Job summary
Our team is expanding! This is a rare opportunity to join the North London Forensic Service in a newly created post. We are looking for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 7) who has the enthusiasm and experience to lead our inpatient learning disability service and our developing dysphagia service.
The successful applicant will work across inpatient services in our secure hospital based in North London.
We are a small but friendly and supportive team working within the hospital and in the community. Our wider team includes Speech and Language Therapists working within the prison service. The ability to work successfully as a fully integrated member of the Speech and Language Therapy team and multidisciplinary teams is essential.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as a band 7 Speech and Language Therapist and their role will encompass leading the inpatient service for service users with a mild/moderate learning disability, and co-occurring conditions, and leading the developing dysphagia service across the whole inpatient service.
The post holder will work as a fully integrated member of the Speech and Language Therapy and multidisciplinary teams, providing assessment, diagnosis, management, advice, intervention and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders. The post holder will be responsible for supervision of junior members of the Speech and Language Therapy team and will be involved in training.
They will work closely with the lead Speech and Language Therapist in innovation and development of the service with particular emphasis on the communication needs of service users with mild/moderate learning disability, and co-existing conditions, and swallowing disorders across the whole of the inpatient service.
About us
The North London Forensic Service provides care and treatment to people aged over 18 who have a primary diagnosis of mental illness or learning disability and who are liable to be detained under the Mental Health Act (1983). The service supports those whose risk of harm to others or escape from hospital cannot be safely managed in other mental health settings and therefore require care and treatment within a secure mental health service. We also provide a service to those who have been discharged from secure services into the community.
If you are looking for a new challenge, enjoy variety in your work and wish to be part of a small team striving to make a difference for people with mental health and learning disability within a secure setting, then we would like to hear from you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification by clicking on the JD/PS attachment in the advert
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification by clicking on the JD/PS attachment in the advert
Person Specification
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree/qualification or equivalent.
- Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice.
- A recognised post-graduate level Dysphagia qualification or substantial experience in the assessment and management of a range of presentations.
- Evidence of competence level 5 or above of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework (2020)
- Evidence of maintenance of skills in dysphagia skills for example membership of CEN/ CPD activity.
Desirable
- Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree or equivalent.
- Evidence of level 6 of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework.
- Evidence of ADOS and ADI-R competency.
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Clear evidence to demonstrate specialist experience and the acquisition of clinical skills working in the relevant clinical specialisms of dysphagia and mild/moderate learning disability in last 18 months.
- Evidence of work-based learning to demonstrate clinical skills within a range of clinical settings.
Desirable
- Evidence to demonstrate specialist experience and the acquisition of clinical skills for working in the criminal justice system with people with mental health conditions, personality disorder and autism.
- Experience of developing dysphagia services.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Essential
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills and ability to communicate sensitive and complex information.
- Skills to adapt practice to meet individual service user circumstance with due regard for cultural, social and linguistic differences.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential
- Ability to be flexible, engaging and approachable and can work quickly and responsively with both service users and the multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to work with other members of the SLT team to provide support and actively contribute to, and engage in , new initiatives.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential
- Has a clear understanding of clinical risk management and the ability to manage this.
- Has the ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and behaviour that may challenge.
Person Specification
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree/qualification or equivalent.
- Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice.
- A recognised post-graduate level Dysphagia qualification or substantial experience in the assessment and management of a range of presentations.
- Evidence of competence level 5 or above of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework (2020)
- Evidence of maintenance of skills in dysphagia skills for example membership of CEN/ CPD activity.
Desirable
- Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree or equivalent.
- Evidence of level 6 of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework.
- Evidence of ADOS and ADI-R competency.
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Clear evidence to demonstrate specialist experience and the acquisition of clinical skills working in the relevant clinical specialisms of dysphagia and mild/moderate learning disability in last 18 months.
- Evidence of work-based learning to demonstrate clinical skills within a range of clinical settings.
Desirable
- Evidence to demonstrate specialist experience and the acquisition of clinical skills for working in the criminal justice system with people with mental health conditions, personality disorder and autism.
- Experience of developing dysphagia services.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Essential
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills and ability to communicate sensitive and complex information.
- Skills to adapt practice to meet individual service user circumstance with due regard for cultural, social and linguistic differences.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential
- Ability to be flexible, engaging and approachable and can work quickly and responsively with both service users and the multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to work with other members of the SLT team to provide support and actively contribute to, and engage in , new initiatives.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential
- Has a clear understanding of clinical risk management and the ability to manage this.
- Has the ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and behaviour that may challenge.
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).
