Job summary
The post holder has responsibility to provide Speech and Language Therapy in the Intensive Support Team to Adults with a Learning Disability, including providing advice according to experience in this speciality to other professionals. The assessments and interventions undertaken by the SLT service will be embedded within the framework of:The principles of MDT working.The holistic model of care (4 tier model).The challenging behaviour clinical area of practice.The IST's 16 week pathway focussing on PBS informed assessment and intervention.The post can be applied for as a 5 month, full time post. Alternatively, applicants seeking part time will be considered. Part time applicants will be an extended contract, based on the hours worked per week. A minimum of 0.6 will be accepted. Please indicate in your application your preferred work pattern.

Main duties of the job
To provide speech and language therapy for adults with a learning disability in Hampshire.

To manage, with support, own caseload of adults with a learning disability with communication needs and/or dysphagia in a clinically autonomous manner by assessing, diagnosing, onward referring where appropriate, managing intervention and discharging.

To develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy treatment packages for clients with communication disorders and/or dysphagia.

To communicate complex and sensitive information appropriately; this can be of an unpleasant nature. This will include communicating condition related information to clients and providing detailed assessment reports and interpretation of the results to team members, other professionals, parents, clients, carers and staff at an appropriate level.

To be responsible for providing information to the Team Manager and Therapies Lead for the purpose of planning and policy development/issues including prioritising needs relating to the service.

To give advice on the communication and/or swallowing needs of clients within the scope of own ability.

To identify the training needs of others relating to the communication and/or dysphagia needs of clients.

To be responsible for the use, where appropriate, of specialised equipment in assessing clients with swallowing problems.

To act as a resource for the Learning Disability Community Team and to provide advice, information and training to other professionals as appropriate.

About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.

Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.

We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.

Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence

Details
Date posted: 16 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 5 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 348-MNH-12525
Job locations: Thomas Lewis House, 236 Empress Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 0JY, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered member of RCSLT
• Registered membership of HCPC
• Recognised qualification and clinical licence to practice as SLT

Desirable

• Accredited (or similar) post graduate dysphagia training
• Qualification in Positive Behaviour Support

Experience
Essential

• Ability to define differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment
• Ability to define appropriate interventions
• Able to use own judgement and initiative
• Good skills in managing own time, prioritising tasks and working independently
• Able to work within the framework of reflective practice
• Able to recognise the limits of own abilities, seeking advice as appropriate
• Car driver with access to own transport
• Experience of working in learning disabilities setting or similar/relevant field (may be in a role other than SLT)
• Highly skilled at making a differential diagnosis and identifying the appropriate intervention on the basis of evidence from assessment
• In depth knowledge of communication needs in LD
• Knowledge of specific current approaches to intervention in LD
• Work within the framework of reflective practice and supervision (clinical)
• Specialist level of SLT knowledge, underpinned by theory and practical experience
• Experience of supervising others

Desirable

• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Able to organise others e.g. support assistants
• Experience of working within a Positive Behaviour Support framework
• Able to manage a complex dysphagia caseload
• Knowledge of the specific dysphagia needs of ALD
• Knowledge of national SLT standards and guidelines for ALD
• Knowledge of national policies and legislation relevant to ALD
• Knowledge of PBS best practice guidelines

Additional Criteria
Essential

• What our Service Users expect of this post holder:
• Patient and Person Centred
• Valuing Achievement
• Value through Innovation
• Forging Relationships
• Able to complete delegated managerial/clinical tasks using own judgement and initiative
• Good skills in managing own time, prioritising tasks and working independently
• Solution focussed
• High level written and verbal communication skills to enable a good standard of report writing, training and presentations
• Able to travel different distances on a frequent basis in short timescales.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.