Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 18/09/2026
- Closes
- 04/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and forward-thinking Speech & Language Therapist to join specialist in-patient Learning Disability services in Hertfordshire. The role involves providing highly skilled communication assessment and intervention to service users with learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, and/or mental health problems. You will lead the SLT in-patient service, support junior staff and students, and work as an essential member of a multidisciplinary team to help service users achieve their goals.
Key responsibilities
- Assess and develop treatment plans for service users within the specialist in-patient setting presenting with communication needs and/or dysphagia.
- Manage a defined caseload, with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectiveness.
- Provide line management and supervision to junior Speech and Language Therapists and/or Assistant Therapy Practitioners.
- Work with service users and carers to identify SLT requirements as part of the overall care plan.
- Plan and implement individual interventions, in collaboration with the service user and carer.
- Undertake complex risk assessment and risk management for individual service users.
Essential criteria
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- Registration with HCPC
- Post graduate training/experience in learning disabilities, mental health/challenging behaviour and physical/sensory disabilities
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- 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 criteria
- Dysphagia training
- Participation in research projects and audit
- Experience of working in a relevant in-patient setting
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £51,657 – £58,785 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 16d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
The closing date is 04 October 2026
Job summary
An exciting opportunity is available for a passionate and forward-thinking Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to join the specialist in-patient Learning Disability services based in Hertfordshire, primarily providing highly skilled communication assessment and intervention to service users with a learning disability who are presenting with challenging behaviour and / or mental health problems, and are receiving care as an in-patient
You will confidently lead the SLT in-patient service, taking proactive steps to improve services and will have a key role in supporting junior staff and students to develop their skills.
The person successful in their application will be an essential member of the MDT, working alongside Psychiatry, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Arts Therapies, Physiotherapy and Social Care colleagues to support our service users achieve their goals.
Main duties of the job
To assess and develop treatment plans for service users within the specialist in-patient setting presenting with communication needs and/or dysphagia. This may include those with additional sensory and/or physical disability, mental health diagnosis and/or challenging behaviour
To be responsible for managing a defined
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