Job summary
The post-holder will be responsible for assessing and managing their own specialist caseload of patients/clients across the service.
They will act as the Speech and Language Therapy clinical lead across Divisions, covering Dementia and Adult Mental Health In- Patient services, providing expert clinical advice and input for clients with highly complex needs, where there may be barriers to understanding.
The post-holder will lead on the development of their specialist service, playing a key role in shaping new service initiatives and strategic plans in conjunction with the Trust wide Lead for Speech and Language Therapy. They will provide professional leadership, clinical supervision, and mentorship for staff within the service, ensuring that high-quality care is maintained in line with professional, national, and local standards.
The post-holder will also take a leading role in clinical audits and service improvements to support service development and innovation. As well as being responsible for developing and delivering training in their specialist area as required
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will lead the Speech and Language Therapy Dementia and Adult Mental Health In Patient Service across Divisions, driving the development of clinical initiatives and strategic plans in collaboration with the Trust wide Lead for Speech and Language Therapy and operational managers.
They will provide clinical leadership, expert opinion, and guidance to ensure high-quality, evidence-based practice across the service. They will work within a wide range of codes of practice and professional guidelines, interpreting these to apply in the specialist area.
About us
We provide specialist NHS mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services and care for people of all ages at home, in hospital and through our community services in Sussex.
When you join us, you'll be able to take advantage of our wide range of rewards and benefits. Here are some of the perks that make working at Sussex Partnership a great choice:
- Flexible Working
- Generous pension and holiday entitlement
- Training and development
- Discounts and savings
- Staff networks
- Staff wellbeing
- Free parking
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Supervision & Leadership: Provide clinical supervision and appraisal to Speech and Language Therapy staff, ensuring high standards of care, professional development, and performance monitoring.
- Assess, Plan, and Supervise Interventions: Provide direct Speech and Language Therapy interventions based on job plan requirements for role, conducting specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessments, developing treatment plans including functional assessments and targeted therapeutic approaches.
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with the multidisciplinary team, contributing to care planning, case discussions, and supporting colleagues with complex cases.
- Risk Assessment & Compliance: Conduct risk assessments for service users, ensuring adherence to all relevant legislation and Trust policies, take a lead on more complex cases requiring collaborative intervention including representation at risk panels as an expert panel member.
- Service Development & Evidence-Based Practice: Collaborate with senior team members to propose service improvements based on evidence-based practices, client needs, and healthcare policies. Taking a lead on some development areas as required.
- Quality Improvement & Audit: Identify service gaps, contribute to audits, and support quality improvement initiatives to enhance service effectiveness.
- Governance & Professional Standards: Support investigations related to grievances, capability, disciplinary matters, and professional/ethical concerns, ensuring appropriate resolutions.
- Research: Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of emerging evidence in Speech and Language Therapy practice and how this will be integrated into day-to-day practice in the service area.
- Strategic Representation & Advocacy: Represent Speech and Language Therapy at meetings, advocating for its role in service delivery and innovation.
- Community & Partnership Development: Work in co-production with service users and carers. Strengthen connections with voluntary sectors, carers, and statutory services to enhance service users access to community networks, including employment and leisure opportunities.
- Complaints & Incident Investigations: Assist in investigating informal complaints, drafting responses, and contributing to patient safety investigation (PSII) reviews as required.
- Operational & Workforce Management: Support colleagues in recruitment, induction, and workforce planning for Speech and Language Therapy staff.
- Service Demand & Workload Management: Assist senior clinicians in monitoring and responding to service demands and workload pressures.
- Expert Consultation: Provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy expertise to shape and influence Divisional services.
- Effective Communication: Ensure clear and consistent communication across all service areas, external agencies, service users, and their support networks.
- Professional Growth & CPD: Maintain an up-to-date CPD portfolio, participate in training, and take responsibility for ongoing professional development.
- Collaboration Across the Trust: Maintain professional links with lead Speech and Language Therapists across the Trust to enhance service provision.
- Mandatory Training & Compliance: Ensure adherence to all Trust-mandated training requirements.
- Student Education & Placement Management: Act as a Practice Placement Educator, overseeing Speech and Language Therapy student placements for the specialist area.
- Financial Awareness: Maintain knowledge of budgetary procedures relevant to service delivery and manage delegated budgets as required.
- Confidentiality & Data Management: Adhere to confidentiality policies and ensure accurate record-keeping in line with Trust guidelines.
- Additional Duties: Undertake other responsibilities as assigned by the Line Manager, flexibly contributing to the evolving needs of the service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Supervision & Leadership: Provide clinical supervision and appraisal to Speech and Language Therapy staff, ensuring high standards of care, professional development, and performance monitoring.
- Assess, Plan, and Supervise Interventions: Provide direct Speech and Language Therapy interventions based on job plan requirements for role, conducting specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessments, developing treatment plans including functional assessments and targeted therapeutic approaches.
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with the multidisciplinary team, contributing to care planning, case discussions, and supporting colleagues with complex cases.
- Risk Assessment & Compliance: Conduct risk assessments for service users, ensuring adherence to all relevant legislation and Trust policies, take a lead on more complex cases requiring collaborative intervention including representation at risk panels as an expert panel member.
- Service Development & Evidence-Based Practice: Collaborate with senior team members to propose service improvements based on evidence-based practices, client needs, and healthcare policies. Taking a lead on some development areas as required.
- Quality Improvement & Audit: Identify service gaps, contribute to audits, and support quality improvement initiatives to enhance service effectiveness.
- Governance & Professional Standards: Support investigations related to grievances, capability, disciplinary matters, and professional/ethical concerns, ensuring appropriate resolutions.
- Research: Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of emerging evidence in Speech and Language Therapy practice and how this will be integrated into day-to-day practice in the service area.
- Strategic Representation & Advocacy: Represent Speech and Language Therapy at meetings, advocating for its role in service delivery and innovation.
- Community & Partnership Development: Work in co-production with service users and carers. Strengthen connections with voluntary sectors, carers, and statutory services to enhance service users access to community networks, including employment and leisure opportunities.
- Complaints & Incident Investigations: Assist in investigating informal complaints, drafting responses, and contributing to patient safety investigation (PSII) reviews as required.
- Operational & Workforce Management: Support colleagues in recruitment, induction, and workforce planning for Speech and Language Therapy staff.
- Service Demand & Workload Management: Assist senior clinicians in monitoring and responding to service demands and workload pressures.
- Expert Consultation: Provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy expertise to shape and influence Divisional services.
- Effective Communication: Ensure clear and consistent communication across all service areas, external agencies, service users, and their support networks.
- Professional Growth & CPD: Maintain an up-to-date CPD portfolio, participate in training, and take responsibility for ongoing professional development.
- Collaboration Across the Trust: Maintain professional links with lead Speech and Language Therapists across the Trust to enhance service provision.
- Mandatory Training & Compliance: Ensure adherence to all Trust-mandated training requirements.
- Student Education & Placement Management: Act as a Practice Placement Educator, overseeing Speech and Language Therapy student placements for the specialist area.
- Financial Awareness: Maintain knowledge of budgetary procedures relevant to service delivery and manage delegated budgets as required.
- Confidentiality & Data Management: Adhere to confidentiality policies and ensure accurate record-keeping in line with Trust guidelines.
- Additional Duties: Undertake other responsibilities as assigned by the Line Manager, flexibly contributing to the evolving needs of the service.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oMSc / Degree / Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy
- oEvidence of master level post qualification study or equivalent experience
- oEvidence of continuing professional development
- oRegistration with the HCPC as a Speech and Language Therapist
- oPractice placement qualification
- oExtensive experience as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, in a mental health/learning disability/autism service
- oExtensive experience of working with people with Mental Health problems / Learning Disabilities
- oExperience of supervising other staff
- oLeadership experience
- oEvidence of post-qualification training in a relevant field
- oProven written and general communication skills within a multi-disciplinary setting
- oExperience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy clinical approaches used in Mental health / Learning disabilities
- oExperience in using evidence based Speech and Language Therapy assessments
- oExperience of service/ practice innovation
- oExperience in Quality Improvement
- oExperience in working collaboratively with other agencies
- oExpert knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy interventions
- oAbility to supervise and develop junior staff
- oLead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practices including policies and strategies
- oResolution of professional/ethical issues
- oAbility to communicate complex condition related information to service users, carers and colleagues, and resolve any barriers there may be to understanding
- oAbility to develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders
- oAbility to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
- oAbility to think strategically and across services
- oAbility to implement and suggest changes to polices, as well as developing specific polices for the specialist area
- oAbility to assess, develop interventions and monitor needs for a range of highly complex conditions within the specialist area, considering clinical governance issues, and the content of expert advice
- oAbility to co-ordinate Speech and Language Therapy activity across the area in collaboration with operational managers
- oAbility to identify the needs of the service as a whole and to prioritise accordingly
- oAbility to work alone where required and as an active member of a team
- oEffective time management and allocation of resources
- oAbility to work with a range of codes of practice and professional guidelines and ability to interpret these for the specialist service
- oAbility to set up and maintain clinical and professional supervision system for junior staff, including appraisal, allocation of work, as well as the recruitment and appointment of new staff
- oManagement of delegated budget when appropriate
- oAbility to use Trust IT systems including e-mail and electronic clinical records
- oAbility to design and deliver complex clinical audit activity and to be active in considering research activity in the clinical area
- oAbility to participate in training in de-escalation techniques and breakaway Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands. Requirement to move patients and equipment during functional assessment and treatment
- oAbility to concentrate on complex client assessment and intervention and deal with interruptions to workflow
- oAbility to be able to deal with conflicting demands
- oAbility to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances due to complex nature of work with service users
- oAbility to carry out investigations into untoward incidents which may have distressing content
- oFrequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions - whilst carrying out functional assessment, or home visits to unsanitary environments
- oDemonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
- oFlexible approach - willing to work as part of a team and assist colleagues
- oDemonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
- oCommitment to providing a quality service within a team
- oAbility to travel across sites
- oPunctual and flexible across hours of work when required
Desirable
- oManagement / Leadership training
- oResearch experience
- oExperience in clinical audit
- oExperience in a range of clinical settings
- oManagement experience
- oMember of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- oLived experience of Mental Health issues
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oMSc / Degree / Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy
- oEvidence of master level post qualification study or equivalent experience
- oEvidence of continuing professional development
- oRegistration with the HCPC as a Speech and Language Therapist
- oPractice placement qualification
- oExtensive experience as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, in a mental health/learning disability/autism service
- oExtensive experience of working with people with Mental Health problems / Learning Disabilities
- oExperience of supervising other staff
- oLeadership experience
- oEvidence of post-qualification training in a relevant field
- oProven written and general communication skills within a multi-disciplinary setting
- oExperience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy clinical approaches used in Mental health / Learning disabilities
- oExperience in using evidence based Speech and Language Therapy assessments
- oExperience of service/ practice innovation
- oExperience in Quality Improvement
- oExperience in working collaboratively with other agencies
- oExpert knowledge of Speech and Language Therapy interventions
- oAbility to supervise and develop junior staff
- oLead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practices including policies and strategies
- oResolution of professional/ethical issues
- oAbility to communicate complex condition related information to service users, carers and colleagues, and resolve any barriers there may be to understanding
- oAbility to develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders
- oAbility to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
- oAbility to think strategically and across services
- oAbility to implement and suggest changes to polices, as well as developing specific polices for the specialist area
- oAbility to assess, develop interventions and monitor needs for a range of highly complex conditions within the specialist area, considering clinical governance issues, and the content of expert advice
- oAbility to co-ordinate Speech and Language Therapy activity across the area in collaboration with operational managers
- oAbility to identify the needs of the service as a whole and to prioritise accordingly
- oAbility to work alone where required and as an active member of a team
- oEffective time management and allocation of resources
- oAbility to work with a range of codes of practice and professional guidelines and ability to interpret these for the specialist service
- oAbility to set up and maintain clinical and professional supervision system for junior staff, including appraisal, allocation of work, as well as the recruitment and appointment of new staff
- oManagement of delegated budget when appropriate
- oAbility to use Trust IT systems including e-mail and electronic clinical records
- oAbility to design and deliver complex clinical audit activity and to be active in considering research activity in the clinical area
- oAbility to participate in training in de-escalation techniques and breakaway Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands. Requirement to move patients and equipment during functional assessment and treatment
- oAbility to concentrate on complex client assessment and intervention and deal with interruptions to workflow
- oAbility to be able to deal with conflicting demands
- oAbility to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances due to complex nature of work with service users
- oAbility to carry out investigations into untoward incidents which may have distressing content
- oFrequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions - whilst carrying out functional assessment, or home visits to unsanitary environments
- oDemonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
- oFlexible approach - willing to work as part of a team and assist colleagues
- oDemonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
- oCommitment to providing a quality service within a team
- oAbility to travel across sites
- oPunctual and flexible across hours of work when required
Desirable
- oManagement / Leadership training
- oResearch experience
- oExperience in clinical audit
- oExperience in a range of clinical settings
- oManagement experience
- oMember of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- oLived experience of Mental Health issues
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.
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.
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).