Speech and Language TherapistNHS

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop your clinical skills within a supportive and experienced adult community team?

We are seeking a motivated Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist to join our Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service. This is an exciting opportunity for a therapist wishing to develop their knowledge and experience in the assessment and management of adults with communication and swallowing difficulties arising from a range of physical and mental health conditions.

You will be part of a friendly, well-established team delivering high-quality, person-centred care across Knowsley and St Helens, working in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, care homes, patients' own homes and adult mental health wards. You will have the opportunity to work with individuals with conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, Motor Neurone Disease, dementia and other neurological conditions.

The successful candidate will receive regular clinical supervision and support from experienced Band 6 and Band 7 Speech and Language Therapists, with opportunities for ongoing professional development and progression of dysphagia and communication competencies. This post is ideal for a newly qualified therapist or an existing Band 5 looking to broaden their experience within adult community services.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide assessment, treatment and management for adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties across Knowsley and St Helens.

Key duties include:

• Managing a caseload of adults with communication and swallowing disorders under appropriate supervision.
• Undertaking assessment and intervention for a range of communication difficulties.
• Supporting the assessment and management of adults with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties in line with competencies and service protocols.
• Delivering interventions across a range of community settings, including patients' homes, clinics, care homes and adult mental health wards.
• Working collaboratively with patients, carers, multidisciplinary teams and partner agencies.
• Contributing to waiting list management and prioritisation of referrals.
• Providing advice, training and support to carers, support staff and healthcare professionals.
• Participating in service development, audit and quality improvement activities.

Job description

The post holder will:

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate Speech and Language Therapy interventions for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Manage and prioritise an allocated caseload, seeking support and guidance from senior therapists where required.
• Deliver evidence-based assessment and intervention for adults presenting with acquired communication disorders and dysphagia.
• Work with adults with a range of physical, neurological and mental health conditions, including Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease and Dementia.
• Deliver care across a variety of community settings throughout Knowsley and St Helens, including outpatient clinics, care homes, patients' own homes and adult mental health wards.
• Develop and review person-centred treatment programmes in partnership with service users, carers and the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive clinical records in accordance with professional and organisational standards.
• Provide advice and support to patients, families, carers and other professionals regarding communication and swallowing management.
• Contribute to the management and prioritisation of referrals and waiting lists to support timely access to services.
• Support the implementation of communication strategies and alternative and augmentative communication approaches where appropriate.
• Deliver training and education to carers, healthcare staff and partner agencies relating to individual patient needs.
• Work within defined competencies and actively participate in regular clinical supervision to support professional development.
• Participate in audit, service evaluation, quality improvement and continuing professional development activities.
• Contribute positively to team working and support the delivery of a high-quality, responsive Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive team and develop your skills in adult Speech and Language Therapy while making a meaningful difference to people living across Knowsley and St Helens.

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.