Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Are you a Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in working with adults who are autistic or who have a learning disability? Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to be part of a new service development in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Region?
The Specialist Community Forensic Team have been commissioned to work with key stakeholders and partner agencies to enhance community provision for people who are autistic or who have a learning disability.
The Specialist Community Forensic Team is a multi-disciplinary team which consists of Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology and Social Work. You would be expected to work across all areas of Lancashire and South Cumbria and liaise with a range of partner agencies. As a developing service, there is likely to be an investment across disciplines in relation to CPD activity and further relevant qualifications to the post.
Working hours are primarily Monday-Friday 9-5pm. Flexible working will be considered for all roles. You will be based at Alexander House as our community base. We are looking to recruit a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist, who will work alongside the Band 7 Speech and Language Therapists.
Main duties of the job
You will provide high quality consultation, specialist assessment and intervention to deliver effective person-centred Speech and Language Therapy services for people who have come into contact or are at risk of contact with the criminal justice system. This will include assessment and formulation of the interface between an individual's communication profile and presenting risk.
You will use neurodiversity affirming practices and work within a strengths-based model when carrying out assessment and intervention. For example, understanding autism as part of someone's identity and supporting the development of self-advocacy, emotional literacy and perspective taking skills.
You will contribute to multi-agency formulation and care planning for individuals, e.g. contributing to PBS plans, risk assessments and capacity formulation to manage and reduce risk and improve quality of life for individuals referred into the service.
Previous experience of work within a forensic setting/service is not essential as we know that this is a growing and developing area of Speech and Language Therapy practice. Applications from individuals with interest and experience working in learning disability, autism and/or mental health services are strongly encouraged.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
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.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To carry a Speech and Language Therapy clinical caseload of adults with a learning disability and/or autistic adults who have come into contact with or are at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.
2. To provide person-centred specialist assessment and intervention for this client group, including assessment and formulation of the interface between an individual's communication profile and presenting risk.
3. To use neurodiversity affirming practices and work within a strengths-based model when carrying out assessment and intervention.
4. To use evidence-based practice to evaluate outcomes for individuals with complex communication needs.
5. To contribute to multi-agency formulation and care planning for individuals.
6. To formulate reports to explain the person's communication needs, therapeutic intervention and support strategies for a range of audiences.
7. To provide advice, training and consultation to others in how to meet the communication needs of individuals referred into the service.
8. To maintain clinical care records in accordance with professional and Trust standards.
9. To employ excellent communication skills with clients where there are significant barriers to communication and/or engagement.
10. To work flexibly and creatively to collate information from a range of sources to inform assessment and decision making.
11. To use, teach and advise upon use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication and Total Communication strategies as appropriate for the client group.
12. To work closely with Speech and Language Therapy colleagues from other clinical settings/teams.
Managerial/professional leadership
1. Demonstrate engaging leadership skills to be able to initiate, monitor and implement change, leading by example and motivating others.
2. To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisals for junior staff as required.
3. To be a positive ambassador for the Speech and Language Therapy profession.
4. To attend, facilitate and chair multidisciplinary meetings when required.
5. To participate in the operational planning, and implementation of policy and service development within your team.
Qualifications:
* Professional Speech and Language Therapy Degree. (BA/BSc or BMedSci)
* Up to date HCPC Professional Registration (to be maintained)
* Evidence of attendance at relevant short courses in specialist field.
* Postgraduate training and experience in autism, learning disabilities and/or mental health.
Knowledge and skills
* Significant experience working with adults with a learning disability, autistic adults and/or adults with mental health needs.
* Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency working.
* Knowledge and experience of SLT assessment and intervention relevant to the client group.
* Ability and willingness to travel across the Cheshire and Merseyside region.
* Experience and/or awareness of working with forensic settings.
* Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
Please see attached generic job description and person specification for additional information.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Accredited Speech and Language Therapy qualification (BSc)
* Registration with HCPC
* Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist (RCSLT)
* Postgraduate training/qualification in Dysphagia
KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE
* A philosophy and approach that empowers people.
* Knowledge of alternative and augmentative communication and dysphagia.
* A person-centred approach to service delivery.
* Understanding of current NHS changes.
* Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Driving Licence.
* Basic IT Skills (Microsoft Software: Excel, Word, Power Point, MS Teams).
* Direct experience of working with adults with communication and Swallowing disorders.
* Experience of inter-agency working.
* Experience of designing and delivering training for staff groups.
* Experience of facilitating groups.
Skills
* A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights.
* Good time management and organizational skills.
* Flexible approach skills towards service change, demands and pressure.
* Experience of providing clinical supervision (to students or SaLT staff).
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.
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