Job summary
Speech and Language Therapist

Do you think everyone under arrest is guilty of a crime?

Or that all criminals should be locked up for as long as possible?

If so, this is NOT the job for you.

Do you believe that a person under arrest should be entitled to be interviewed in a way that they can understand and engage with?

Do you believe that people should be able to understand their bail conditions instead of being rearrested for unknowingly breaking them?

By identifying speech, language and communication needs vulnerable people can be supported to partake in the Criminal Justice System and adhere to conditions set out for them which can make positive changes to their experience through the justice system and reduce their risk of reoffending.

We're looking for a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to join our Liaison and Diversion team.

Ideally, you'll be an enthusiastic, experienced, and registered Speech and Language Therapist with an interest in health and justice and a passion for supporting people making their way through police custody or court. Previous experience in criminal justice and offender health is desirable, but we'll consider candidates without this.

If you're passionate about how supporting speech, language and communication needs can help change lives of people within the criminal justice system, we'd love you to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To support the delivery of the Speech and Language pathway in line with the Liaison and Diversion agenda.
• To be responsible for a specialist speech and language portfolio which will include provision of expert advice to speech and language therapists, senior clinicians, Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) across Hampshire & IOW and to provide the police and court with written information pertaining to the individual in a timely fashion to inform disposal.
• To attend police stations, custody suites, community settings and magistrates' courts and provide specialist speech and language assessments, advice and identify robust care pathways, for individuals where a potential vulnerability has been identified.
• To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the custody suite, court and probation, acting as a single point of contact for health.
• To deliver specialist training on Speech and Language need within Criminal Justice pathways to custody sergeants, magistrate and crown court and other key stakeholders.
• To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload.

Work base
The team works across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You may be required to attend police custody suites throughout these areas, primarily in Southampton, Portsmouth and Basingstoke, with occasional travel to the Isle of Wight as needed.

About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Date posted: 16 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 371-MHS1197
Job locations: Lake Road Health Centre, Nuffield Place, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 4JT, Portsmouth, PO1 4JT, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Your base location will be agreed at interview, and you may also be required to work from other Hampshire sites to meet service needs. The must haves for you to be considered for this role

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree
• Health Professions Council licence to practise
• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Significant experience at Band 5 or equivalent in a community setting.
• Driving licence holder with access to your own vehicle who is prepared to multiple sites across Hampshire/IOW as required.

Working pattern + Service operating hours
This role is Monday Friday, 9-5pm. Requests for specific working pattens can be considered in line with our flexible working policy. Our service operates in police custody from 7am 8pm, 7 days a week using a combination of early shifts, late shifts. Our service does not operate at night.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it is important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Laura Pring on 07816 648965 or email: laura.pring@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help arrange for you to visit the team.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification
Education, qualifications or training
Essential

• A professional qualification at diploma, post graduate and degree level or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Hold current registration with pertinent body HCPC
• Evidence of post registration training and development
• To have Newly Qualified Competencies signed off

Continuous Professional Development
Essential

• A passion and desire to work with people in criminal justice to support reducing reoffending
• Take responsibility for your own learning and be willing to continuously learn and grow, reflecting on own practice and encouraging others to develop their practice, actively using research to influence and change practice

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of modern mental health services; social inclusion, recovery, service user involvement, carer support

Previous Experience
Essential

• Significant experience at Band 5 and newly qualified competencies completed
• Experience of analysing and collating complex information from a range of sources and communicating and using this within SLT assessments
• Ability to work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload
• Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Have knowledge and skills to work with specialist groups of people, including young people, people with learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities

Desirable

• Understanding of Criminal Justice and Health and reconciling both systems when planning onward support for vulnerable individuals
• Ability to deliver training and learning events

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• An ability to work across multiple systems such as Criminal Justice and Health
• Understanding of the theories underpinning the concept of recovery and the wider determinants of health

Additional Requirements
Essential

• Full valid UK driving license and access to a vehicle
• Ability to secure police vetting. For the purposes of police vetting, the candidate will require at least three-years residency in the UK
• Ability to use multiple IT systems to an advanced level including excel, databases and Microsoft applications
• Ability to travel efficiently to multiple sites

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Employer's website: https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact

• Clinical and Operational Lead: Laura Pring
• laura.pring@berkshire.nhs.uk
• 07816648965