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Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Speech & Language Therapist for Acute Services

The closing date is 12 December 2025

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Job summary

Are you passionate about making a real impact in healthcare through compassionate, patient-centred care? We're seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to develop the speech and language therapy provision with the adult acute mental health inpatient wards. This new role offers the opportunity to shape patient care, lead on establishing the role of SLT, influence policy, and promote the use of least restrictive practice, supporting people on our wards.

This newly funded positionwill form an integral part of the MDT team, led by the Head of AHPs, working alongside a therapy team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapy, Arts Therapists, Assistant Therapy Practitioners and Psychologists. The post holder will work across the two Assessment and Short term treatment wards, both based at Kingfisher court.

Main duties of the job

As part of the ward based team you will provide expert clinical guidance, especially for people with highly complex needs and those requiring specialist Speech and Language therapy assessments and interventions. You will be supported by the rest of the MDT, especially by the Occupational Therapists within the ward. The post holder will offer the core Speech and Language therapy assessments and interventions, as well as proving advice for the MDT on SLT treatment plans and outcomes of assessments. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of transforming our in-patient services across the Trust using person centred, recovery based, trauma informed care to provide the least restrictive interventions.

The role offers the opportunity to develop managerial and leadership skills whilst delivering specialist clinical interventions for people admitted to the adult acute mental health wards. The post holder will receive support and training around the development of working with people with mental health needs as required.

The role offers opportunities to access internal and external training to help embed and develop the SLT provision within this team. This may be in Trauma Informed Care/ Positive Behavioural Support/ ASD etc and can be identified with you as part of your professional development and aligned with the needs of the service.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Details

Date posted

28 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year Per annum, Pro rata (5% HCAS Included)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

367-A&UC-9898

Job locations

Kingfisher Court

Kingsley Green

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To manage a small caseload of clients with highly complex SLT needs, using evidence based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.To assess and develop treatment plans for service users with acute mental health issues, additional sensory and/ or physical disability, as part of an MDT.To be responsible for managing a defined caseload with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectivenessPromoting and providing the least restrictive approaches in line with the trauma informed, personalised care approach.Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of trauma and work to actively prevent re-traumatisation.To provide culturally sensitive services, tailored to the unique experience and needs of individuals whatever their background.Demonstrate values which respect service users choice; working alongside them and their families/carers to ensure they are at the centre of care planning (recovery model).

Job description

Job responsibilities

To manage a small caseload of clients with highly complex SLT needs, using evidence based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.To assess and develop treatment plans for service users with acute mental health issues, additional sensory and/ or physical disability, as part of an MDT.To be responsible for managing a defined caseload with ongoing evaluation of clinical effectivenessPromoting and providing the least restrictive approaches in line with the trauma informed, personalised care approach.Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of trauma and work to actively prevent re-traumatisation.To provide culturally sensitive services, tailored to the unique experience and needs of individuals whatever their background.Demonstrate values which respect service users choice; working alongside them and their families/carers to ensure they are at the centre of care planning (recovery model).

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION TRAINING

Essential

  • BSc/MSc/PG Dip Speech and Language Therapy
  • HCPC registration
  • Evidence of clinical post registration training
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages
  • Practice Placement qualification
  • Awareness of Eating, Drinking and Swallowing (dysphagia) needs

Desirable

  • Membership of RCSLT
  • First line management training
  • Dysphagia Training

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
  • Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions
  • Highly Specialist knowledge and experience of using and applying Speech and Language Therapy assessment tools and interventions
  • Documented evidence of continuing professional development
  • Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students

Desirable

  • Post registration experience in acute mental health
  • Involvement in recruiting staff
  • Experience in research or audit
  • Previous experience of having worked at Band 7 level
Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION TRAINING

Essential

  • BSc/MSc/PG Dip Speech and Language Therapy
  • HCPC registration
  • Evidence of clinical post registration training
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Office and associated packages
  • Practice Placement qualification
  • Awareness of Eating, Drinking and Swallowing (dysphagia) needs

Desirable

  • Membership of RCSLT
  • First line management training
  • Dysphagia Training

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disability in a variety of health and social care settings
  • Applied experience of providing both individual and group work interventions
  • Highly Specialist knowledge and experience of using and applying Speech and Language Therapy assessment tools and interventions
  • Documented evidence of continuing professional development
  • Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students

Desirable

  • Post registration experience in acute mental health
  • Involvement in recruiting staff
  • Experience in research or audit
  • Previous experience of having worked at Band 7 level

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.

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.

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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kingfisher Court

Kingsley Green

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kingfisher Court

Kingsley Green

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of AHPs -Adult Acute Urgent Care Division

Caroline Finch

caroline.finch1@nhs.net

07798623534

Details

Date posted

28 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year Per annum, Pro rata (5% HCAS Included)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

367-A&UC-9898

Job locations

Kingfisher Court

Kingsley Green

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Supporting documents

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