Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 6

Main area: Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Grade Band 6

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

• Full time
• Flexible working

Job ref: 373-SMH2128-B RR

Site: Bowmere Town Chester

Salary: £29,970 - £44,962 per annum

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 18/03/2025 23:59

Job overview

We offer a relocation package of up to £8,000

• Are you a band 6 speech and language therapist (SLT) looking for a new challenge, or an experienced band 5 SLT looking to take the next step in your career?
• Do you have a special interest in the field of autism and mental health?
• Would you like to develop a specialist skill set in dysphagia?

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an SLT to join our warm, welcoming and inclusive multidisciplinary team. You will be supporting the development of flexible, person-centred and evidence-based SLT clinical pathways for our mental health inpatient services. An openness to challenge traditional ideas about models of communication and engage in innovative practice are essential for this role!

This is a newly-created post within a brand-new team. Our priority is providing the best service user experience and clinical outcomes possible. You will have access to regular supervision with a highly-specialist SLT. We offer a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) and value your skills and ideas. You’ll be supported to develop your full potential in a team with many opportunities for joint working and skill sharing.

There are two posts available. One is predominantly based at either Bowmere Hospital in Chester and the other at Springview Hospital, Clatterbridge in Wirral, with opportunities for cross working.

Please note: we will consider applications from final year students who have undertaken a placement in mental health.

Main duties of the job

• To support the development of the SLT Service within inpatient adults’ and older adults’ mental health services.
• To complete assessments and interventions, including managing communication needs, dysphagia/eating and drinking difficulties and advising on inclusive communication strategies for people with a range of mental health needs and co-occurring conditions.
• Develop and deliver evidence-based intervention programmes, adapting and facilitating according to client-centred needs.
• Offering advice, training and consultation to other clinicians, family/carers and support staff.
• Taking a key role improving the identification and support of autistic people.
• To contribute to MDT working to ensure coordinated service provision.
• To liaise, joint work and advise other clinical, social and care agencies and external agencies when appropriate.
• Independently organise, plan and prioritise your workload and caseload.

Working for our organisation

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool. We also provide specialist services for the North West as a whole.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree in SLT
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of attendance at relevant short courses
• DISCO or ADOS/ADI-R trained

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of person-centred care
• Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and quality framework associated with the clinical speciality (e.g. MHA, Clinical & Social Governance).
• Good working knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and SLT role within it
• Understanding and application of safeguarding procedures, and input into complex intervention plans
• Ability to produce reports and guidelines
• Knowledge of medical and mental health conditions, diagnosis, treatment and care

Experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health issues/learning disabilities/autism services
• Experience of providing supervision to others
• Direct experience of working with service users with complex needs alongside, or with supervision, from a more specialist SLT
• Awareness of current mental health agenda at both a national and local level
• Awareness of relevant legislation, national policy and best practice guidance
• Bed-based experience
• Experience of working with people with neurodevelopmental disorders
• Experience of delivering training

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: Laura Broad

Job title: Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Email address: laura.broad2@nhs.net

If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or telephone 01244 393100.

Giving you time to care, space to think and opportunity to grow

We are Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP). We provide health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care – including the provision of three GP surgeries.

We have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool. We also provide specialist services for the North West as a whole.

Our services are provided in partnership with commissioners, local authorities, voluntary and independent organisations, people who access our services, their carers and families. The Trust has over 14,500 members and employs more than 4,000 staff across 62 sites, serving a population of over one million people and highly specialist services for two million people.

At CWP, we believe in giving our staff the time to care, the space to think and the opportunity to grow.

With vacancies across a range of professions, wherever you’re at in your career journey, you’ll find something to suit you. So why not join our team today?