Job summary
We have a new and exciting opportunity for a qualified speech and language therapist to join our mental health services in order to cover a period of maternity leave. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic speech and language therapist to work as part of the wards multi-disciplinary teams and join our established trust wide mental health SLT team. We are looking for highly motivated and creative individuals with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

We are part of a wider network of SLTs based throughout LSCFT who form a virtual team of experienced and supportive therapists. We have a sound professional leadership structure through which we offer: Clinical and professional supervision, specialist support by experienced senior staff, continuing professional development and membership of both a Trust wide professional forum and our Mental Health SLT clinical excellence network.

This role will give the successful applicant opportunities to work within specialist inpatient services to support adults with mental health conditions. We work with adults with communication and/ or swallowing difficulties, we use evidenced based pathways to support standardised best practice, covering the needs of this client group. We have positive regard for service users and aim to work in partnership with them to offer person centred, quality, and equitable care. The wards are based across several sites therefore access to transport will be needed.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will work within the MDT and be responsible for the wards caseloads and offer assessment, treatment, planning, and delivery of evidence-based highly specialised speech and language intervention across mental health wards.
• To provide a dysphagia and speech, language and communication needs service.
• To identify audit/research/quality improvement opportunities, initiating, designing and implementing agreed projects as required.
• To lead/contribute to training and development programmes relating to the field of expertise, delivering to other professionals.
• To actively participate in the delivery of the ward objectives, and support implementation of the Care Quality Commission requirements and regulatory standards.
• To work within the wider SLT mental health speech and language therapies team to share best practice, co-ordinate projects, progress clinical developments and co-ordinate cover arrangements for wards during leave.

About us
LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Job responsibilities
For further information about the role, please see the attached recruitment pack which includes a detailed job description and person specification, or visit our website via Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT.

Person SpecificationQualifications

• Degree or Masters Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Current professional registration with HCPC as Speech and Language Therapist and responsibility for maintaining this registration
• Evidence of CPD in related field of clinical expertise (Mental Health, autism)

Knowledge

• In depth knowledge relevant to the post including dysphagia
• Understanding of clinical governance framework and implications for practice including audit and research governance.
• In-depth understanding of relevant current NHS/government policy/Public Health/NICE guidelines on organisational change and the ability to adapt these appropriately to local service needs through publication of documents.

Experience

• Treatment of a broad range of speech, language and communication, and dysphagia conditions relating to clinical speciality
• Demonstrable evidence of improving and developing service and practice
• Evidence of leading and implementing clinical change

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, Preston Rd, Chorl, PR7 1PP, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Principal SLT, Kirsty Weir, Kirsty.weir@lscft.nhs.uk