Job summary We are excited to announce a fantastic opportunity to join our team as a Speech and Language Therapist within the Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion (CJL&D) service, which is part of the newly awarded Integrated Non-Custodial Services (INCS) contract. This contract has been awarded to Devon Partnership Trust (DPT) for the next seven years and marks a major step forward in the integration of health and justice services. The INCS contract brings together CJL&D, Reconnect, and the Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs), creating an integrated approach to supporting individuals involved in the criminal justice system. From custody diversion through to successful release and reintegration into the community, the INCS model aims to provide effective care, support, and rehabilitation to address both healthcare needs and offending behaviours. CJL&D provides an all-vulnerability approach to assessments, identification of care pathways and, where indicated, diversion of individuals within and away from criminal justice systems. CJL&Ds aim is to improve the health and justice outcomes for all individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice systems where a range of complex needs are identified as factors in their offending behaviour. This is a new role for the team so will allow the successful candidate the freedom to establish and develop the role within the service. All persons will have to have Police vetting clearance prior to any formal offer of appointment. Main duties of the job As a Speech and Language Therapist in CJL&D, you will play a crucial role in supporting individuals who are in contact with the criminal justice system, helping to identify and address speech, language, and communication needs that may be impacting their ability to engage with justice processes and healthcare interventions. You will work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver tailored interventions that improve communication skills, reduce offending behaviour, and promote better outcomes for individuals within the justice system. Conduct assessments to identify speech, language, and communication needs of individuals referred through the CJL&D pathway. Design and deliver individualised therapeutic interventions to support clients in improving communication skills and reducing barriers to engagement with healthcare and justice services. Provide consultation and training to other professionals within CJL&D and partners on how to identify and support clients with communication difficulties. Contribute to multidisciplinary case discussions, ensuring speech and language needs are integrated into the wider support strategies. Work collaboratively with clients to ensure their needs are met, and their rights are upheld within the criminal justice and health systems. Promote the importance of speech and language therapy as a key factor in successful rehabilitation and reduced recidivism. About us About Devon Partnership Trust We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery. We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do Our values We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas. We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader. Date posted 20 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,388 to £44,962 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours Reference number C9369-25-0042 Job locations The Rowans, Whipton Hospital Exeter EX31 1RB Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose The post holder will play a key role in leading the assessment process for people identified as having Speech, Language and communication needs within the custody environment working alongside the police and Liaison and Diversion colleagues. Assessment is a core part of the role, so the post-holder should be a highly skilled practitioner in the assessment and treatment of communication difficulties with people with a wide range of different mental health difficulties. Provide ongoing education to ward staff in understanding communication difficulties and developing skills in how best to support people with communication needs The post holder will work as a senior member of the team, offering consultation, advice, and direct working where appropriate. They will liaise with a wide range of both statutory and non-statutory agencies. Required to carry out clinical sessions with clients which will require sustained concentration Duties and Responsibilities Communication and Working Relationship Skills Contribute to the teams engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including staff, service users, their carers and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies. Complex and sensitive information to: Service users and families/carers re assessment, diagnosis, onward pathways and support. Multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the provision of consistent well-coordinated care The Police and courts External agencies also involved in the provision of care e.g.: voluntary and private sector, social services, housing, employment etc. Service user/carer groups Promote the best possible communication with people with speech, Language and communication needs. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner with service users and other professionals in relation to all aspects of the post-holders work, including advisory and support services. To participate in supervision (managerial and clinical). To act according to the SLT Code of Professional Conduct, and any other relevant local or national clinical guidelines. To engage in continued professional development opportunities. To keep up to date with and contribute to developments in current SLT practice. To educate, train and share clinical expertise with other members of staff and the Trust. To communicate the outcome of assessment and therapy to a wide range of agencies as appropriate. This will include the production of formal written reports. Contribute to the safe and effective day to day operations of the service including the handling of clinical and social care enquires. Relay complex and sensitive information to people with speech, Language and communication needs with empathy and in a way that they can understand. Build and maintain local, regional and national links and networks to promote the advancement of specialist Speech and Language therapy practice. Analytical and Judgemental Skills Use clinical judgement to consider complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range health and social care difficulties. Skills for assessing and interpreting client conditions, appropriate diagnosis and onward pathways. Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance. Problem solving skills. To undertake project management, including clinical audit and service evaluation to help develop service provision. Planning and Organisational Skills Attend management and professional meetings as directed by their line manager and professional lead. Responsible for planning and co-ordinating own day to day work load in collaboration with the needs of the service users and the wider needs of the service. Ensure that interventions are planned in an integrated and co-ordinated manner particularly where dependent on other external agencies. Participate in the planning, leading and organisation of service development project. Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy To provide a timely, specialist assessment of a persons communication needs. Referrals are accepted where a communication need is identified by screening, or where a person has a known (or queried) diagnoses where the associated clinical characteristics will impact their understanding and ability to participate e.g. autism, learning disability, head injury. To provide consultation for partner agencies through advice giving on how to communicate most effectively, or how to modify verbally delivered offender treatment programmes. To provide reasonable adjustment recommendations to police/court that describe strategies that will make understanding of/engagement with justice processes easier as well as to ensure that the communication process is as complete, coherent and accurate as possible. To help adapt the content and/or wording of existing verbal and written material, including (but not exclusive to): Police Caution Interview Questioning framework Court Orders Bail conditions Provide specialist advice to referrers/other multi-disciplinary staff in relation to the care of the service user. Participate in safeguarding children to level 3 as set out in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff. Apply specialist knowledge and skills to meet the needs of those with speech, Language and communication needs. Develop specialist programmes of treatment for individuals. To regularly review the delivery of the service, working with service managers to look at changes and new initiatives, both national and local, to ensure that the service remains needs led. Advise line managers on issues of service delivery including shortfalls, service pressures, clinical evidence base, guidelines etc. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation Proposing policy or service changes both in own specialist area of speech and language and Liaison Contribute to professional clinical governance arrangements in order to ensure the quality of the service provided. To be aware of Clinical Governance issues using the incident reporting procedure. Ensure on going professional development and maintain awareness of advances within Speech and Language Therapies, both on a local and national level. Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources Responsible for care of own equipment. To work autonomously managing their own time and work capacity. Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management To deliver external training on a quarterly basis to partner agencies (e.g. police, magistrates, probation, youth justice teams) to develop awareness and recognition to enable the development of broad strategies to support people with communication needs in everyday practice, for example autism-specific communication strategies, accessible information standards. Provide supervision and support to designated staff. Act as a Speech and Language therapy mentor and/or supervisor-planning, overseeing and assessing Speech and Language therapy students. Participate in supervision of own practice completing any agreed actions as required. Ensure efficient and effective management of time and resources. Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties Maintain up to date client records in a timely and accurate manner consistent with CareNotes standard operating procedures. Responsibility for Research and Development Undertake surveys and audits for own work. To participate in data collection, audit, service evaluation and clinical research designed to improve the understanding and effectiveness of services delivered to patients. The frequency of this will be down to the individual piece of work. Some audits are monthly whereas service evaluation would be quarterly or annually. This will be agreed with the Trust according to clinical governance guidelines and in agreement with the post-holders service and professional managers. Lead programmes of audit and research on a quarterly basis within the team and the wider service and implement the findings. Contribute to research on a quarterly basis and audit activity on a monthly basis as a means of advancing practice knowledge. Freedom to Act Has the discretion to make decisions within the service as working as an autonomous practitioner as the lead specialist in their role reporting to the service Manager. As an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will be responsible for their own work and interventions and for the interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies. Any Other Specific Tasks Required Ensure that statutory training associated with the post is undertaken. Participate in own clinical supervision and PDR. Practice in a way that is strengths based and champions diversity. Communicate information in a way that makes it accessible and understandable for service users and carer. Work co-operatively with colleagues, key stakeholders and wider agencies. Ensure a duty of care to service users, who are entitled to receive safe and competent care. The Service User wishes, feelings, values and beliefs should be taken into consideration as well as the views of the people close to them. Take personal accountability for your own practice. Ensure that you remain professionally competent by participating in your own and others clinical supervision, and maintaining all necessary standards for your professional regulatory body. Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose The post holder will play a key role in leading the assessment process for people identified as having Speech, Language and communication needs within the custody environment working alongside the police and Liaison and Diversion colleagues. Assessment is a core part of the role, so the post-holder should be a highly skilled practitioner in the assessment and treatment of communication difficulties with people with a wide range of different mental health difficulties. Provide ongoing education to ward staff in understanding communication difficulties and developing skills in how best to support people with communication needs The post holder will work as a senior member of the team, offering consultation, advice, and direct working where appropriate. They will liaise with a wide range of both statutory and non-statutory agencies. Required to carry out clinical sessions with clients which will require sustained concentration Duties and Responsibilities Communication and Working Relationship Skills Contribute to the teams engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including staff, service users, their carers and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies. Complex and sensitive information to: Service users and families/carers re assessment, diagnosis, onward pathways and support. Multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the provision of consistent well-coordinated care The Police and courts External agencies also involved in the provision of care e.g.: voluntary and private sector, social services, housing, employment etc. Service user/carer groups Promote the best possible communication with people with speech, Language and communication needs. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner with service users and other professionals in relation to all aspects of the post-holders work, including advisory and support services. To participate in supervision (managerial and clinical). To act according to the SLT Code of Professional Conduct, and any other relevant local or national clinical guidelines. To engage in continued professional development opportunities. To keep up to date with and contribute to developments in current SLT practice. To educate, train and share clinical expertise with other members of staff and the Trust. To communicate the outcome of assessment and therapy to a wide range of agencies as appropriate. This will include the production of formal written reports. Contribute to the safe and effective day to day operations of the service including the handling of clinical and social care enquires. Relay complex and sensitive information to people with speech, Language and communication needs with empathy and in a way that they can understand. Build and maintain local, regional and national links and networks to promote the advancement of specialist Speech and Language therapy practice. Analytical and Judgemental Skills Use clinical judgement to consider complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range health and social care difficulties. Skills for assessing and interpreting client conditions, appropriate diagnosis and onward pathways. Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance. Problem solving skills. To undertake project management, including clinical audit and service evaluation to help develop service provision. Planning and Organisational Skills Attend management and professional meetings as directed by their line manager and professional lead. Responsible for planning and co-ordinating own day to day work load in collaboration with the needs of the service users and the wider needs of the service. Ensure that interventions are planned in an integrated and co-ordinated manner particularly where dependent on other external agencies. Participate in the planning, leading and organisation of service development project. Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy To provide a timely, specialist assessment of a persons communication needs. Referrals are accepted where a communication need is identified by screening, or where a person has a known (or queried) diagnoses where the associated clinical characteristics will impact their understanding and ability to participate e.g. autism, learning disability, head injury. To provide consultation for partner agencies through advice giving on how to communicate most effectively, or how to modify verbally delivered offender treatment programmes. To provide reasonable adjustment recommendations to police/court that describe strategies that will make understanding of/engagement with justice processes easier as well as to ensure that the communication process is as complete, coherent and accurate as possible. To help adapt the content and/or wording of existing verbal and written material, including (but not exclusive to): Police Caution Interview Questioning framework Court Orders Bail conditions Provide specialist advice to referrers/other multi-disciplinary staff in relation to the care of the service user. Participate in safeguarding children to level 3 as set out in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff. Apply specialist knowledge and skills to meet the needs of those with speech, Language and communication needs. Develop specialist programmes of treatment for individuals. To regularly review the delivery of the service, working with service managers to look at changes and new initiatives, both national and local, to ensure that the service remains needs led. Advise line managers on issues of service delivery including shortfalls, service pressures, clinical evidence base, guidelines etc. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation Proposing policy or service changes both in own specialist area of speech and language and Liaison Contribute to professional clinical governance arrangements in order to ensure the quality of the service provided. To be aware of Clinical Governance issues using the incident reporting procedure. Ensure on going professional development and maintain awareness of advances within Speech and Language Therapies, both on a local and national level. Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources Responsible for care of own equipment. To work autonomously managing their own time and work capacity. Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management To deliver external training on a quarterly basis to partner agencies (e.g. police, magistrates, probation, youth justice teams) to develop awareness and recognition to enable the development of broad strategies to support people with communication needs in everyday practice, for example autism-specific communication strategies, accessible information standards. Provide supervision and support to designated staff. Act as a Speech and Language therapy mentor and/or supervisor-planning, overseeing and assessing Speech and Language therapy students. Participate in supervision of own practice completing any agreed actions as required. Ensure efficient and effective management of time and resources. Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties Maintain up to date client records in a timely and accurate manner consistent with CareNotes standard operating procedures. Responsibility for Research and Development Undertake surveys and audits for own work. To participate in data collection, audit, service evaluation and clinical research designed to improve the understanding and effectiveness of services delivered to patients. The frequency of this will be down to the individual piece of work. Some audits are monthly whereas service evaluation would be quarterly or annually. This will be agreed with the Trust according to clinical governance guidelines and in agreement with the post-holders service and professional managers. Lead programmes of audit and research on a quarterly basis within the team and the wider service and implement the findings. Contribute to research on a quarterly basis and audit activity on a monthly basis as a means of advancing practice knowledge. Freedom to Act Has the discretion to make decisions within the service as working as an autonomous practitioner as the lead specialist in their role reporting to the service Manager. As an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will be responsible for their own work and interventions and for the interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies. Any Other Specific Tasks Required Ensure that statutory training associated with the post is undertaken. Participate in own clinical supervision and PDR. Practice in a way that is strengths based and champions diversity. Communicate information in a way that makes it accessible and understandable for service users and carer. Work co-operatively with colleagues, key stakeholders and wider agencies. Ensure a duty of care to service users, who are entitled to receive safe and competent care. The Service User wishes, feelings, values and beliefs should be taken into consideration as well as the views of the people close to them. Take personal accountability for your own practice. Ensure that you remain professionally competent by participating in your own and others clinical supervision, and maintaining all necessary standards for your professional regulatory body. Person Specification Qualifications Essential A degree in a health related subject or equivalent professional qualification in Speech and Language. HCPC registration. Desirable Evidence of continuing professional development. Member of RCSLT. Post graduate qualification/training in area of specialism. Experience of working with offenders or individuals with mental health issues and other vulnerabilities Experience Essential Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment. Excellent written and oral communication skills for a variety of audiences. Able to work under own initiative Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work and achieve. Knowledge and skills Essential In depth knowledge of relevant RCSLT clinical guidelines and professional standard. Able to give clear, concise written and verbal reports. Ability to manage risk. Able to work flexibly and independently. Ability to be mobile across a geographical area. Excellent clinical assessment skills. Person Specification Qualifications Essential A degree in a health related subject or equivalent professional qualification in Speech and Language. HCPC registration. Desirable Evidence of continuing professional development. Member of RCSLT. Post graduate qualification/training in area of specialism. Experience of working with offenders or individuals with mental health issues and other vulnerabilities Experience Essential Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment. Excellent written and oral communication skills for a variety of audiences. Able to work under own initiative Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work and achieve. Knowledge and skills Essential In depth knowledge of relevant RCSLT clinical guidelines and professional standard. Able to give clear, concise written and verbal reports. Ability to manage risk. Able to work flexibly and independently. Ability to be mobile across a geographical area. Excellent clinical assessment skills. 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). Employer details Employer name Devon Partnership NHS Trust Address The Rowans, Whipton Hospital Exeter EX31 1RB Employer's website https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)