Job summaryAn exciting development opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and innovative Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to provide maternity cover in the Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT) in Buckinghamshire.
The successful candidate will work as an influential and integral member of a diverse multi-disciplinary specialist learning disability health team working to support adults with a learning disability with a health need.
You will be forward thinking and able to demonstrate sound clinical knowledge in the area of adult learning disabilities based on current evidence. You will autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions with individuals with both communication difficulties and dysphagia.
You receive regular clinical supervision and support from the Professional Lead Speech and Language Therapist, Community Team Manager and peers. You will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing professional development activities and service development.
Main duties of the jobRole summary:
- To provide high quality, comprehensive Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention for specified service user group
- To manage a caseload using evidence-based, person-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in community settings
- To provide this service to service users, who present with communication and/or dysphagia difficulties
- To undertake supervision of junior staff and students as required
- To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team
About usHertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!
Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?
DetailsDate posted: 04 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 9 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 367-LD&F-101599
Job locations: Midshires, Smeaton Close, Aylesbury, HP19 8HL, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesKey Relationships:- To work with service users and carers
- To work with other members of Specialist Learning Disability Service
- To work with other stakeholders including Health Facilitation, Learning Disability in-patient services, Primary and Secondary Care Services, county council and any other relevant stakeholder group
- To link with other SLTs particular those in the Learning Disabilities and Forensic business stream
Duties and Responsibilities:- To manage a mixed caseload, using evidence-based person centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions for the specified service user group
- To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team
- To maintain clinical records
- To develop skills and knowledge
Clinical Responsibility- To assess, diagnose and develop treatment plans for service users, including those with - profound learning disabilities, additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour.
- To be responsible for managing a defined complex caseload with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectiveness
- To work with and be available to other SLTs and Assistant Therapy Practitioners (ATPs) for support and joint consultation regarding clinical practice as required
- To be an autonomous practitioner
- To work with service users and carers to identify SLT requirements as part of the overall care plan
- To plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the service user and carer
- To monitor, evaluate and modify interventions with service users to ensure effectiveness of intervention and positive outcomes
- To have knowledge and understanding of the application of alternative and augmentative communication
- To have the skills needed to facilitate group work with service users
- To undertake complex risk assessment and risk management for individual clients
- To ensure that clients are consulted and involved in decision about their care
For full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role please refer to the job description and person specification documents attached.Person SpecificationPREVIOUS EXPERIENCEEssential- Specialist knowledge and application of speech and language therapy assessments and interventions
- Detailed knowledge of evidence-based practice and its contribution to practice governance
- Extensive clinical experience and ability to demonstrate application of advanced clinical skills
- Ability to facilitate therapist, generic technician and student development through effective supervision
- Experience of working within a Learning Disability setting
- Planning and coordination of treatment packages
- Leadership and first line management experience
Desirable- Experience of working in a relevant in-patient setting
- Participation in research projects and audit
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAININGEssential- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- Registration with HCPC
- Member of the RCSLT
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Post graduate training/experience in learning disabilities, mental health/challenging behaviour and physical/sensory disabilities
DesirableCOMMUNICATION SKILLSEssential- Clear and effective communication through written, verbal and non-verbal modes
- Broad knowledge of current best practice in SLT, Learning Disabilities and mental health
- Understanding of team dynamics
- Group work skills
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders
ANALYTICAL SKILLSEssential- Contributing to formulations and care planning formally and informally
- Broad knowledge of current best practice in SLT and mental health
- Planning and co-ordination of treatment packages
- Ability to identify and analyse problems and be proactive in their solution
- Ability to analyze professional and ethical issues
- Applied knowledge of mental health legislation
- Applied knowledge and risk assessment and management
- Understanding of SLT outcome measures
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 (Opens in a new tab).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 (Opens in a new tab).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer name: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Midshires, Smeaton Close, Aylesbury, HP19 8HL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:SLT & Dietetic Professional Lead
Suzi Woodhouse
suzi.woodhouse@nhs.net
Supporting documentsPrivacy notice: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
