NHS
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Exciting Opportunity in Forensic Neurodevelopmental Services
We are pleased to offer an exciting full-time position that spans two closely integrated services: the Oxleas Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disability (FIND) Community Team and the inpatient forensic service at the Bracton Centre. This role is equally divided between the two services, with 18.75 hours per week dedicated to each.
About the FIND Community Team The Oxleas FIND Team plays a pivotal role in supporting individuals transitioning from inpatient forensic settings back into the community.
The team delivers specialist assessment, treatment, and consultation to support the safe and clinically appropriate reintegration of individuals with complex needs. The primary aim is to ensure a well-coordinated, person-centred pathway from secure care to community living.
About the Bracton Centre Inpatient Forensic Service Located in Kent, the
Bracton Centre
offers a comprehensive range of specialist forensic mental health services for adults aged 18-65. The service provides high-quality, multidisciplinary care to individuals with significant mental health needs within a secure environment.
This dual-service role offers a rich opportunity to contribute to both community-based and inpatient forensic mental health services, while also being part of a forward-thinking partnership driving innovation in mental health care across South London.
Part Time Hours can be considered.
Main duties of the job In this role, the postholder will provide specialist assessment, intervention, and consultation for individuals with intellectual and/or neurodevelopmental disabilities who are involved in the criminal justice system or present with forensic risk. These individuals may present with complex communication needs, co-occurring mental health difficulties, and challenging behaviours that require tailored and collaborative therapeutic input.
The community arm of the role, within the Oxleas FIND team, involves working proactively with multi-disciplinary colleagues to support service users in the least restrictive environments possible, with a focus on risk reduction, communication accessibility, and support for meaningful engagement in community life. The inpatient component at Bracton Centre involves supporting individuals through their rehabilitation and recovery pathways, contributing to risk assessments, care planning, and discharge preparations.
About us Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes. We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
We're Kind We're Fair We Listen We Care
Job description Job responsibilities
To provide highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention to service users who have a variety of complex communication and/or swallowing needs. This will include adults with learning disabilities, autism, and/or mental health conditions. This includes the assessment, diagnosis, and management of dysphagia, ensuring timely and appropriate intervention, liaison with medical teams, and training for staff and carers where needed.
To independently manage own caseload, working closely with care coordinators and social supervisors where applicable, while accessing regular clinical and managerial supervision.
To provide leadership and to line manage and/or clinically supervise junior Speech and Language Therapy colleagues, students, and other relevant staff.
To act as a core member of a multi-disciplinary team and represent the Speech and Language Therapy service at team, directorate, and working group meetings as appropriate.
To provide specialist advice and support to families, other speech and language therapists, and multidisciplinary professionals both within and outside the Trust, ensuring the active involvement of carers and family members in care planning and delivery wherever appropriate.
To provide compassionate, non-judgemental care that is rooted in empathy, kindness, respect, and dignity
Freedom to Act
To act in accordance with the professional standards set out by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy and the Health Professionals Council.
To act in accordance with local policies and procedures at all times.
To pursue the principles of Valuing People at all times and to follow the Trusts values.
To maintain knowledge of current best practice and clinical effectiveness within the Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Learning Disability/ ASD field.
To plan, organise and manage own workload with guidance.
To maintain the online RCSLT CPD log.
Leadership
To induct, train, review work performance and clinically supervise/appraise SaLT colleagues, and Specialist Support Workers as identified.
To contribute to the development of Speech and Language Therapy Service policies and procedures, including participation in projects and quality improvement initiatives.
To contribute to the service development through relevant meetings and working groups.
To plan and deliver training courses where appropriate in relation to speech and language discipline.
Communicate regularly through team meetings, Business meetings, clinical forums and individually with team members providing an opportunity for two-way feedback.
Ensure that service users and carers opinions and experiences are being responded to at a team level.
Clinical record keeping is of a consistent high standard and meets trust policy and practice guidance.
Clinical
Deliver evidence-based practice regarding specialist speech and language therapy assessment and intervention.
To carry out and interpret specialist assessments of the eating and drinking (dysphagia) within inpatient secure wards.
Monitor specialised packages of care including direct therapy, advice and training
To contribute to specialist multi-disciplinary assessment and care package, including consultation, giving advice and joint care planning e.g. Positive Behaviour support.
To contribute to medical diagnosis including differential diagnosis
To contribute to and carry out Capacity to Consent Assessments in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act
To work as a member of the Learning Disability/ASD Team by completing Initial Assessments, covering duty as and when required
To participate in CPA/CTR/ professional and network meetings.
To monitor clinical effectiveness and clinical outcome measures
To follow Health and Safety guidelines regarding unpleasant working conditions, e.g. Hepatitis, lone visits, exposure to bodily fluids.
Research
To plan, co-ordinate and carry out regular and ongoing complex audits of Speech and Language Therapy Service work in order to contribute to knowledge of clinical effectiveness and outcomes
To develop and promote evidence-based practice
Communication
To demonstrate well-developed specialist communication and presentation skills at all times
To provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information where there may be significant barriers to understanding or acceptance possibly within emotive, distressing and/or antagonistic atmospheres
To adapt spoken and written information to suit the communication needs of the listener/audience
To demonstrate well-developed motivation, negotiation, empathy and reassurance
To liaise with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Teams, this may include; family, carers, support staff, AHPs, nurses, and commissioners.
To develop and deliver specialist presentations and training to a range of audiences including Service Users, carers, staff and Professional colleagues, in both small and large groups
To maintain clinical records in accordance with local standards
To provide letters and reports as necessary in accordance with local standards
To provide accurate and contemporaneous statistical information in accordance with local standards
To use basic word processing skills and specialist software packages to develop communication aids and accessible information
To be noted
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.
Job description review
This job description will be reviewed in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the postholder.
Compliance
The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.
Person Specification Qualifications and Registration Essential
Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
Health Professions Council – Licence to Practice
Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
Desirable
Completion of Post-Basic Dysphagia Competencies (Level C and above)
Experience Essential
Minimum of 4 years' post-graduate experience, 2 of which are within area of specialism.
Experience in Forensics
Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working.
Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
Experience of providing a range of therapeutic interventions necessary for client group
Desirable
Evidence of management skills obtained through experience.
Experience in ASD/LD
Experience of Dysphagia
Skills and knowledge Essential
In-depth knowledge of specialist clinical area
Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service area.
Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
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 (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).
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 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Address Memorial
Shooters Hill
Woolwich
SE18 3RG
Employer's website http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
We are pleased to offer an exciting full-time position that spans two closely integrated services: the Oxleas Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disability (FIND) Community Team and the inpatient forensic service at the Bracton Centre. This role is equally divided between the two services, with 18.75 hours per week dedicated to each.
About the FIND Community Team The Oxleas FIND Team plays a pivotal role in supporting individuals transitioning from inpatient forensic settings back into the community.
The team delivers specialist assessment, treatment, and consultation to support the safe and clinically appropriate reintegration of individuals with complex needs. The primary aim is to ensure a well-coordinated, person-centred pathway from secure care to community living.
About the Bracton Centre Inpatient Forensic Service Located in Kent, the
Bracton Centre
offers a comprehensive range of specialist forensic mental health services for adults aged 18-65. The service provides high-quality, multidisciplinary care to individuals with significant mental health needs within a secure environment.
This dual-service role offers a rich opportunity to contribute to both community-based and inpatient forensic mental health services, while also being part of a forward-thinking partnership driving innovation in mental health care across South London.
Part Time Hours can be considered.
Main duties of the job In this role, the postholder will provide specialist assessment, intervention, and consultation for individuals with intellectual and/or neurodevelopmental disabilities who are involved in the criminal justice system or present with forensic risk. These individuals may present with complex communication needs, co-occurring mental health difficulties, and challenging behaviours that require tailored and collaborative therapeutic input.
The community arm of the role, within the Oxleas FIND team, involves working proactively with multi-disciplinary colleagues to support service users in the least restrictive environments possible, with a focus on risk reduction, communication accessibility, and support for meaningful engagement in community life. The inpatient component at Bracton Centre involves supporting individuals through their rehabilitation and recovery pathways, contributing to risk assessments, care planning, and discharge preparations.
About us Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes. We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
We're Kind We're Fair We Listen We Care
Job description Job responsibilities
To provide highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention to service users who have a variety of complex communication and/or swallowing needs. This will include adults with learning disabilities, autism, and/or mental health conditions. This includes the assessment, diagnosis, and management of dysphagia, ensuring timely and appropriate intervention, liaison with medical teams, and training for staff and carers where needed.
To independently manage own caseload, working closely with care coordinators and social supervisors where applicable, while accessing regular clinical and managerial supervision.
To provide leadership and to line manage and/or clinically supervise junior Speech and Language Therapy colleagues, students, and other relevant staff.
To act as a core member of a multi-disciplinary team and represent the Speech and Language Therapy service at team, directorate, and working group meetings as appropriate.
To provide specialist advice and support to families, other speech and language therapists, and multidisciplinary professionals both within and outside the Trust, ensuring the active involvement of carers and family members in care planning and delivery wherever appropriate.
To provide compassionate, non-judgemental care that is rooted in empathy, kindness, respect, and dignity
Freedom to Act
To act in accordance with the professional standards set out by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy and the Health Professionals Council.
To act in accordance with local policies and procedures at all times.
To pursue the principles of Valuing People at all times and to follow the Trusts values.
To maintain knowledge of current best practice and clinical effectiveness within the Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Learning Disability/ ASD field.
To plan, organise and manage own workload with guidance.
To maintain the online RCSLT CPD log.
Leadership
To induct, train, review work performance and clinically supervise/appraise SaLT colleagues, and Specialist Support Workers as identified.
To contribute to the development of Speech and Language Therapy Service policies and procedures, including participation in projects and quality improvement initiatives.
To contribute to the service development through relevant meetings and working groups.
To plan and deliver training courses where appropriate in relation to speech and language discipline.
Communicate regularly through team meetings, Business meetings, clinical forums and individually with team members providing an opportunity for two-way feedback.
Ensure that service users and carers opinions and experiences are being responded to at a team level.
Clinical record keeping is of a consistent high standard and meets trust policy and practice guidance.
Clinical
Deliver evidence-based practice regarding specialist speech and language therapy assessment and intervention.
To carry out and interpret specialist assessments of the eating and drinking (dysphagia) within inpatient secure wards.
Monitor specialised packages of care including direct therapy, advice and training
To contribute to specialist multi-disciplinary assessment and care package, including consultation, giving advice and joint care planning e.g. Positive Behaviour support.
To contribute to medical diagnosis including differential diagnosis
To contribute to and carry out Capacity to Consent Assessments in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act
To work as a member of the Learning Disability/ASD Team by completing Initial Assessments, covering duty as and when required
To participate in CPA/CTR/ professional and network meetings.
To monitor clinical effectiveness and clinical outcome measures
To follow Health and Safety guidelines regarding unpleasant working conditions, e.g. Hepatitis, lone visits, exposure to bodily fluids.
Research
To plan, co-ordinate and carry out regular and ongoing complex audits of Speech and Language Therapy Service work in order to contribute to knowledge of clinical effectiveness and outcomes
To develop and promote evidence-based practice
Communication
To demonstrate well-developed specialist communication and presentation skills at all times
To provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information where there may be significant barriers to understanding or acceptance possibly within emotive, distressing and/or antagonistic atmospheres
To adapt spoken and written information to suit the communication needs of the listener/audience
To demonstrate well-developed motivation, negotiation, empathy and reassurance
To liaise with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Teams, this may include; family, carers, support staff, AHPs, nurses, and commissioners.
To develop and deliver specialist presentations and training to a range of audiences including Service Users, carers, staff and Professional colleagues, in both small and large groups
To maintain clinical records in accordance with local standards
To provide letters and reports as necessary in accordance with local standards
To provide accurate and contemporaneous statistical information in accordance with local standards
To use basic word processing skills and specialist software packages to develop communication aids and accessible information
To be noted
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.
Job description review
This job description will be reviewed in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the postholder.
Compliance
The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.
Person Specification Qualifications and Registration Essential
Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
Health Professions Council – Licence to Practice
Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
Desirable
Completion of Post-Basic Dysphagia Competencies (Level C and above)
Experience Essential
Minimum of 4 years' post-graduate experience, 2 of which are within area of specialism.
Experience in Forensics
Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working.
Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
Experience of providing a range of therapeutic interventions necessary for client group
Desirable
Evidence of management skills obtained through experience.
Experience in ASD/LD
Experience of Dysphagia
Skills and knowledge Essential
In-depth knowledge of specialist clinical area
Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service area.
Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
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 (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).
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 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Address Memorial
Shooters Hill
Woolwich
SE18 3RG
Employer's website http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
#J-18808-Ljbffr