Sirona care & health CIC

Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - ALDHS

The closing date is 20 July 2025

Job summary

The opportunity has arisen for a motivated Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in working with people with a learning disability to take a Band 6 specialist role in the Sirona Adult Learning Disability Health Service (SALDHS) for a fixed term of 23 months.

This is a full-time position is based in Bristol, with opportunities to also work with colleagues covering South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. The service hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

You will work within a locality multi-disciplinary team, with the opportunity to work with specialist SLTs across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire delivering person centred care, and training to care and support staff.

The post offers excellent support with opportunities to develop skills in:

Assessment and management of communication, including lining with AACWEST
Developing resources and accessible information
Developing skills in Signing, using Talking Mats, and AAC
Delivering training to carers and family members
Opportunity to develop skills in managing eating, drinking and swallowing issues
Excellent supervision and peer support available as well as regular Journal Club and opportunities to develop care pathways
Regular team meetings and MDT working

Main duties of the job

You will hold a clinical caseload of people with learning disabilities who have communication and/or eating and drinking needs. Our service users have a broad range of communication needs including supporting the implementation of AAC, the use of signing, Talking mats, Social Stories and Visual support strategies. Management of complex dysphagia, including triage, prioritisation, assessment, risk assessment and the development of individualised care plans as well as care and support staff education to support understanding and implementation of guidance given.

Your work will be in the community seeing people in their homes or other familiar and appropriate environments. You will also be working collaboratively within our multi-disciplinary team which provides a holistic approach to meet the service users health needs. You will receive support from clinical specialist SLTs and the SLT Clinical lead to develop in this role We actively encourage skill development and case discussion to ensure the team deliver a high-quality service that is innovative, safe and continuously improving for a positive and meaningful service user experience.

Alongside your clinical caseload there will be opportunities to provide advice, education and training to health staff, social care workers and family carers. and information in a range of formats to meet service user needs.

About us

We are Sirona care & health, a Community Interest Company committed to providing local communities with a range of high-quality specialist healthcare services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. For us, it's about the personal approach; we take pride in what we do and deliver the high standard of care we would expect for ourselves and our families.

At Sirona, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of colleagues, people and communities. We welcome applications from all who feel they have the skills and attributes to make a real difference.

Benefits:

We offer NHS Agenda for Change Salary, Terms and Conditions and the NHS pension scheme plus much more!Please see the benefits leaflet attached to this advert for details.

We offer NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) salary including annual leave supplement, Stakeholder pension, a range of health and wellbeing incentives, high street discounts, plus much more!

Date posted

24 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pro rata, per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

23 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

083-7286165-WW

Job locations

New Friends Hall

Heath House Lane, Stapleton

Bristol

BS16 1EQ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.

Sirona care & health currently recruit overseas nursing and therapy staff through an NHS Trust Supplier and we adhere to the NHSE Code of Practice in relation to applicants from Red List countries. We are therefore, unable to accept any direct applications to this advert from candidates who are not already based in the UK.

If you are currently require a visa to work in the UK, there must be a minimum of 12 months from your start date until the expiry date.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.

If you are currently require a visa to work in the UK, there must be a minimum of 12 months from your start date until the expiry date.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience working with adults with Learning Disability. Knowledge of Speech and language therapy assessments and interventions relevant to Learning Disability needs including AAC, Signing, Visual Strategies and Intensive Interaction
Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary and multiagency teams
Computer skills including use of electronic patient records
Experience of developing and providing training

Desirable

Experience working in the community with adults with Learning Disability with associated mental health needs and challenging behaviour
Completion of audits and or research Experience of managing dysphagia in the community
Exp[erience of using Talking Mats
Experience of using Social Stories

Qualifications

Essential

Recognised qualification in speech and language therapy
RCSLT approved Licence to Practice
HCPC Registration

Desirable

Evidence of CPD

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience working with adults with Learning Disability. Knowledge of Speech and language therapy assessments and interventions relevant to Learning Disability needs including AAC, Signing, Visual Strategies and Intensive Interaction
Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary and multiagency teams
Computer skills including use of electronic patient records
Experience of developing and providing training

Desirable

Experience working in the community with adults with Learning Disability with associated mental health needs and challenging behaviour
Completion of audits and or research Experience of managing dysphagia in the community
Exp[erience of using Talking Mats
Experience of using Social Stories

Qualifications

Essential

Recognised qualification in speech and language therapy
RCSLT approved Licence to Practice
HCPC Registration

Desirable

Evidence of CPD

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sirona care & health CIC

Address

New Friends Hall

Heath House Lane, Stapleton

Bristol

BS16 1EQ

Employer's website

https://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sirona care & health CIC

Address

New Friends Hall

Heath House Lane, Stapleton

Bristol

BS16 1EQ

Employer's website

https://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)