Job summary
Lead a Specialist Service. Shape Clinical Practice. Improve Lives.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our forensic learning disability and mental health services as Head of Speech and Language Therapy.

This is a unique opportunity to combine professional leadership with specialist clinical practice in a challenging but highly rewarding forensic setting.

You will lead a small and dedicated Speech and Language Therapy team (including a dysphagia service) of six staff, while maintaining a clinical role on one of our medium secure forensic learning disability inpatient wards.

Clinically, working within a specialist multidisciplinary team, you will support adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex communication needs, helping to ensure communication is understood as a central component of assessment, treatment, risk management and recovery.

East London is one of the most diverse regions in the UK, and we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities and others who are currently underrepresented within senior clinical leadership roles.

If you are an experienced Speech and Language Therapist who enjoys collaborative working, creative clinical practice and leading service development within a specialist setting, we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

• Provide professional and operational leadership for a Speech and Language Therapy department of six staff.
• Hold a specialist clinical caseload within a medium secure forensic learning disability inpatient service.
• Support and develop staff through supervision, mentoring and professional leadership.
• Lead service development, quality improvement and innovation in communication assessment and intervention.
• Work closely with psychology, psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, social work and medical colleagues to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.
• Champion accessible communication and trauma-informed approaches across forensic services.
• Contribute to strategic developments within learning disability and forensic pathways.

About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details
Date posted: 03 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £66,274 to £73,496 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 363-FOR8081591
Job locations: John Howard Centre, 12 Kenworthy Road, Homerton, London, E9 5TD, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Essential

• Registration with the HCPC
• Significant post-qualification experience working with adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, forensic populations, or other complex client groups
• Experience of supervising and supporting Speech and Language Therapy staff.
• A strong commitment to multidisciplinary team working and collaborative practice.
• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.
• A creative and flexible approach to supporting people with complex communication needs.
• A passion for service improvement, innovation and developing evidence-based practice

Desirable

• Experience in Forensic Mental Health and LD settings

Additional information
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.

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.

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

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Head of Psychology Psychologist David von Brandt
d.vonbrandt@nhs.net
02032227100