We are seeking an experienced, creative and motivated Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join our multidisciplinary team at the Hellingly Centre and contribute to the delivery of high‑quality, evidence‑based communication and dysphagia services.
Research suggests that 60-80% of those in the criminal justice system may have speech, language or communication needs. Your transferrable skills as a speech and language therapist will be valued in the forensic healthcare service. You will need the patience, resilience and tenacity to build trusting relationships with service users whose adverse life experiences have brought them into contact with forensic mental health.
- To prioritise, organise and manage a highly complex referrals system on the basis of need and risk to recovery.
- To undertake comprehensive assessment of adults referred using investigative and analytic skills and to formulate individualized interventions based on advanced clinical reasoning and partnership working.
- To make differential diagnoses of complex swallowing and communication disorders and specialist clinical decisions independently.
- To provide highly specialist report and recommendations to colleagues within Forensic Health Care and the Police and Court Services if required.
- To inform and counsel service users, relatives and carers and significant others present complex information clearly and comprehensively in order to reduce the impact of communication and / or swallowing difficulties in everyday life.
- To provide clinical training, supervision and support to multi-disciplinary teams
Key Skills / Abilities / Competencies
v Ability to interpret a range of communication strategies employed by adults who have complex communication and challenging needs /mental health needs.
v Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy.
v Good organizational and time management skills.
v Good presentation skills, both written and verbal.
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
The Hellingly Centre supports people who need rehabilitation and treatment within a low - medium secure environment.
You will work alongside a collaborative multi-disciplinary team, offering expert assessment, diagnosis, and care for adults with complex psychiatric needs following a trauma informed care approach.
We are committed to delivering care with compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, ensuring that our patients and service users are at the heart of everything we do.
Working for our organisation
As part of our commitment to quality and professionalism we ensure that all our new staff undertakes a thorough induction programme with us when they commence their new roles.
What you can expect:
As a mental health trust, we place a huge focus on the wellbeing of our staff and ensure our reward packages reflect the important work you do.
You can expect to receive:
- Access to numerous wellbeing and support programmes
- Excellent supervision programmes, with ongoing opportunities for training and development
- Access to a host of discount schemes (inc. gyms, shopping, restaurants and cars)
- Superb NHS Pension
- Generous holiday entitlement (starts at 27 days + 8 bank holidays)
- And much more!...
Informal discussions are most welcome.
This role sits within the multidisciplinary team of practitioners working within the Forensic Health Care Service across Sussex. The post holder will need a minimum of 4 years post qualification experience and have or agree to undertake a recognised post basic qualification in dysphagia. They will provide a specialist Speech and Language Therapy service for individuals coming into contact with the criminal justice system who have been identified as possibly having Speech, Language or Communication needs. It is possible that these individuals may also have dysphagia needs.
The clinical role will be to provide Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapy assessment and diagnosis in order to support the recovery of those with Speech, Language, Communication or Dysphagia needs. The post holder will provide this specialist Speech and Language Therapy Service to adults within the secure hospitals and Community teams. Individuals referred for assessment may have learning disabilities, social emotional mental health needs for example. Where there is no other identified diagnosis, SLTs may contribute to the multi-disciplinary assessment process.
- To provide highly specialist supervision to other Speech and Language Therapists or Speech and Language Therapy Assistants within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as necessary.
- Work in collaboration with multidisciplinary colleagues.
- Liaise and consult with other Speech and Language Therapists and/or other professions and agencies within mainstream primary and secondary provider services.
- To liaise with families/carers where possible and appropriate
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
