Join Us as We Reopen Our New CAMHS Inpatient Unit
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is excited to recruit a Band 7 Specialist CAMHS Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) to our acute pathway including COAST Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team) and the newly redesigned Children & Young People’s Inpatient Mental Health Unit, reopening in Autumn 2026.
Following extensive engagement, co‑design with young people and families, and significant investment in our clinical model, workforce, and environment, we are creating a modern, therapeutic inpatient service focused on purposeful admissions, recovery, and meaningful outcomes.
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced SaLT to play a key role in shaping a renewed inpatient service at an exciting point of transformation.
As a Band 7 SaLT, you will
- Provide advanced clinical leadership within the acute pathway MDT (Inpatient Unit and COAST)
- Hold responsibility for the communication and dysphagia needs of children in the Acute pathway (Inpatient Unit and COAST)
- Offer comprehensive SaLT assessments, interventions and evaluations.
- Lead on clinical decision-making and contribute to safe, high ‑ quality admissions and discharges
- Champion trauma ‑ informed, relational, and strengths based practice
- Contribute to service development, quality improvement, and evaluation
- Work collaboratively with families, carers, community CAMHS, and wider system partners
This role offers a balance of direct clinical work, leadership, and service development within a supportive senior structure.
Who We’re Looking For
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Speech and Language Therapist with experience working in children and young people’s mental health services. You will have a proven ability to work with complex presentations and manage risk within inpatient or crisis settings, alongside strong clinical leadership and sound decision‑making skills. You will be committed to co‑production, inclusion, and effective partnership working with young people, families, and the wider system, and will value teamwork, learning, and continuous service improvement. Above all, you will be passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people, and their families.
About the Unit
Our refreshed clinical model includes purposeful admissions, structured care with early review points, working with COAST and a 7‑day therapeutic timetable including evenings and weekends. The team will include strengthened MDT working, safe staffing, duty doctor cover, trauma‑informed and autism‑aware practice, and lived‑experience roles.
The environment and culture promote safety, collaboration, curiosity, and learning—for both young people and staff.
What we can Offer You
The opportunity to shape and embed a redesigned inpatient / acute CAMHS service
Supportive, visible leadership with a strong focus on reflective practice
Comprehensive induction alongside clinical, professional and managerial supervision
On-going continued professional development within the array of in-house AHP Training opportunities.
Clear career development and leadership pathways
Opportunities for quality improvement, research, and innovation
Relocation package or recruitment incentives (subject to eligibility)
Please see Allied Health Professions :: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for more information around working in a wider team as an allied health professional at Sussex Partnership.
Essential Criteria
Qualified Speech and Language Therapist with a current Licence to Practise and HCPC registration.
Extensive post-qualification experience as a Speech and Language Therapist (ideally five years or more), with a broad range of clinical experience working with individuals who have a variety of communication needs, abilities and disabilities.
Experience of working within mental health services , including supporting children and young people with communication difficulties and associated mental health needs.
Experience delivering both individual and group interventions , using a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to service user needs.
Proven ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams , contributing specialist Speech and Language Therapy knowledge to assessment, care planning and intervention.
Experience supervising staff and/or students , providing clinical support, guidance and professional development opportunities.
Significant clinical experience relevant to the specialty area of the post , including the application of a range of assessment tools and evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy approaches.
Experience of multi-agency working , collaborating with health, education, social care and other partner organisations to achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and families.
Leadership experience , demonstrating the ability to influence practice, support service delivery and contribute to the development of high-quality care.
Experience of audit and quality improvement activities , using data and outcomes to inform and enhance clinical practice.
Experience of service development , contributing to the design, implementation and evaluation of service improvements.
Desirable Criteria
Experience working with children and young people across a range of settings and presenting needs.
Additional experience in audit and service development activities that demonstrate innovation and continuous improvement.
Lived experience of mental health difficulties , bringing personal insight and understanding to service delivery and recovery-focused practice.
