Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to our established Community Forensic Service (we would also consider appointment to a Band 5 development role with the expectation that the successful candidate would work towards specific Band 6 competencies).

The post will be as part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Community Forensic Learning Disability Service (CFLDS) based in Leyland working with people who have a learning disability who have offended or are at risk of offending. The service provides additional support to those who are at risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System or Hospital admission.

Main duties of the job:

• The CFLDS is a multidisciplinary team consisting of Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, Psychiatry, Nursing and Support Workers.
• You will be expected to work in all areas of Lancashire and South Cumbria and liaise with the local learning disability and mental health services to develop proactive and preventative risk mitigation support.
• You will have the opportunity to work within a team of skilled Speech and Language Therapists who have developed a core and specialised role within the team.
• You will receive regular clinical supervision from the lead Speech and Language therapist in the CFLDS and will also have access to wider peer supervision opportunities with other speech therapy teams within Merseycare NHS Trust as well as strong links with the Clinical Excellence Networks.

Job responsibilities:

• Under the direct or indirect clinical supervision of the highly specialist speech and language therapist you will undertake the following duties:
• Assume responsibility and accountability for people identified with speech and language therapy needs holding the duty of care and prioritising and managing the caseload independently based on the principles of risk and clinical risk, liaising with and referring to senior clinicians and relevant agencies as appropriate.
• Be responsible for assessment and management of a clinical caseload with speech and language therapy needs.
• Undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine a diagnosis and to determine a therapy management plan.
• Provide a comprehensive assessment and management plan of service users clinical risk.
• Work with the individual and their care team to develop Communication Treatment and Care plan and integrate these into Positive Behavioural Support plans.

Person Specification:

Knowledge and Experience:

• A philosophy and approach that empowers people.
• Knowledge of alternative and augmentative communication and dysphagia.
• A person-centred approach to service delivery.
• Understanding of current NHS changes.
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience with provision of supervision and delegation to junior members of staff.
• Experience of use of outcome measures for clinical evaluation.
• Basic IT Skills (Microsoft Software: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, MS Teams).
• Driving Licence.

Qualifications:

• Accredited Speech and Language Therapy qualification (BSc).
• Registration with HCPC.

Skills:

• Ability to convey information and skills to direct care staff.
• Flexible approach skills towards service change, demands and pressure.
• Good time management and organisational skills.
• A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights.

Values:

• Continuous Improvement.
• Accountability.
• Respectfulness.
• Enthusiasm.
• Support.
• High professional standards.
• Responsive to service users.
• Engaging leadership style.
• Strong customer service belief.
• Transparency and honesty.
• Discreet.
• Change oriented.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.