Advanced Practitioner - Speech and Language Therapist
Join to apply for the Advanced Practitioner - Speech and Language Therapist role at Cheswold Park Hospital. The position is full‑time, flexible working and permanent, with a pay band of £47,810 to £54,710 per year. The job is located at Newton Lodge and Bretton Centre, Fieldhead Hospital, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3SP.
Job Summary
Hello, my name is Catherine Eaves and I am the General Manager of the Forensic In‑patient Services at Fieldhead Hospital. We also have a range of Medium and Low secure wards at Cheswold Park Hospital (CPH). We have an excellent reputation for providing a high‑quality service to mentally disordered offenders across the Yorkshire and Humberside area. The units cover Male Learning Disabilities/ASD, Female Mental Illness, and Female Mental Illness wards.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to work within our in‑patient forensic mental health and learning disability services. This established role will be pivotal in delivering a high‑quality SLT offer, providing specialist assessments and interventions to patients currently receiving care in our low and medium secure forensic services.
You will have experience of working with individuals with a range of mental health conditions and either experience of, or transferable skills to work with individuals with learning disabilities. You will have the ability and motivation to develop and shape the direction of the SLT provision, ensuring it is evidence‑based and meets the individuals’ needs. You would work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside partner agencies to keep people well and safe, promoting the health and independence of our service users.
Responsibilities
* Provide day‑to‑day support and clinical leadership to SLT staff working within Wakefield in‑patient mental health services.
* Deliver a highly specialist SLT service, using expert skills to assess, advise and provide appropriate intervention to ensure individuals’ holistic health needs are met and maximising function, and promoting quality of life.
* Liaise effectively with all relevant professionals, carers and family members to ensure the needs of the individual are met.
* Develop and shape the SLT provision to be evidence‑based, meeting individual needs and promoting independence.
* Provide clinical supervision, organisational support and professional development opportunities for SLT staff.
* Participate in multidisciplinary reviews and case conferences, contributing to service planning and audit processes.
* Ensure compliance with all professional, clinical and organisational policies, procedures and standards.
* Support recruitment, induction and continuous professional development of SLT staff and students.
Key Result Areas
* Clinical: Deliver high‑quality assessment and intervention, maintain professional code and HCPC ethics, manage complex caseloads, conduct risk assessments, and participate in audit and research.
* Organisational/Managerial: Coordinate and organise therapy staff, influence service improvement, manage complaints and grievances, implement induction programmes, coordinate staff leave, and support team supervision.
About Us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
All employees are encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 to protect patients.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
Contact Information
For further details or informal visits, contact:
• Katie Puplett (Chief Allied Health Professional) 07425 676280
• Rebecca Thompson or Catherine Eaves (General manager low secure services) 07833237709.
Person Specification
Special Knowledge & Skills – Essential
* Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
* Excellent leadership and supervision skills.
* Excellent teaching skills.
* Ability to demonstrate highly specialised clinical reasoning and treatment skills.
* Excellent team working and negotiation skills.
* Proven experience of time management and prioritisation.
* Knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to the clinical area.
Special Knowledge & Skills – Desirable
* Basic IT skills.
Experience – Essential
* Extensive appropriate post‑registration experience relevant to the clinical area.
* Experience in supervising and managing staff.
* Experience of working with children and families.
Training – Essential
* Evidence of continuing professional development and postgraduate training in the relevant area.
* Competence to work at Masters or Advanced Level.
Training – Desirable
* Management or leadership training.
* Risk Assessment training.
* Audit training.
* Therapies training (e.g., CBT‑E, IPT, Sensory integration).
Personal Attributes – Essential
* Ability to risk assess and deal with health and safety matters for own and others’ work areas and caseloads.
* Ability to work autonomously.
* Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to role.
* Ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends.
Physical Attributes – Essential
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to fairness and equality of opportunity).
Qualifications – Essential
* Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Dietetics / SALT.
* Current valid HCPC registration.
* Practice Education/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate (or to achieve within 12 months).
Qualifications – Desirable
* MSC/Diploma in relevant area.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) is required.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Employer Details
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Newton Lodge and Bretton Centre, Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane
Wakefield, West Yorkshire
WF1 3SP
Website: https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk
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