Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Clinical Specialist Lead - Learning Disability (LD) Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) to join our Community Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities (CTALD) within NHS Somerset Foundation Trust.
In this pivotal role, you will ensure clinical excellence in the assessment and management of communication and dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing) needs, including complex and chronic conditions. You will act as a source of specialist expertise for the LD SLT team, service users, care providers, students, assistant practitioners, other healthcare professionals, and stakeholders.
This is a predominantly clinical role, carrying a specialist caseload while working closely with our multi-disciplinary health team. You will also provide high-quality clinical supervision to identified specialist SLTs within CTALD and contribute to the continued development of our services for adults with learning disabilities across Somerset.
Main duties of the job
Deliver specialist clinical assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for adults with learning disabilities and complex communication and dysphagia needs.
Work autonomously to manage your own caseload, ensuring clinical risk is effectively managed.
Provide expert advice to colleagues, care providers, and other agencies to ensure co-ordinated, multi-disciplinary care.
Offer high-quality clinical supervision and mentorship to SLT colleagues, assistant practitioners, and students.
Lead and contribute to service development, audits, and evidence-based practice initiatives within LD SLT and CTALD.
Represent the LD SLT service at relevant multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings.
Support staff development through coaching, training, and active performance management.
Maintain accurate, timely clinical records in line with Trust and professional standards.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Clinical Specialist Lead, you will be a key figure in ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, evidence-based SLT service for adults with learning disabilities in Somerset. You will:
- Undertake comprehensive assessments, using advanced clinical reasoning to develop individualised treatment plans.
- Provide interventions that maximise communication potential and manage dysphagia needs, adapting techniques to suit service users' specific requirements.
- Use specialist communication strategies to work effectively with individuals who have barriers to understanding, including cognitive, sensory, and emotional factors.
- Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team - including nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, and other health professionals - to deliver integrated care.
- Contribute to policy and service development, ensuring compliance with national and local standards.
- Lead on the implementation of clinical guidelines and protocols for LD SLT, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation.
- Engage in clinical governance, audit, research, and service evaluation to maintain high professional standards.
- Support the professional development of the team through structured supervision, training sessions, and student placements.
- Travel within the Trust boundaries to deliver services in a range of settings, including service users' homes, community facilities, and care provider environments.
This is an exciting opportunity to combine clinical expertise with service leadership, shaping the future of LD SLT provision across Somerset.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Clinical Specialist Lead, you will be a key figure in ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, evidence-based SLT service for adults with learning disabilities in Somerset. You will:
- Undertake comprehensive assessments, using advanced clinical reasoning to develop individualised treatment plans.
- Provide interventions that maximise communication potential and manage dysphagia needs, adapting techniques to suit service users' specific requirements.
- Use specialist communication strategies to work effectively with individuals who have barriers to understanding, including cognitive, sensory, and emotional factors.
- Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team - including nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, and other health professionals - to deliver integrated care.
- Contribute to policy and service development, ensuring compliance with national and local standards.
- Lead on the implementation of clinical guidelines and protocols for LD SLT, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation.
- Engage in clinical governance, audit, research, and service evaluation to maintain high professional standards.
- Support the professional development of the team through structured supervision, training sessions, and student placements.
- Travel within the Trust boundaries to deliver services in a range of settings, including service users' homes, community facilities, and care provider environments.
This is an exciting opportunity to combine clinical expertise with service leadership, shaping the future of LD SLT provision across Somerset.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent professional qualificationsHCPC registered
Desirable
- Post Graduate education to Masters level and / or post graduate clinical training in relevant specialist area
Experience
Essential
- Extensive proven post graduate NHS experience with extensive clinical experience relevant to the postExperience of working across organisational boundaries in a health care settingExperience of providing high quality effective services within resource limitsExperience of supporting staff and developing staff membersExperience of serviced based problem solving
Desirable
- Experience of change management and of developing and implementing new models of careExperience of active performance management
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent professional qualificationsHCPC registered
Desirable
- Post Graduate education to Masters level and / or post graduate clinical training in relevant specialist area
Experience
Essential
- Extensive proven post graduate NHS experience with extensive clinical experience relevant to the postExperience of working across organisational boundaries in a health care settingExperience of providing high quality effective services within resource limitsExperience of supporting staff and developing staff membersExperience of serviced based problem solving
Desirable
- Experience of change management and of developing and implementing new models of careExperience of active performance management
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
