Speech and Language Therapist

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join the newly developed Forensic Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (FIND) Community Team in South West London & St George's Mental Health Trust. The forensic service sits within the Specialist Service Line of the Trust and is a provider within the South London Mental Health and Community Partnership (SLP) Forensic Provider Collaborative (PC).
The SLP Forensic PC's overarching goals centre on bringing care closer to home, improving patient pathways and outcomes by delivering excellent care in better environments. The SLP has a track record of delivering highly effective, clinically informed service developments across the Pathways within the Forensic PC. The post holder will be joining a skilled, motivated and innovative multidisciplinary team committed to continual learning and development and will be offered excellent CPD opportunities.
This speech and language therapy (SLT) role will sit within the FIND multi-disciplinary team, the postholder will access professional support and development from the B7 SLT working on the linked inpatient ward for people with intellectual disabilities. The postholder will work with those with speech, language and communication difficulties and/or dysphagia., To deliver highly specialist clinical work as part of the multidisciplinary team. This includes working with clients with communication and swallowing difficulties / providing a specialist dysphagia service, for individuals within the Forensic intellectual and neurodevelopmental (FIND) team Working closely with AHP Lead , professional Lead and senior management team to scope the needs of the SLT service for this service .
The team will support in facilitating discharge planning of South West London patients from the Oak Unit and from Independent Sector secure services by enabling direct transfer to the FIND community caseload. Aside from the quality-of-life benefits of timely transfer to community settings closer to home, this close working at the interface with secure inpatient facilities, will also enable effective flow through the pathway. The FIND Community Team will sit alongside the two well stablished forensic community teams, namely the South West London & St George's Community Forensic Team (the Forensic Outreach Service), · To be responsible for the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy witiin the FIND team providing assessment and implementing specialist SLT treatment and programmes of care, writing reports, reflecting specialist knowledge.
· To manage, triage and prioritize own complex caseload providing a SLT assessment, formulation, diagnosis, intervention and advice based on evidence-based practice
· To use specialist knowledge to screen all new referrals where appropriate with the multi-disciplinary team, and allocate priority for intervention, based on client need.
· To contribute to the assessment of people with complex mental health needs, LD needs or ASD needs within the service using a range of standardized and non-standardized assessments and other assessment tools, together with advanced analytical clinical reasoning skills in order to form a baseline measure from which to plan intervention.
· To demonstrate acute observational skills in working with clients with complex mental health conditions and histories of trauma who display subtle communication
· To use a holistic, client centred approach, gathering and synthesising information from other professionals and relatives/carers, in order to ensure that intervention packages are best suited to patient, relatives and place of delivery
· To develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment plans for individuals and groups using expertise to create innovative ways of working where appropriate, to promote and maximise individual potential as well as to plan for and advise others regarding the management of clients with communication and/or feeding/swallowing difficulties within the context of an MDT and in consultation with patients and relatives
· To frequently contribute to complex clinical decisions taking into account conflicting priorities of airway protection, quality of life, nutritional compromise and client autonomy
· To liaise with other team specialists and professional groups to refer clients for further investigation and/or second opinion as required.
· To manage the emotional consequences of working with people who have a history of offending behaviour and/or serious mental health conditions, and be aware of the needs, demands and pressures on their relatives and carers
· To work safely at all times, with an understanding of the risks for self and clients when handling foods and fluids
· To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact when they arise (e.g. exposure to body fluids and/or infectious conditions encountered on a regular basis)to refer patients/clients for further investigation and/or second opinion as required
· Maintain adequate records of assessment, management and treatment of patients/clients as well as writing and submitting reports summarising proposed care plans in keeping with Professional and Trust standards
At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.
As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:
+ BME (Evolve) Staff Network
+ Christian Staff Network
+ DiverseAbility
+ Deaf Staff Network
+ Mental Health Staff Forum
+ Women's Staff Network
+ LGBTQIA+
We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.
Please note:
+ That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
+ That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3^rd party e-recruitment system
+ That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
+ That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
+ That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
+ That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
+ That we are a smoke-free Trust

NHS AfC: Band 6
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.
We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' however we aim to be 'outstanding'.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".
When you join us, you'll be part of something special - an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.
As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working., We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.