disabilities who are in crisis due to escalation in behaviours of concern and/or deterioration of their mental health. The focus of the service is to support individuals to remain in their home, to prevent, where possible, the breakdown of care arrangements/placement and prevent admission to hospital. The service acts as a gateway to the inpatient assessment and treatment service and works in close liaison with inpatient services to facilitate appropriate admission and timely discharge from services. The team operates 9am‑5pm 365 days of the year and works with service users in a variety of health and social care settings across Norfolk and Waveney.

Key Responsibilities

• Forward‑thinking and able to demonstrate clinical knowledge in the area of adult learning disabilities based on current evidence.
• Autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions with individuals with both communication difficulties and dysphagia.
• Provide SLT assessment and intervention for service users with a learning disability, mental health issues and complex needs.
• Manage a small defined caseload using evidence‑based person‑centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
• Work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to decisions regarding client care programmes.
• Monitor and evaluate treatment to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
• Establish effective communication networks with service users and carers, team members, AHP colleagues and other agencies.
• Provide support and deliver education to clients, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users, including those with profound learning disabilities, additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour.
• Select and apply SLT assessments for a designated caseload, addressing communication and/or dysphagia needs.
• Plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the service user and carer.
• Monitor, evaluate and modify interventions with service users to ensure effectiveness and positive outcomes.
• Instruct and advise Assistant Therapy Practitioners (ATP) in the appropriate provision of interventions.
• Have knowledge and understanding of the application of alternative and augmentative communication.
• Lead the assessment, differential diagnosis, formulation of treatment plans, writing assessment reports, providing appropriate intervention, evaluating treatment outcomes and reviewing and discharging service users (Band 6).
• Facilitate group work and undertake risk assessments and manage clinical and organisational risk.
• Review and reflect on own practice and performance through professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
• Demonstrate basic leadership skills and, where applicable, coordinate day‑to‑day activities of junior staff.
• Maintain stock, advise on resources, ensure safekeeping and use of equipment and materials.
• Participation in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols.
• Attend mandatory training sessions, take part in risk assessment and ensure Health & Safety Regulations and Data Protection Act Regulations are observed.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Registration with HCPC.
• Member of the RCSLT.
• Evidence of continuing Professional Development (CPD) – professional portfolio.
• Willingness to undertake post‑graduate dysphagia training.
• Specialist knowledge and application of speech and language therapy assessments and interventions.
• Detailed knowledge of evidence‑based practice and its contribution to practice governance.
• Planning and coordination of treatment packages.
• Previous experience working in the field of Learning Disabilities or other relevant transferable setting (e.g. older adults, long‑term neuro).
• Experience of managing a caseload.
• Broad knowledge of current best practice in SLT, Learning Disabilities and mental health.
• Group work skills.
• Understanding of team dynamics.
• Computer literacy and basic word‑processing skills.
• Car driver (unless a disability prevents driving).
• Ability to manage own workload, determine priorities, reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Application of health, safety and risk management policies.
• Working with service users with barriers to understanding.
• Regular requirement to deal with distressing or emotionally charged situations.
• Eligibility for Skilled Worker visa and UK professional registration.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of managing a caseload.
• Group work skills and understanding of team dynamics.
• Computer literacy and basic word‑processing skills.
• Knowledge of current best practice in SLT, Learning Disabilities and mental health.
• Experience in dysphagia assessment and intervention.
• Experience in a multidisciplinary learning disability setting.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce. All applications will be assessed on merit and eligibility for the role.