Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Speech and Language therapist- Intensive Support Team
The closing date is 05 August 2025
We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time Speech& Language Therapist to join the Intensive Support Team (IST) in the Wakefield.
The post isbeing offered as either a Band 5- 6 development position or Band 6 for asuitably qualified clinician. The successful Band 5 candidate will be supportedthrough the required Preceptorship period. Band 6 candidates who are not yet qualifiedDysphagia assessors, if successful, would be offered the opportunity tocomplete the appropriate dysphagia course.
The primary functionof IST is to provide intensive assessment, formulation, and intervention withina Positive Behavioral Support Model to complex service users with behaviorsthat challenge to reduce the risk of placement breakdown, hospital admissionand/or contact with the Criminal Justice Service.
Youwill join a well-established multi-disciplinary team which includes Dietetics,Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, LD community Nurses, Psychiatry,Psychology, MDT Intensive Support Team, as well as Therapy Assistants &Healthcare Support Workers.
For furtherinformation or to arrange a visit please contact: Lindy.Newton@swyt.nhs.uk or ring07918618819.
Main duties of the job
You will be a highly motivated and conscientiousindividual preferably with experience supporting peoplein a variety of activities and community settings.
Youwill work both independently and within an MDT; and this will involveassessments and reports to contribute towards Positive Behavioral Support plans/interventions, and liaison withfamilies and support staff to implement communication interventions.
You will beresponsible for care coordinating a small caseload, showing anunderstanding of the complex needs associated with the learning disability population.
You will also demonstrate qualities todeliver safe, effective and personalised care ensuring processes are followedin accordance with Trust values and objectives.
The role requires close working with the ISTMDT clinicians where you will use your speech and language therapy skills (i.e.communication & dysphagia assessment to address the holistic needs ofservice users with a focus on PBS and care coordination.
Itis essential that applicants can travel independently across the locality andhave access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.
About us
Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.
Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.
Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
Band 5 :
Thepost holder will be required to work as an integral part of themulti-disciplinary team, providing SLT assessment and treatment for serviceusers in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a rangeof community based treatment activities.You will be actively involved in the promotion of SLT within the servicearea. The post holder will be requiredto work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.
KEYRESULT AREAS:
Clinical
To provide clinical advice on the assessment,diagnosis and management of speech,language and communication difficulties and where applicable, swallowingdifficulties, with a range of clients, including those with complex needs andto develop a clinical interest within the context of the caseload
To manage a caseload independently with regularsupervision and to prepare, implement and evaluate communication programmes andadvice for clients to ensure the delivery of designated standards of careconsistent with service policy and RCSLT guidelines
To demonstrate sound clinical judgment,including negotiation, differential diagnosis, reflection, evaluation and thedevelopment of care plans. Clinicalpractice should be framed with reference to evidence based practice, havingaccess to a supervisor, showing a recognition of own professional boundariesand the need for supervision, support and advice
To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment inorder to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
To adopt a client centred and sensitiveapproach to therapy, collaborating with clients (and / or carer(s) whereappropriate) in all aspects of the therapy process.
To work proactively alongside other staff andclients in meeting their needs and to assist each individual to integrate withthe local community as fully as possible, using practical and creative problemsolving approaches to gain the active participation of services users.
To provide SLT reports on assessment andtreatment by written and verbal reports to Consultants, GPs and other agenciesinvolved, and to ensure that all correspondence relating to caseload is dealtwith promptly.
To provide SLT perspective inmulti-disciplinary team meetings, ward rounds, clinics and case conferences asrequired.
To ensure that up to date records and activitydata are maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards andpolicies.
Management andLeadership
To manage your own caseload and day to dayactivities.
To assist in the co-ordination of day to dayactivities of unqualified staff in the service area.
To work effectively as a team member, operatingflexibly to meet the needs of the service and collaborating with other teammembers.
Ensure the Team Manager is kept informed of allaspects of the work, especially the development needs of the service.
Communication
To contribute and receive information as partof a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team to provide a co-ordinated andeffective service to clients and carers.
To communicate accurate and sensitiveinformation to clients and carers using an appropriate and accessible medium,taking into consideration relevant factors such as background, culture, gender,age and any physical, sensory or learning difficulties, adopting an empathicapproach at all time.
To provide advice and information regardingoccupational therapy and communicate clinical skills and knowledge to others.
To promote and understanding of the role ofoccupational therapy within the specialist area, negotiating priorities asappropriate.
Personal andProfessional Development
To review and reflect on own practice througheffective use of professional and operational supervisions.
To demonstrate ongoing professional developmentthrough reflective practice and participation in internal and externaldevelopment opportunities as evidenced in a Continuing Professional Developmentportfolio.
To participate in the Trusts appraisal processand ensure that agreed objectives are achieved, taking responsibility fordirecting own learning and development activities (eg private study,e-learning).
To develop and apply clinical practice skills,knowledge and values within the specialist area.
To participate in continuing professionaldevelopment within your specialist area.
Safeguarding:
Report any concerns regarding the safety orwellbeing of children, adults service users,members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.
Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse andunderstand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.
Band 6:
The post holderwill be required to work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinaryteam, providing specialist speech and language therapry assessment andtreatment for service users in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a rangeof individual and group community based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in thepromotion of Salt and Language therapy within the service area. The post holder will be required to workflexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.
Thepost holder will contribute to the leadership and development of the SpecialistLearning Disability Health Team in accordance within local and nationalguidance.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
1.Clinical
1.1.Toundertake specific standardised and non-standardised assessments to formulateeffective treatment plans in conjunction with the service user, family andcarer.
1.2.Formulateand deliver individual treatment programmes based on specialist knowledge fordifferential diagnosis for communication and dysphagia, (evidence basedpractise, national and local guidelines using profession specific clinicalskills and techniques. (eg standardised assessments, AAC, group and individualwork)
1.3.Tointerpret the assessment results in order to plan and implement a clientcentred speech and language therapy treatment programme on an individual and/orgroup basis to achieve therapeutic goals.
1.4.Toensure therapeutic interventions are of a high professional standard, informedby evidence based practice and involves the service user and carer in allaspects of the care programme.
1.4. Todemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the effect of disability providingtraining and advice on lifestyle changes/adaptations to the clients social andphysical environments.
1.5. Toact as the care programme co-ordinator as required and to offer carers anassessment and care plan where appropriate.
1.6. Tocontribute to a co-ordinated team approach throughout the assessment and inmeeting the service users needs including developing and maintaining closeworking relationships with all relevant services, and agencies within thevoluntary sector.
1.7. Toregularly evaluate the effectiveness of group and individual speech andlanguage therapy interventions by undertaking specific audits and using outcomemeasures such as standardised / other relevant assessments and service usersatisfaction questionnaires.
1.8. Tocontinue treatment interventions where necessary to assist in the transition ofskills from an inpatient setting to living independently within the community.
1.9. Towork effectively within the multi-agency team ensuring that both written andverbal communication is clearly maintained to ensure a seamless service.
1.10. Tobe responsible for the maintenance of appropriate clinical records concernedwith service user treatment, in accordance with risk management documentationguidelines.
1.11. Toarrange/attend appropriate clinical team meetings, referral meetings, caseconferences, care programme approach meetings and any other as required byclinical need and as directed by the Lead AHP.
1.12. Toprovide accurate and timely reports, statistical data through the electronic recordingsystem and other information as required.
1.13. Toparticipate in monthly clinical and managerial supervision and to provideclinical supervision to other speech and language staff.
1.14To work as an autonomous practitioner.
2.Management
2.1. Toassist the Lead AHP with the operational management of the service on aday-to-day basis
2.2. Toensure that all significant events, relevant clinical issues and difficultieswhich may arise are communicated with the Lead AHP/Operational Manager
2.3. Todirect and delegate work to other team members such as; therapy assistants andcare support workers giving due consideration to their skills and abilities tocarry these duties out effectively
2.4. Tocarry out appraisal and development reviews with speech and language therapystaff and to contribute to the reviews of other staff as appropriate
2.5. Toassist the Operational Manager in effectively managing staff leave andsickness/absence to ensure adequate cover for the service on a day-to-day basis
2.6. Toparticipate in the recruitment and retention of staff including implementinginduction programmes
For further information, please see supporting information attached.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet theminimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates towork in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to befully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants areusing AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We stronglydiscourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selectingcandidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance yourapplication, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
Person Specification
Experience
* Band 6:
* Post registration experience including in learning disabilities
* Documented evidence of continuing professional development
* Supervision of staff and / or students
* Band 5:
* Ability to demonstrate knowledge of working with people with Learning Disabilities
* Band 6:
* Experience of a range of learning disability settings
* Supervision of staff and / or students
* Band 5:
* Experience of working with people with a learning disability in a clinical setting
* Previous experience as a speech and language therapist working in the NHS
* Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
Qualifications
* Band 6:
* Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent
* Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
* RCSLT Registration
* Band 5:
* Degree in speech and language pathology or therapy or equivalent
* Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist Certificate to Practice
* Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Personal Attributes
* Ability to implement all of the 6C values & behaviours expected of health care professionals
* Values contribution of others
* Ability to motivate self and others
* Organisational skills
* Effective communication skills, verbal and written
* Willingness to work flexibly
* The ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
* A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
* Hold a full driving licence
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
* A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Training.
* Band 6:
* Post graduate Dysphagia training or ability to successfully complete the training within 2 years.
* Evidence of ongoing training and relevant post graduate courses in communication and dysphagia.
* Band 5:
* To be willing to undertake post graduate training to further skills, knowledge and expertise
* Band 6:
* Post graduate training relevant to Learning Disability
* Band 5:
* Evidence of post qualification training
Special Knowledge and Skills
* Band 6:
* Specialist knowledge and application of Speech & Language Therapy assessments and interventions relevant to learning disability
* Extensive clinical practice skills including individual and group work
* Understanding of and ability to use appropriate outcome measures
* Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities
* Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues
* Supervisory / appraisal skills
* Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
* Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information
* Ability to build effective working relationships
* Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application
* Band 5:
* A demonstrable range of core professional skills, including familiarity with a range of clinical protocols
* Demonstrable knowledge of communication disorders presenting in a range of clients with communication difficulties in order to provide assessment, diagnosis and intervention
* Flexible clinical skills which take account of the needs of the individual client
* Demonstrable knowledge of issues related to the delivery of training to a range of recipients
* Insight into issues of confidentiality in the context of health care
* Insight into the requirement for excellence in clinical record keeping
* An awareness of the functions of related professions, agencies and legislation relating to services to clients
* Band 6:
* Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
* An understanding of the specific contribution of Speech and Language Therapists in Learning Disability Services.
* Band 5:
* Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
* An awareness of screening procedure for swallowing difficulties
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 Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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