Job summary
The Speech and Language Therapy Team are excited to advertise this permanent position within Ashworth High Secure Hospital in Liverpool. The post will provide the opportunity to deliver evidence-based speech and language therapy assessment, treatment and intervention to service users who have a forensic profile with a range of communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties. The post holder will work with service users who have a primary diagnosis of a mental illness and/or personality disorder.
The caseload may cover a wide spectrum of communication disorders associated with higher level language, social communication, expressing and describing emotions and mental state, and understanding the parameters of their care to meaningfully engage.
The post holder will have the opportunity to be integrated as a valuable member of the MDT on site and be actively involved in ensuring both patient care and wider service developments are co-produced and accessible to all.
Supervision and line management will be provided by the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and the successful post holder will be supported to achieve competences in core speech and language therapy skills relevant to the role.
We are happy to invite applicants with HCPC registration pending and Newly Qualified Speech and Language Therapists.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be required to:
- Work under the supervision of a senior SALT
- Manage their own clinical caseload (for a newly qualified therapist this will be within their competency level)
- Carry out assessment and intervention e.g. therapy/treatment
- Work collaboratively with the wider MDT e.g. scaffolding others interventions to meet patient communication needs
- Support patient understanding of their care, treatment, and forensic risk
- Develop and support the delivery of training
- Develop communication profiles
- Support wider service development projects to ensure these are accessible
*Please see job description attached to this form for further information.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Work as part of the speech and language therapy team and be responsible for assessment and management of a clinical caseload of patients with speech and language therapy needs. For newly qualified SLTs this will be within their competency level.
Undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of patients using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine areas of strengths and difficulties, and to determine a therapy management plan. (With support from senior/experienced SLTs).
Provide intervention on a 1:1 and group basis to develop skills and confidence across any identified areas of communication needs.
Work with the individual and their care team to develop Communication Care plans, Dysphagia care plans and Risk Management Plans within competency level identified within supervision.
Develop communication profiles with individuals and their care teams to support them to improve access to wider care and treatment.
Promote health and reduce inequalities for all patients accessing the speech and language therapy service, so that they may be able to maximise their potential in terms of health education and social well-being.
Contribute to training and development programmes as appropriate to the knowledge and skills of the individual, delivering to other professionals and service users.
As the post holder progresses to Band 6 within this developmental post, to provide support and supervision to Assistant Speech and Language Therapists within the team.
Participate in the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust (MCFT) PACE review process ensuring business priority objectives are met and a personal development plan is maintained and evaluated. Cascade the PACE process to departmental staff as appropriate.
Be responsible for own continuing professional development and maintaining own professional registration and meet HCPC registration requirements, maintain a professional portfolio and demonstrating evidence of reflective practice.
Undertake mandatory training as in line with MCFT policy and attend updates and study days as appropriate to the post.
Adhere to all MCFT Policies and Procedures and contribute to their development as appropriate.
Have in depth knowledge of HCPC standards and guidance, understand implications for and be able to apply to practice, e.g., HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/HPC Standards of Proficiency.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Work as part of the speech and language therapy team and be responsible for assessment and management of a clinical caseload of patients with speech and language therapy needs. For newly qualified SLTs this will be within their competency level.
Undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of patients using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine areas of strengths and difficulties, and to determine a therapy management plan. (With support from senior/experienced SLTs).
Provide intervention on a 1:1 and group basis to develop skills and confidence across any identified areas of communication needs.
Work with the individual and their care team to develop Communication Care plans, Dysphagia care plans and Risk Management Plans within competency level identified within supervision.
Develop communication profiles with individuals and their care teams to support them to improve access to wider care and treatment.
Promote health and reduce inequalities for all patients accessing the speech and language therapy service, so that they may be able to maximise their potential in terms of health education and social well-being.
Contribute to training and development programmes as appropriate to the knowledge and skills of the individual, delivering to other professionals and service users.
As the post holder progresses to Band 6 within this developmental post, to provide support and supervision to Assistant Speech and Language Therapists within the team.
Participate in the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust (MCFT) PACE review process ensuring business priority objectives are met and a personal development plan is maintained and evaluated. Cascade the PACE process to departmental staff as appropriate.
Be responsible for own continuing professional development and maintaining own professional registration and meet HCPC registration requirements, maintain a professional portfolio and demonstrating evidence of reflective practice.
Undertake mandatory training as in line with MCFT policy and attend updates and study days as appropriate to the post.
Adhere to all MCFT Policies and Procedures and contribute to their development as appropriate.
Have in depth knowledge of HCPC standards and guidance, understand implications for and be able to apply to practice, e.g., HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/HPC Standards of Proficiency.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Awareness and consideration of mental health conditions.
- Awareness and consideration of forensic risk.
Desirable
- Experience working in a forensic setting
- Experience working with patients with mental illness and/or personality disorders
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
- Registration with Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) or in the process of obtaining registration if newly qualified
Desirable
- Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- Post graduate training/qualification in Dysphagia
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of assessing and diagnosing speech, language and communication difficulties
- Knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy assessments and appropriate experience of using assessments
- Evidence of good IT skills including the use of a range of software (including symbol software packages)
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills both written and verbal
- Knowledge of current key RCSLT and national developments and policies driving current practice
Desirable
- Experience of managing a Speech and Language Therapy caseload (with supervision)
- Experience of working with adults
- Experience of working with dysphagia
- Experience of delivering/developing training to staff/carers
- Experience of using iPads and other forms of technology
- Experience of facilitating groups
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work with service users who exhibit behaviours that may be considered challenging
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
Desirable
- Additional training in relevant specialism
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Awareness and consideration of mental health conditions.
- Awareness and consideration of forensic risk.
Desirable
- Experience working in a forensic setting
- Experience working with patients with mental illness and/or personality disorders
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
- Registration with Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) or in the process of obtaining registration if newly qualified
Desirable
- Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- Post graduate training/qualification in Dysphagia
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of assessing and diagnosing speech, language and communication difficulties
- Knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy assessments and appropriate experience of using assessments
- Evidence of good IT skills including the use of a range of software (including symbol software packages)
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills both written and verbal
- Knowledge of current key RCSLT and national developments and policies driving current practice
Desirable
- Experience of managing a Speech and Language Therapy caseload (with supervision)
- Experience of working with adults
- Experience of working with dysphagia
- Experience of delivering/developing training to staff/carers
- Experience of using iPads and other forms of technology
- Experience of facilitating groups
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work with service users who exhibit behaviours that may be considered challenging
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
Desirable
- Additional training in relevant specialism
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
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).
