Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
The closing date is 19 May 2026
Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Inpatients- older adults complex dementia and mental health, Highbury Hospital, Bulwell, Nottingham and Blossomwood Hospital, Mansfield
We are excited to offer the opportunity for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the older adult inpatient SLT team across specialist dementia and mental health wards. This is a unique opportunity for an SLT who is looking to develop their specialist skills supporting the communication and eating, drinking and swallowing needs of people with complex dementia and eating, drinking and swallowing needs in older adults with mental health conditions. You will be supervised by a Clinicial Specialist SLT and have many opportunities for peer support. You will be joining a forward-thinking and supportive team who work closely with colleagues from a range of disciplines.
You will be joining the team during a period of innovation and growth; whilst we develop the speech, language and communication and dysphagia pathways within ward based and community services. You will enjoy close links with our wider team and our SLT colleagues within the East Midlands, and benefit from excellent levels of support, supervision, and CPD opportunities.
Main duties of the job
The role requires clinical and professional expertise in order that older adults with mental health conditions and Dementia benefit from a well co-ordinated pro-active, specialist, efficient and effective inpatient Speech and Language Therapy team.
You will be contributing to multi-disciplinary assessments as well as carrying out individual Speech and Language Therapy assessments and interventions, providing a service for individuals, the clinical team and their families. You will be responsible for managing communication and eating, drinking and swallowing needs and working with the team to support these needs. You will support in highlightling communication and eating, drinking and swallowing risks and reasonable adjustments and contribute to risk management plans as well as providing training and learning to the team. You will work directly with service users, the MDT and carers to plan a safe discharge from hospital and support individuals to live well in the community.
You will be involved in making the patients' care and support accessible, to support their engagement in their care, treatment and therapeutic interventions.
You must hold a relevant degree in Speech and Language Therapy and be registered with HCPC and RCSLT.
About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.
We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.
We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.
Job responsibilities
To autonomously undertake specialist speech, language, and communication assessments to identify what reasonable adjustments (Accessible Information Standards) should be in place to support the individuals communication needs and risks.
To deliver bespoke therapeutic communication and swallowing interventions working in collaboration with service users, the MDT and carers
To autonomously undertake dysphagia assessments and formulate dysphagia management plans to reduce risk, improve quality of life, and mitigate adverse physical health consequences.
Provide support to junior members of the team/SLT students implement SLT management plans/project work and help deliver supervision opportunities.
Attendance at ward based MDT meetings to plan for ongoing and accessible care.
Support with developing and delivering SLT training to the workforce and providing bespoke training around an individuals communication and/or swallowing needs.
To be an ambassador for the SLT team, demonstrating the value of inclusive communication environments and reasonable adjustments.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for a detailed overview of the roles and responsibilities of this post.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
* Post graduate dysphagia training and competency completion
* Post graduate training in specialist area
Professional Registration
* HCPC registered
* RCSLT registered
Values
* Demonstrates Trust values
Experience
* Working experience of autonomously assessing and managing a complex caseload with adults with swallowing, speech, language and communication needs.
* Experience of working with people with dementia & mental health diagnoses
* Experience of effective multi-disciplinary/agency working and established interpersonal and negotiation skills
* Experience of enabling different staff groups to understand issues around communication and/or dysphagia
* Experience of delivering environmental approaches to SLT service delivery and evaluating them
* Experience in using evaluation / audit tools and resources as part of SLT team
* Experience of considering the complex relationship between pre-existing SLCN/diagnoses and the current mental health condition e.g. co-morbid ASD and schizoaffective disorder
* Experience of leading / managing project work
* Experience of designing and delivering different learning and development opportunities for staff teams.
* Experience of supporting students and other staff
* Experience of linking communication to risk issues
Knowledge
* Specialist knowledge of working with adults with Swallowing, Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) who have dementia and mental health diagnoses.
* Knowledge of Speech Language Communication Swallowing tools, assessments and interventions relating to the client group, including MDT working and across different contexts and environments
* Knowledge of relevant National Policy and guidance and impact on local practice.
* Specialist knowledge of how speech, language and communication needs contribute to risk assessment and support management.
* Knowledge of Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
Skills
* Empathetic and psychologically minded
* Excellent written and oral communication skills
* Well organised
* Good reasoning skills
* Motivated and a motivator
* Team builder and team member Autonomous and able to work without direct supervision
* Ability to manage own wellbeing with access to supervision to sustain this.
* Specialist skill in working with adults with dementia and mental health diagnosis
* Experience of managing a project or service initiative.
Skills
* A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use
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.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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