Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to work within our Speech & language therapy service within the Secure and Specialist learning disability division at Maghull Health Park.

The division is led by a Principal Speech and Language Therapist with support from a number of Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists working within the secure hospital settings (low, medium and high secure). The service includes a wider network of Speech and Language Therapists and assistants who meet regularly to discuss clinical cases and service improvement. There are robust supervision networks in place and ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development.

Although this post is advertised as a Band 6, we would also consider applications from Band 5 therapists. We understand that as a Band 5, all aspects of the job specification would not be met, however the successful candidate would be fully supported to achieve the relevant competencies for the role.

Main duties of the job

As the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will be responsible for managing a clinical caseload involving the assessment and management of dysphagia and communication difficulties with adults with learning disabilities, additional mental health needs and forensic risk.

You will provide support to the wider MDT, represent Speech and Language Therapy in projects or meetings within the service, and provide relevant training to staff teams. We strongly advocate collaborative working across all our sites and work together to deliver a high quality service to all our patients.

You will offer clinical interventions to patients in order to support risk management, positive behaviour support plans and to enhance communication. You will work collaboratively with professional colleagues and provider services to deliver person-centred care. You will also have the opportunity to provide leadership and guidance on communication and dysphagia and to continue to meet your developing competencies.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Date posted

25 July 2022

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£32,306 to £39,027 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

350-SELD4396431

Job locations

Maghull Health Park

Parkbourn

Maghull, Liverpool

L31 1FN

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to work as part of the secure and specialist learning disability division. The post will be based at Rowan View , a medium secure service for people with learning disabilities and mental illness.

We are striving as part of our strong ambition for excellence in forensic care to provide:

An environment that will promote the integration of physical and mental wellbeing.

A social hub incorporating a caf, therapy rooms and other therapeutic spaces

Use of therapeutic technology for the benefit of patients and staff including virtual reality and avatar therapy.

As the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will be responsible for managing a small clinical caseload involving the assessment and management of dysphagia and communication difficulties with adults with learning disabilities, mental illness and behaviour which challenges, requiring individual packages of care.

You will provide support to the wider MDT, represent Speech and Language Therapy in projects or meetings within the hospital, and provide relevant training.

You will offer interventions to support risk management, positive behaviour support plans and communication.

You will work collaboratively with professional colleagues and provider services to deliver person-centred care. You will provide leadership and guidance on communication and dysphagia within the MDT, and to mainstream and provider services.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within our developing service in the Secure and Specialist learning disability division. The division is lead by a Principal Speech and Language Therapist and there will be support and supervision from a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist also working within the hospital.

The service also includes a wider network of Speech and Language Therapists and assistants who meet regularly to discuss clinical cases and service improvement.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist inpatient and community mental health, learning disabilities, addiction and acquired brain injury services for the people of Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby, Merseyside.

We also provide community physical health services in Liverpool, Sefton, secure mental health services for the North West of England, the West Midlands and Wales and specialist learning disability services across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

We work closely with service users, carers and partner organisations; we have been able to make real improvements to our diverse range of services, from health and social care, right through to high secure provision.

This passion to improve has been recognised by the CQC who have recently rated us Good. Mersey Cares vision and values of Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respect, Enthusiasm and Support (CARES) drive our organisation and the way we work together to deliver services.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate, during recruitment and any subsequent employment with the Trust, that their behaviour supports our values. The CQC stated It was clear that most staff across the organisation understood, and were committed to, the vision and values of the organisation. These were well communicated and the work to win both hearts and minds was apparent. We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from BAME, disabled and LGBT people that are under-represented in our workforce.

Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us.

We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.