Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust are looking to recruit two band 7 Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) to work with adults with learning disabilities (ALD) across the Durham, Darlington and Teesside locality. Base is negotiable with the successful post holder, however the post holder will work into several teams across Durham, Darlington and Teesside dependant on service need at the time. Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. The successful applicant with have a degree in Speech & Language Therapy and significant relevant experience in working with adults with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties and/or complex needs. They will have knowledge of related issues and influencing national and local directives. It is essential that the post holder is qualified in eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia). Main duties of the job The post holder will assess and treat a highly specialist caseload with a range of complex communication difficulties and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. The successful applicant will work alongside a team of health and social care professionals including other speech & language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, support workers and associate practitioners. The post holder will be expected to provide clinical supervision and support. They will also be expected to lead joint complex case work with band 5 and 6 SLTs and delegate work to band 4 and band 3 SLT team members. The caseload is varied and intervention is completed as part of a multi-disciplinary team, committed to collaborative working and focusing on the provision of a high quality, evidence based service. As a clinical specialist, the post holder will also be involved in service improvement, research and audits within the Trust. The post holder will be expected to provide clinical specialist support to a dynamic SLT Learning Disability and Mental Health service, with well defined peer support, supervision systems and CPD opportunities. There may be an occasional requirement to provide assessment, advice and intervention to other Trust areas, including inpatient units. About us We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for. We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health. Were committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it. We wont rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life. Person Specification Qualifications Essential • Degree in Speech and Language Therapy • Masters in a relevant subject (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale) • Registration with HCPC • Recognised qualifications in specialist areas relevant to the role e.g. Dysphagia, Intensive Interaction, Talking Mats, Autism etc (or willingness to achieve within agreed timescale) • Clinical Supervisory Skills course. • Trust training in Appraisal and Recruitment (within an agreed timescale) • Trust QIS (Quality Improvement System) for Leaders (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale) • Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent) Desirable • Membership of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Experience Essential • Substantial clinical experience in own specialist area • Experience of leading quality improvement activities • Participation in service development • Experience of leading clinical governance activities including clinical audit • Participation in research and development • Substantial experience in clinical supervision of staff • Substantial experience in design and delivery of training Knowledge Essential • Highly specialist clinical knowledge in own specialist area • Good understanding of national strategy, guidance and key standards in own specialist area and their application in practice • Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act and their application in practice. • Clinical Governance and its application in practice. • Care Programme Approach and its application in practice • Safeguarding and its application in practice. • Research and development methodology