Go back South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist LDA Service
The closing date is 31 May 2026
Are you a passionate and experienced healthcare professional ready to take the next step in your career? Join our dynamic team as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and contribute to transforming the quality of care for individuals with mental health needs, learning disabilities, and autism in acute inpatient settings.
This exciting role is part of the Mental Health Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Quality Transformation Programme (MHLDA IQTP), a national initiative dedicated to improving outcomes and experiences for service users and their families.
Our SLTs have an active professional network across the trust and you will be part of the wider AHP network with access to training and development opportunities.
Main duties of the job
Providing assessments and interventions to promote communication and inclusion, amongst people who have complex needs, particularly those with learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
Where there are identified needs, to assess and plan interventions for safe eating and drinking.
Leading the implementation of speech and language practices across inpatient services.
* Supporting and training staff to develop skills around communication and swallowing issues for service users with complex needs, particularly those with learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
* Driving research, quality improvement initiatives, and innovative care approaches.
* Acting as a role model, supervisor, and mentor for less experienced staff within the MDT.
You will be working alongside a multidisciplinary team and fostering collaborative relationships within the Trust and beyond, ensuring inclusivity, resilience, and hope in care delivery.
Job responsibilities
To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for clients with complex acquired/developmental speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties.
To autonomously manage time to access and have a presence on all acute and rehabilitation wards and meet the speech and language needs of adults who meet the criteria of being autistic or having learning disabilities.
If required, to clinically supervise junior Speech and Language Therapists within the service.
The post holder will work collaboratively with the ward and the MDT to plan and deliver interventions to assist communication / dysphagia services, with a high level of independent working.
This role requires a high level of clinical and professional expertise in learning disabilities and autism to ensure those individuals with complex communication issues have their needs met.
To act as lead specialist in dysphagia and communication, and act as a resource and support for other therapists and professionals working with adults with mental health conditions and learning disabilities or autism with any acquired speech, language or swallowing disorders.
Provide timely and targeted individualised management and treatment for identified adults, involving relatives and carers and providing appropriate recommendations and training to professionals from other agencies and other professions.
To devise and provide training to multi‑agency staff / advice to service users and carers in the field of acquired communication issues or swallowing, speech and language disorders.
To be a point of expertise regarding communication and swallowing issues and share skills/model interventions to improve staff awareness and skills around working with people with learning disabilities / autistic people.
To participate in continuing professional development and other activities to maintain evidence based best practice and provide observation opportunities for other professionals.
Working with our IM&T specialists and Deputy Head of Therapies, the post holder will lead on designing and setting up robust data collection systems to demonstrate clinical need and support, setting out a strategic development plan to expand services.
To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, initiating, participating and supporting the line manager & professional lead in team development and service improvement, ensuring that systems and processes are in place to deliver an efficient and effective service.
The post holder will be required to develop and oversee an effective and comprehensive speech and language service for service users who meet the project criteria and ensure these are embedded within their pathways.
To train, deliver and (where appropriate) advise on the delivery of high‑quality care and ensuring consistently high standards of practice. They will be required to contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working ensuring that care is delivered in a holistic way which involves service users and carers.
To work as an autonomous practitioner within the standards of professional practice stipulated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
* Graduate Diploma / Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent
* Registered with Health Professions Council
* Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
* Completed dysphagia training course to at least Intermediate level
* Evidence of relevant in‑depth postgraduate study or qualification at a level equivalent to a Masters where it exists (e.g. dysphagia)
Experience
* Dysphagia trained & experience of managing clients with dysphagia needs.
* Experience of working in a range of mental health settings including with learning disabilities and/or autism.
* Experience of developing others through CPD/PDP/clinical supervision.
* Experience of working as part of a SLT team and/or multidisciplinary team.
* Experience of working with support workers.
* Training in management and/or leadership skills; experience of supervising other SALTs; supervision of students.
* Specific training in learning disabilities and autism.
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.
South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Unless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
Salary
£58,133 to £65,261 a year inclusive of Inner London HCAs
This post will be based at Springfield Hospital.
Benefits include flexible working, career development and a variety of other benefits.
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