Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
The closing date is 13 May 2026
We are looking for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our Adult Community Speech and Language Therapist Team! We welcome applications from experienced therapists with the opportunity to develop from a Band 6 to Band 7.
As a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist you will hold a caseload of complex cases, undertake independent assessment and management of service users to incorporate pharmacological considerations, where appropriate, making complex clinical decisions regarding service user management and clinical outcomes. You will contribute to strategic and clinical development.
This is a part time post of 37.5 hours working within the mental health wards across Dorset. Our service embraces flexible working as long as the service needs are met. You will sit within the Adult Community Speech and Language Team and provide specialist SLT input to the mental health wards across the county as well as contributing to service development.
Main duties of the job
* Manage leadership aspects providing supervision and education to the MDT and SLTs within the Adult Community SLT service.
* Responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality person-centred services with a focus on integrated care which always considers people's safety, privacy and dignity.
* Day-to-day leadership within a clinical team and / or specialist practitioners and other staff in the multidisciplinary team.
* To act as a champion for clinical standards and for continuous improvement in the service user experience.
* To ensure the delivery of up-to-date evidence-based practice.
* Contribute to the planning and design of services in line with Trust, locality, and government objectives to meet the needs of local people.
* Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, we deliver integrated community and mental health services across Dorset.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Training
* Membership of the relevant Professional Body
* Evidence of recent professional development in an up-to-date portfolio
* Knowledge and understanding of Trust Strategy relevant to role
* Demonstrable knowledge of legislation relevant to area of clinical practice
Job Specific Experience
* Experience at Registered Practitioner Band 6 level
* Able to demonstrate specialist expertise and knowledge underpinned by theory acquired through CPD in relation to clinical assessment, treatment and evaluation.
* Evidence of risk management skills and experience.
* Evidence of involvement in meeting relevant clinical governance objectives.
* Able to demonstrate knowledge of health policy and its application in practice.
* Experience of developing specialist programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing highly specialised advice
* Able to demonstrate specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate information in order to make a clinical judgement regarding diagnosis and intervention.
* Evidence of involvement in the development of programmes of care, protocols and audit.
* Experience of multis-disciplinary working.
* Able to demonstrate innovation and effective use of resources.
* Able to actively research for the potential to improve quality and customer care, seeking new ideas and methods to improve health care.
* Evidence of involvement in research.
* Trained in PMVA techniques or willing to be trained.
Managerial/Supervisory Experience
* Evidence of proactive involvement in the supervision and development of members of the multidisciplinary team.
* Evidence of delivering education and training in practice.
* Able to act as a clinical supervisor and/or facilitate peer groups.
Information Technology
* Able to analyse data and produce reports using Microsoft Excel and Word
* Confident in the use of computer systems, spreadsheets, databases, data collection and coordination, word processing and report writing.
* Experience of using electronic patient / service user record systems
Personal Qualities/Attributes
* Evidence of demonstrating the Trust's values and behaviours.
* Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
* Able to overcome barriers to understanding where there are physical or mental disabilities.
* Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.
* Experience of planning and organising complex activities requiring the formulation and adjustment of plans. e.g. organising own time, coordination with other agencies and plans for sudden, unforeseen circumstances.
* Able to work independently within sphere of authority
* Evidence in skills in diplomacy, negotiation and influencing.
* Inquisitive and eager to learn, asks questions and responds positively to change in practice/procedure. Seeks ways to improve self and others.
* Ability to evaluate care leading to improvement in quality standards and service improvement
* Able to adapt to a changing environment and changing priorities.
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.
£49,387 to £56,515 a year p.a., pro rata for part time
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours
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