Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - ALD

The closing date is 29 March 2026

Job summary

Lambeth IST SLT:

Provides highly specialized, high-intensity assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, within a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework, for adults with learning disabilities, who may also have autism, and/or complex mental health needs, particularly those at risk of placement breakdown and/or hospital admission. They work within a highly specialist multidisciplinary team to deliver person-centred, often urgent, intervention to improve communication and to manage any dysphagia needs (eating/drinking difficulties).

Main duties of the job

To communicate effectively with staff, support workers, other members of the professional team, GP, family members, and all significant others on aspects of client's services

To independently management a highly complex, challenging and specialist communication and dysphagia caseload

To be able to co-ordinate and chair multidisciplinary team and speech and language therapy team meetings

To lead on health case management in complex cases

To lead on SLT case management in complex cases where behaviours that challenge services have been identified

To gather evidence of clinical effectiveness, using appropriate outcome measures and employing evidence-based practise

To contribute to the GSTT system of clinical governance in close liaison with the line manager

To act as a consultant to colleagues, to provide second opinions and to share information and expertise with other team members

To initiate and undertake risk assessment and management procedures and to contribute to the development of such procedures in areas of clinical specialism by generating risk reports, developing strategies and systems, collaborating with colleagues, attending committees or working groups etc

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Details

Date posted

18 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year p.a. incl. HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

196-LIS10376M

Job locations

Townley Rd

121 Townley Rd, East Dulwich

London

SE22 8SW


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the provision of a cohesive and effective speech and language therapy service, both communication and eating and drinking (dysphagia), to adults with learning disabilities who have been referred to the service.

The Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Speech and Language Therapists work in close partnership with clients and families and their support network, carrying out specialist assessments to inform communication support strategies and bespoke training.

The Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Speech and Language Therapist team works on eating and drinking (dysphagia) assessment and support for people referred to the team.

The post holder will work closely with the Speech and Language Therapy Assistants in the creation of specialist SLT communication supports.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the provision of a cohesive and effective speech and language therapy service, both communication and eating and drinking (dysphagia), to adults with learning disabilities who have been referred to the service.

The Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Speech and Language Therapists work in close partnership with clients and families and their support network, carrying out specialist assessments to inform communication support strategies and bespoke training.

The Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Speech and Language Therapist team works on eating and drinking (dysphagia) assessment and support for people referred to the team.

The post holder will work closely with the Speech and Language Therapy Assistants in the creation of specialist SLT communication supports.

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level qualification in Speech and Language Therapy/Science or equivalent experience
  • Postgraduate qualification in dysphagia.
  • Membership of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

  • Makaton qualification and skills.
  • Advanced dysphagia qualification
  • Clinical Audit Training
  • PBS training
  • Membership of the RCSLT
  • Membership of relevant CEN's (e.g. Adults with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge, Adults with autism)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with people with a learning disability.
  • Experience of training carers, volunteers and health care professionals and
  • Experience of supporting AAC users, who use light-tech communication devices, such as symbols, photos, objects etc
  • Experience of undertaking own clinical risk assessments and joint risk assessment with wider team
  • Experience of developing independent case-management skills.
  • Experience with the use of audit.
  • Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Experience of carrying out SLT assessment and intervention for adults with learning disabilities

Desirable

  • Experience of MDT working within a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework.
  • Experience of carrying out SLT assessment and input within a PBS framework.
  • Experience of working with AWLD and dysphagia.
  • Experience of liaison with Mental health in LD, health, social services, adult education and voluntary organisations
  • Experience of working with a SaLTA and delegation of work appropriately

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for people with learning disabilities who have behaviours that challenge and may have Autism.
  • Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for AWLD and behaviours that challenge in a range of settings
  • Demonstrate skills in dysphagia assessment and management.
  • Demonstrate skills in using reflective practice
  • Demonstrate skills in the use of AAC. e.g. Talking Mats, Makaton (keyword signing), visual timetables, symbols and photos, Light tech switches, objects etc.
  • Demonstrate ability to prioritise workload and work on own initiative.
  • Demonstrate ability to produce documents and training sessions in a variety of accessible formats e.g. video, easy read, objects for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
  • Demonstrate skills in using multimedia software packages such as Communicate In-Print, GRID 3, Boardmaker etc.
  • Demonstrate ability in the use of Microsoft Office
  • Demonstrate ability to produce highly-specialised reports.
  • Demonstrate ability to maintain client files as per trust and HCPC guidelines.
  • Demonstrate good organisational and time-management skills
  • Ability and enthusiasm to work with those from diverse backgrounds including BME populations
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain intense concentration in situations where the client and the environment may be unpredictable
  • Advanced keyword signing skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain intense concentration in situations where the client and the environment may be unpredictable

Desirable

  • Ability to assess and train clients and carers in the use of appropriate communication aids (low and high tech AAC)
  • Knowledge of legislation relevant to AWLD.
  • Demonstrate skills in AWLD dysphagia assessment and management
  • Knowledge of appropriate strategies and skills required by others to manage extreme behaviours safely.
  • Skills and knowledge to put in place, manage and use information from systems and processes that communicate across all of the service users' environments, including their home e.g. participation
  • Demonstrate ability to translate policies into clinical practice within area of specialism
  • Demonstrate ability to promote the use of AAC for AWLD and behaviours that challenge
  • Demonstrate ability to provide second opinion to colleagues in area of clinical specialism
  • Demonstrate ability to provide bespoke training in the use of appropriate AAC methods to support an AWLD and behaviours that challenge.
  • Demonstrate ability to organise service-development initiatives within the specialism of AWLD and behaviours that challenge
  • Demonstrate ability to plan team/specialist meetings.
  • Ability to understand and interpret specialist Psychological / Psychiatric / medical information from other professionals and make these accessible to carers and people with learning disabilities
  • Demonstrable innovative abilities/ leadership skills
Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level qualification in Speech and Language Therapy/Science or equivalent experience
  • Postgraduate qualification in dysphagia.
  • Membership of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

  • Makaton qualification and skills.
  • Advanced dysphagia qualification
  • Clinical Audit Training
  • PBS training
  • Membership of the RCSLT
  • Membership of relevant CEN's (e.g. Adults with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge, Adults with autism)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with people with a learning disability.
  • Experience of training carers, volunteers and health care professionals and
  • Experience of supporting AAC users, who use light-tech communication devices, such as symbols, photos, objects etc
  • Experience of undertaking own clinical risk assessments and joint risk assessment with wider team
  • Experience of developing independent case-management skills.
  • Experience with the use of audit.
  • Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Experience of carrying out SLT assessment and intervention for adults with learning disabilities

Desirable

  • Experience of MDT working within a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework.
  • Experience of carrying out SLT assessment and input within a PBS framework.
  • Experience of working with AWLD and dysphagia.
  • Experience of liaison with Mental health in LD, health, social services, adult education and voluntary organisations
  • Experience of working with a SaLTA and delegation of work appropriately

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for people with learning disabilities who have behaviours that challenge and may have Autism.
  • Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for AWLD and behaviours that challenge in a range of settings
  • Demonstrate skills in dysphagia assessment and management.
  • Demonstrate skills in using reflective practice
  • Demonstrate skills in the use of AAC. e.g. Talking Mats, Makaton (keyword signing), visual timetables, symbols and photos, Light tech switches, objects etc.
  • Demonstrate ability to prioritise workload and work on own initiative.
  • Demonstrate ability to produce documents and training sessions in a variety of accessible formats e.g. video, easy read, objects for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
  • Demonstrate skills in using multimedia software packages such as Communicate In-Print, GRID 3, Boardmaker etc.
  • Demonstrate ability in the use of Microsoft Office
  • Demonstrate ability to produce highly-specialised reports.
  • Demonstrate ability to maintain client files as per trust and HCPC guidelines.
  • Demonstrate good organisational and time-management skills
  • Ability and enthusiasm to work with those from diverse backgrounds including BME populations
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain intense concentration in situations where the client and the environment may be unpredictable
  • Advanced keyword signing skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain intense concentration in situations where the client and the environment may be unpredictable

Desirable

  • Ability to assess and train clients and carers in the use of appropriate communication aids (low and high tech AAC)
  • Knowledge of legislation relevant to AWLD.
  • Demonstrate skills in AWLD dysphagia assessment and management
  • Knowledge of appropriate strategies and skills required by others to manage extreme behaviours safely.
  • Skills and knowledge to put in place, manage and use information from systems and processes that communicate across all of the service users' environments, including their home e.g. participation
  • Demonstrate ability to translate policies into clinical practice within area of specialism
  • Demonstrate ability to promote the use of AAC for AWLD and behaviours that challenge
  • Demonstrate ability to provide second opinion to colleagues in area of clinical specialism
  • Demonstrate ability to provide bespoke training in the use of appropriate AAC methods to support an AWLD and behaviours that challenge.
  • Demonstrate ability to organise service-development initiatives within the specialism of AWLD and behaviours that challenge
  • Demonstrate ability to plan team/specialist meetings.
  • Ability to understand and interpret specialist Psychological / Psychiatric / medical information from other professionals and make these accessible to carers and people with learning disabilities
  • Demonstrable innovative abilities/ leadership 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).

Additional information

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

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Townley Rd

121 Townley Rd, East Dulwich

London

SE22 8SW


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Townley Rd

121 Townley Rd, East Dulwich

London

SE22 8SW


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Nicolas Ponte

nicolas.ponte@nhs.net

07342056435

Details

Date posted

18 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year p.a. incl. HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

196-LIS10376M

Job locations

Townley Rd

121 Townley Rd, East Dulwich

London

SE22 8SW


Supporting documents

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