About this role
Job summary
Are you a passionate and experienced healthcare professional ready to take the next step in your career? Join our dynamic team as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and contribute to transforming the quality of care for individuals with mental health needs, learning disabilities, and autism in acute inpatient settings.
This exciting role is part of the Mental Health Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Quality Transformation Programme (MHLDA IQTP), a national initiative dedicated to improving outcomes and experiences for service users and their families. Learn more about the programme here. You will work alongside other professionals such as an Occupational Therapist, Approved Clinical Specialist and a Medic. who are part of this project.
Our SLTs have an active professional network across the trust and you will be part of the wider AHP network with access to training and development opportunities .
Main duties of the job
Providing assessments and interventions to promote communication and inclusion, amongst people who have complex needs , particularly those with learning disabilities and neurodiversity .
Where there are identified needs, to assess and plan interventions for safe eating and drinking
Leading the implementation of speech and language practices across inpatient services.
Supporting and training staff to develop skills around communication and swallowing issues for service users with complex needs, particularly those with learning disabilities and neurodiversity. Driving research, quality improvement initiatives, and innovative care approaches. Acting as a role model, supervisor, and mentor for less experienced staff within the MDT. You will be working alongside a multidisciplinary team and fostering collaborative relationships within the Trust and beyond, ensuring inclusivity, resilience, and hope in care delivery.
About us
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 ofbenefits 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.
About our location:
This post will be based at Springfield Hospital
Unless expressly stated in the job advert this 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.
Job description Job responsibilities
To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for clients with complexacquired/ developmental speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties
To autonomously manage time to access / have a presence on all acute and rehabilitation wards and meet the speech and language needs of adults who meet the criteria of being autistic or having learning disabilities.
If required, to clinically supervise junior Speech and Language Therapists within the service
The post holder will work collaboratively with the ward and the MDT to plan and deliver interventions to assist communication / a dysphagia service, with a high level of independent working.
This role requires a high level of clinical and professional expertise in learning disabilities and autism to ensure those individuals with complex communication issues have their needs met.
To act as lead specialist in dysphagia and communication, and act as a resource and support for other therapists and professionals working with adults with mental health conditions and learning disabilities or autism with any acquired speech, language or swallowing disorders.
Provide timely and targeted individualised management and treatment for identified adults, involving relatives and carers and providing appropriate recommendations and training to professionals from other agencies and other professions.
To devise and provide training to multi-agency staff / advice to service users and carers in the field of acquired communication issues or swallowing, speech and language disorders.
To be a point of expertise re communication and swallowing issues and share skills/ model interventions to improve staff awareness and skills around working with people with learning disabilities / autistic people.
To participate in continuing professional development and other activities to maintain evidence based best practice and provide observation opportunities for other professionals
To share skills as a core part of Speech and Language Therapy provision
Working with our IM&T specialists and Deputy Head of Therapies, the post holder will lead on designing and setting up robust data collection systems to demonstrate clinical need and support, setting out a strategic development plan to expand services.
To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, initiating, participating and supporting the line manager & professional lead in team development and service improvement, ensuring that systems and processes are in place to deliver an efficient and effective service
The post holder will be required to develop and oversee an effective andcomprehensive speech and language service for service users who meet the project criteria and ensure these are embedded within their pathways.
To train, deliver and (where appropriate) advise on the delivery of high-quality care and ensuring consistently high standards of practice. They will be required to contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working ensuring that care is delivered in a holistic way which involves service users and carers.
To work as an autonomous practitioner within the standards of professional practice stipulated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications Essential
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 Completed dysphagia training course to at least Intermediate level
Desirable
Evidence of relevant in depth postgraduate study or qualification at a level equivalent to a Masters where it exists e.g. dysphagia
Experience Essential
Significant postgraduate experience. Dysphagia trained & experience of managing clients with dysphagia needs. Experience of working in a range of mental health settings including with learning disabilities and/ or autism. Experience of developing others through CPD / PDP/ clinical supervision Experience of working as part of a SLT team and/or multidisciplinary team Experience of working with support workers
Desirable
Training in management and/or leadership skills Experience of supervising other SALTs Supervision of students Specific training in learning disabilities and autism.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address Springfield Hospital
15 Springfield Drive
London, Tooting
SW17 0YF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)