Speech and Language Therapist

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade AfC Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (22.5 hours working on Orion Unit, Highbury Hospital and 15 hours working on Lister Ward, Wells Road) Job ref 186-555-26-GH Employer Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Highbury Hospital and Wells Road Town Nottingham Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum (pro rata for part time) Salary period Yearly Closing 20/07/2026 23:59 Speech and Language Therapist AfC Band 5 We fully support the use of AI and other tools to assist in writing your application. However, it's essential that the content, especially your supporting statement, is personalised and factually accurate. Your application should reflect your genuine experiences and qualifications to ensure authenticity and credibility Job overview This is an excellent opportunity for a permanent Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in Intellectual Disabilities and associated physical and sensory needs and mental health conditions. The role involves providing communication and dysphagia support to service users across the Orion Unit (Assessment and Treatment Unit) and Lister Ward (Forensic Unit). This post is split across Orion Unit, Highbury Hospital (3 days/week), and Lister Ward, Wells Road Centre (2 days/week), offering varied experience and opportunities to develop skills across both settings. Using person-centred approaches, you will be responsible for providing Speech and Language Therapy assessment, developing formulations and interventions for patients, and provide written recommendations for a range of audiences. You will use best practice to inform your practice and where appropriate standardised assessment tools and outcome measures. Orion Unit supports adults with intellectual disabilities and complex mental health needs or behaviours that challenge, requiring inpatient care. Here, you will assess changes in communication during crises, support behaviour management, and implement visual and environmental communication strategies. Main duties of the job The role requires specialist clinical and professional expertise in order that people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their support providers benefit from a well-co-ordinated pro-active, specialist, efficient and effective speech and language therapy service within the designated setting. The service includes individual therapy and management, training, advice and consultation within the context of a supportive SLT team and diverse MDT. You will be working alongside a Band 7 SLT and a full multidisciplinary team consisting of nurses, health care assistants, psychologists, occupational therapists, health care support workers and social workers. The use of direct and indirection interventions provides patients with appropriate opportunities for communication and enhances autonomy and choice, enabling them to be at the centre of their own care pathway. The post holder is responsible for SLT individual and group assessment, formulation and diagnosis, individual therapy and management, training, advice and a consultative/coaching approach to meet communication and/or dysphagia needs. The post holder will work as an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team across both settings and with a variety of agencies to maximise communication opportunities for service users and to provide support and advice to others on speech and language therapy issues. Detailed job description and main responsibilities To be responsible for SLT individual and group assessment, formulation and diagnosis, individual therapy and management, training, advice and a consultative/coaching approach to meet communication and/or dysphagia needs. To work as an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team across both settings and with a variety of agencies in order to maximise communication opportunities for service users and to provide support and advice to others on speech and language therapy issues. In each setting to assess, treat and manage own caseload, with supervision from highly-specialist SLTs. To contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and adjustment of care pathways for these user-focused services. To employ evidence-based practice, promoting this approach to all staff, volunteers and students. Lister Ward is a 14-bed low-secure male forensic ward for adults with intellectual disabilities, Autism, mental health conditions and complex histories. In this setting, you will assess and manage complex communication and create person centred resources tailored to forensic needs to support understanding of legal and care processes and contribute to communication profiles to reduce risk. In each setting the post holder will assess, treat, and manage their own caseload, with supervision from highly-specialist SLTs. The post holder will contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring, and adjustment of care pathways for these user-focused services. The post holder will employ evidence-based practice, promoting this approach to all staff, volunteers, and students. Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more detailed description of responsibilities attached to the role. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies. Person specification Physical requirements Has the physical ability to perform the full range of duties Physical skills in line with role (including MVA as appropriate) Qualifications - Academic / Craft / Professional Recognised SLT Degree/diploma RCSLT and HCPC Registered or pending registration for final year SLT students Training Training relevant to supporting people with intellectual disabilities and autism Portfolio of relevant post qualification CPD including specialist knowledge of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) of service users with additional mental health diagnoses / intellectual disabilities Post basic dysphagia training or completed competencies Experience Experience of voluntary, paid work or carers role with adults with learning disabilities Or Relevant SLT student placement (eg ALD, ASC, Special School, secure setting Experience of using low tech or high tech communication aids or approaches (eg Signing, visual support strategies, Voice output aids) Observed/ carried out a range of appropriate specialist therapeutic interventions for adults with learning disabilities. Relevant experience of voluntary or paid work with vulnerable children or adults Experience of delivering Learning and development opportunities for others Experience of working in a team and to discuss the benefits of teamwork Knowledge Theoretical knowledge of SLT delivery including the use of different approaches and multi-disciplinary working, across different contexts and environments. Knowledge of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group) Undergraduate Knowledge of different approaches to working with adults with learning disabilities, challenging behaviours, ASC and mental health diagnoses Signs and symbols knowledge Knowledge of the Transforming Care agenda Skills Empathetic and psychologically minded Excellent written and oral communication skills Well organised Good reasoning skills Motivated and a motivator Team builder and team member Ability to manage own well-being with access to supervision to sustain this. Can discuss issues involved in managing a caseload Contractual requirements Flexible working as required by post A full UK driving license and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010. Additional Information We reserve the right to close the post early once we have received a sufficient number of applicants. The Trust believes in treating everyone with dignity and respect and encourages applications from all sectors of the community. We guarantee an interview to candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum essential criteria. In submitting an application form, you authorise Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you. This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post. Should you require any further information please refer our Privacy Policy shown on the Trust website, please click here for more information. For eligible posts, DBS disclosures are mandatory before commencement of employment. If you are in a position that is deemed a regulated adult and/or child care role, you will not be able to start your employment until we have received a satisfactory DBS Disclosure. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Convictions which would otherwise be considered as 'spent' will also be checked as part of an Enhanced DBS Disclosure. 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. Name Mary Sheehan Job title: Professional Lead Specialist SLT (Lister) Email address: View email address on click.appcast.io Helen Gannaway (Orion) View email address on click.appcast.io If you have problems applying, contact Address Duncan Macmillan House Porchester Road Mapperley Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG3 6AA Telephone 0115 667 0369 #J-18808-Ljbffr