Job summary
Water Meadow View is a new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities, which is due to open in late Autumn 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston. As we prepare to open this unit, we have an exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join us and support the Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person centred care.
One of the Trust's aims is to deliver the best possible care to our patients, and this new inpatient unit will do just that. Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient-centred care at its heart.
The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, treatment, planning, delivery and evaluation of evidence -based highly specialised speech and language intervention.
The post holder will be responsible for a highly specialist speech and language portfolio which will include provision of expert advice to speech and language therapists, senior clinicians, Multi-Disciplinary Team across LSCFT to support them in taking up their duty of care.The post holder will have management of a clinical caseload of patients/service users with highly complex and/or additional speech and language needs.
When you join us, you'll be making a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disability by delivering person centred, compassionate care, in a purpose built, co-produced environment, with opportunities to for you to learn and develop throughout your career.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will deliver on key responsibilities within the inpatient service:
- Provide clinical triage and support service demand management.
- To undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of patients/service users with highly complex presentations, using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine a diagnosis. Develop and implement a system to record and evidence patient outcomes
- To establish individualised management and treatment plans, using advanced clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of evidence based treatment skills and options to formulate highly specialised interventions and programmes of care, which may include working with staff across organisational boundaries.
- To promote health and reduce inequalities for patients/service users, families and communities 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.
- Provide clinical leadership and supervision facilitating a culture of learning and reflective practice within speech and language therapy and the MDT.
- To take the role of Clinical Lead in an agreed clinical area -ensuring evidence based practice, driving good practice development and offering second opinions across LSCFT. To be an active member of the Speech and Language (SLT) team across LSCFT and as part of the community of SLTs within the network/LSCFT.
About us
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
- Current professional registration with HCPC as Speech and Language Therapist and responsibility for maintaining this registration
- Masters module/post grad qualification in relevant field of clinical expertise (or working towards) / post-grad qualification/equivalent knowledge & experience to masters level
- Evidence of CPD in related field of clinical expertise (Autism, Mental Health).
Knowledge
Essential
- In depth knowledge relevant to the post including dysphagia , positive behavioural approaches and Learning disabilities
- Understanding of clinical governance framework and implications for practice including audit and research governance.
- In-depth understanding of current NHS/government policy/Public Health/NICE guidelines on organisational change and the ability to adapt these appropriately to local service needs through publication of documents
- Knowledge and appreciation in the assessment and management of risk including lone working risks - policy and procedure.
Experience
Essential
- Treatment of a broad range of conditions relating to clinical speciality
- Demonstrable evidence of improving and developing service and practice
- Evidence of leading and implementing clinical change
- Supervision and/or mentoring of staff/students.
- Highly advanced and specialised practice skills in field of expertise including dysphagia, behaviours that challenge and learning disabilities
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
- Current professional registration with HCPC as Speech and Language Therapist and responsibility for maintaining this registration
- Masters module/post grad qualification in relevant field of clinical expertise (or working towards) / post-grad qualification/equivalent knowledge & experience to masters level
- Evidence of CPD in related field of clinical expertise (Autism, Mental Health).
Knowledge
Essential
- In depth knowledge relevant to the post including dysphagia , positive behavioural approaches and Learning disabilities
- Understanding of clinical governance framework and implications for practice including audit and research governance.
- In-depth understanding of current NHS/government policy/Public Health/NICE guidelines on organisational change and the ability to adapt these appropriately to local service needs through publication of documents
- Knowledge and appreciation in the assessment and management of risk including lone working risks - policy and procedure.
Experience
Essential
- Treatment of a broad range of conditions relating to clinical speciality
- Demonstrable evidence of improving and developing service and practice
- Evidence of leading and implementing clinical change
- Supervision and/or mentoring of staff/students.
- Highly advanced and specialised practice skills in field of expertise including dysphagia, behaviours that challenge and learning disabilities
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).
