Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 7 Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our prison mental health services at HMP Durham, to cover the Integrated Support Unit and Mental Health Team.

You would also be joining a wider supportive and dynamic prison SLT team who work into many prisons in the North of England who meet regularly, provide supervision and develop new resources and projects. You would also be part of the Mental Health multi-disciplinary teams onsite in the prison.

The post holder will assess and provide intervention for a range of communication difficulties for men within these prison setting. They will work alongside a team of health care professionals (including nurses, occupational therapist, psychologists, psychiatrists and support workers) and partner colleagues (including prison staff, primary health care providers). As such, the post holder must be committed to collaborative working and have an excellent teamwork ethos.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have a degree in Speech and Language Therapy and have significant experience working in mental health or learning disability services and complex needs. They will have a good knowledge of related issues and national directives and a working understanding of the criminal justice system. They will be expected to facilitate and promote the wider understanding of and utilisation of SLT into these community justice settings.

The post holder should be motivated by the opportunity to become part of the growing SLT workforce working into justice settings. They will be responsible for leading, shaping and developing SLT roles by demonstrating excellence in clinical care, providing training to the team and promoting a culture of evidence-based practice and person-centred care.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

The post will be subject to CTC Prison vetting and to work in a category A prison you must have been resident in the UK for the past three years.

Job details

Date posted: 24 March 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number: 346-FMH-031-25

Job locations: HMP Durham, Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 5YA

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for further detailed information regarding the role and main responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Experience

Essential

• Pre-registration qualification in speech and language therapy as recognised by HCPC
• Registration with HCPC
• Evidence of post-registration Masters level learning
• Or in the absence of masters level learning - equivalent experience in relevant area. E.g. relevant level 7 courses, researcher role, quality improvement activity, leading service development, project management, strategic leadership, NICE involvement, service evaluation.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 7 (SLT =8) for International recruits

Desirable

• Experience of working in Multidisciplinary Team (SW essential criteria)
• Complex clinical risk assessment and application in practice
• Substantial knowledge of evidence - based practice in designated specialist area

Experience

Essential

• Substantial clinical experience of complex speech and language therapy delivery in relevant specialist area in collaboration with service users, families and relevant others
• Significant experience of supporting people with mental health conditions, learning disability or autism

Desirable

• Comprehensive awareness of professional standards and their application to practice
• Experience of participating in quality improvement activities, service development, and/or project management.
• Experience of participating in clinical governance activities including clinical audit, quality assurance of practice

Knowledge

Essential

• Significant understanding of the needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities or autism

Desirable

• Participation in research and development e.g. critical appraisal of research papers, service evaluation, small scale or large scale research.
• Highly competent in clinical supervision of staff and/or students.
• Substantial experience in design and delivery of high quality and effective training
• Substantial experience of application of relevant legislation (i.e. Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act) in practice.

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Address: HMP Durham, Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 5YA