About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to work in our Low Secure Forensic Services. If you're a motivated, forward-thinking Speech and Language Therapist, this is your opportunity.
We need you to lead our high-quality, person centred communication and dysphagia interventions for service users with complex forensic, learning disability and neurodiverse needs.
You will play a vital role within a supportive multidisciplinary team, shaping pathways, driving improvements and providing clinical leadership to junior staff and students.
If you are passionate about making a meaningful difference, committed to recovery-focussed practice and ready to contribute to innovative AHP-led developments we'd love to welcome your expertise and help you grow your specialist career with us.
The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Main duties of the job
As a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will lead the delivery of specialist assessments and interventions for service users within the Low Secure Unit who present with complex speech, language, communication and swallowing needs.
Patients within these services will present with a range of mental health diagnoses but may also present with comorbidities including neurodiversity, learning difficulties substance misuse or cognitive differences.
You will undertake detailed formulations, identify strengths and areas of need, and develop personalised, recovery-focused treatment plans that promote engagement, independence and safety.
Working collaboratively you will provide expert clinical input to support risk management, capacity assessments and decision-making, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based care aligned with national guidelines and professional standards.
In addition to managing a complex caseload, you will provide clinical leadership across the service. You will actively participate in clinical meetings, audits, and quality improvement initiatives, to shape service development in line with the Trust's AHP strategy.
About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, youngpeopleand adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mentalillness, butlive well.It'swhywe'repassionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive,curiousand confident.
Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a teamthat'sworking well together.
Check out our Dartford site
Job description Job responsibilities
You will also deliver training, promoting effective communication environments, and ensuring robust governance of SLT practice within the team.
This is a dynamic and influential post, offering the opportunity to drive positive change and improve outcomes for service users with highly specialist needs.
Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role.
We are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under-represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
A recognised Speech and Language Therapist professional qualification Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) dysphagia competencies
Desirable
Approved Practice Educator Evidence of post graduate development through formal postgraduate courses or experience or equivalent clinical work
Experience Essential
A range of experience in different clinical settings including mental health or neurodiversity Experience developing and delivering training / upskilling others Experience of clinical audit / QI / service evaluation work
Desirable
Experience of leading service development Experience of working in forensics or criminal justice services Experience of providing clinical leadership
Qualities and Behaviours Essential
Evidence of ability to work autonomously as well as in a team Adaptable and flexible in approach
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.
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 Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Address Littlebrook Hospital
Bow Arrow Lane
Dartford
DA2 6PB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)