South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Advanced Practitioner - Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 21 July 2025

Job summary

30 hours per week.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced speech and language therapist to work within our All Age Forensic Community Service. The post holder will work across the Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service (LD/A) and our Forensic Child and Adolescent Service. This newly established role will be pivotal in establishing a high-quality speech and language therapy pathway offer, providing specialist assessments and interventions to patients currently receiving care in our Forensic Community Service across the West Yorkshire region. The role will also involve providing day to day support and clinical leadership to SALT staff working within service.

You will have experience of working with individuals with a range of mental health conditions and either experience of, or transferrable skills to work with individuals with learning disabilities. You will have the ability and motivation to develop and shape the direction of the speech and language provision, ensuring it is evidence based and meets the individuals needs. You would work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside partner agencies to keep people well and safe, promoting the communication and independence of our service users. You will also be confident in upskilling staff in the understanding and delivery of communication strategies to ensure that the service is inclusive and accessible to all individuals.

Main duties of the job

The post holder would provide a highly specialist speech and language therapy service, using expert skills to assess, advise and provide appropriate intervention to ensure individuals holistic health needs are met, informing risk assessment and management and promoting quality of life.

You will be required to liaise effectively with all relevant professionals, carers and family members to ensure the needs of the individual are met.

We are looking for a flexible, confident, enthusiastic and proactive speech and language therapist with established or developing leadership skills.

Effective communication, organisational and IT skills are essential.

The successful candidate will be passionate for improving the lives of vulnerable children and adults and have a strong understanding of local and national drivers and legal frameworks relating to forensic mental health services, learning disability and Forensic Community provision.

You will provide supervision to the speech and language staff.

You will provide training and development in line with the speech and language pathway and inform service development.

You will have access to operational and professional support, clinical supervision, and strong professional networks and a range of profession specific training and career progression opportunities.

If you would like to discuss this posts or organise an informal visit, please contact: Stacey Hayton, General Manager on Stacey.Hayton@swyt.nhs.uk or 07789 753526

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-F0659

Job locations

Newton Lodge and Bretton Centre, Fieldhead Hospital

Ouchthorpe Lane

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 3SP


Job description

Job responsibilities

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

To be responsible for the day to day co-ordination and management of Allied Health Professionals within the designated clinical area, undertaking a complex, multi-functional role, combining managerial, clinical and professional duties and responsibilities.

To have an identified clinical role for highly complex cases within their designated service.

To provide advice and support to other therapy staff and members of the multi-disciplinary team within the service.

To facilitate collaborative working across therapy, maximizing on the skills of the therapists, therapy assistants and other staff.

In the capacity as a representative of the therapy services to liaise with the consultants and other medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary agencies and the private sector.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

To comply with the post holders professional code and Health Care Professions Council code of ethics and professional conduct and to adhere to national and local policies and procedures.

To work in a specialised autonomous capacity accepting referrals for patients / service users referred to your clinical area. Giving advice and support to other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

To be professionally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including management of patients with complex needs.

To plan and prioritise own patient caseload (where appropriate), with highly complex needs, using highly specialist therapy skills. Assess and analyse identifying problem areas in order to plan and carry out goal orientated intervention programmes with the patients. Balancing risk, safety and patient choice in order to promote maximum independence.

Use of excellent communication and negotiation skills to establish a therapeutic relationship in complex and sometimes highly complex cases, taking into account the views and wishes of service users, carers and families. Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure patient safety, thus maximising effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention.

To work with patients/families to aid their acceptance, understanding and management of their condition/disability. To provide the necessary support required in a sometimes hostile/antagonistic or highly emotional atmosphere.

To use highly advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills which implement evidence based practice

To possess the necessary skills to implement time management and prioritise own caseload whilst assisting and supporting all therapy staff and members of the MDT, across your own and other clinical areas.

To carry out risk assessments and make recommendations to reduce risk to meet the needs of service users, staff, and the wider service/ organisation.

To have and maintain a current working knowledge of the safe use of a range of equipment relevant to the service area. Assemble and fit equipment in patients own homes and assess their safe use.

To actively encourage the provision of placements for student therapists and support team members with students training and appraisal.

To be involved and committed to therapy audit, evidence based practice and clinical research where appropriate, in order to promote best possible practice in the relevant clinical area.

In the capacity as a representative of therapy services to liaise and communicate effectively with consultants, senior managers, professional lead, other medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary and private agencies.

To be responsible for risk assessment in your own delegated area, ensuring a safe working environment for all staff, patients and members of the general public.

To undertake own continuous professional development, participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision, to organise peer reviews and maintain up to date knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to the area of speciality through research and work within clinical interest groups. To ensure all therapy team members take responsibility for their own CPD.

To ensure effective delivery of clinical support and supervision to all Therapy staff within the service.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

To be responsible for the day to day co-ordination and management of Allied Health Professionals within the designated clinical area, undertaking a complex, multi-functional role, combining managerial, clinical and professional duties and responsibilities.

To have an identified clinical role for highly complex cases within their designated service.

To provide advice and support to other therapy staff and members of the multi-disciplinary team within the service.

To facilitate collaborative working across therapy, maximizing on the skills of the therapists, therapy assistants and other staff.

In the capacity as a representative of the therapy services to liaise with the consultants and other medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary agencies and the private sector.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

To comply with the post holders professional code and Health Care Professions Council code of ethics and professional conduct and to adhere to national and local policies and procedures.

To work in a specialised autonomous capacity accepting referrals for patients / service users referred to your clinical area. Giving advice and support to other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

To be professionally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including management of patients with complex needs.

To plan and prioritise own patient caseload (where appropriate), with highly complex needs, using highly specialist therapy skills. Assess and analyse identifying problem areas in order to plan and carry out goal orientated intervention programmes with the patients. Balancing risk, safety and patient choice in order to promote maximum independence.

Use of excellent communication and negotiation skills to establish a therapeutic relationship in complex and sometimes highly complex cases, taking into account the views and wishes of service users, carers and families. Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure patient safety, thus maximising effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention.

To work with patients/families to aid their acceptance, understanding and management of their condition/disability. To provide the necessary support required in a sometimes hostile/antagonistic or highly emotional atmosphere.

To use highly advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills which implement evidence based practice

To possess the necessary skills to implement time management and prioritise own caseload whilst assisting and supporting all therapy staff and members of the MDT, across your own and other clinical areas.

To carry out risk assessments and make recommendations to reduce risk to meet the needs of service users, staff, and the wider service/ organisation.

To have and maintain a current working knowledge of the safe use of a range of equipment relevant to the service area. Assemble and fit equipment in patients own homes and assess their safe use.

To actively encourage the provision of placements for student therapists and support team members with students training and appraisal.

To be involved and committed to therapy audit, evidence based practice and clinical research where appropriate, in order to promote best possible practice in the relevant clinical area.

In the capacity as a representative of therapy services to liaise and communicate effectively with consultants, senior managers, professional lead, other medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary and private agencies.

To be responsible for risk assessment in your own delegated area, ensuring a safe working environment for all staff, patients and members of the general public.

To undertake own continuous professional development, participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision, to organise peer reviews and maintain up to date knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to the area of speciality through research and work within clinical interest groups. To ensure all therapy team members take responsibility for their own CPD.

To ensure effective delivery of clinical support and supervision to all Therapy staff within the service.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Excellent leadership skills.
  • Excellent teaching skills.
  • Supervision skills.
  • Ability to demonstrate highly specialised clinical reasoning and treatment skills.
  • Excellent team working skills.
  • Proven experience of time management.
  • Excellent Prioritisation skills.
  • Negotiating skills.
  • Knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to clinical area.

Desirable

  • Basic IT skills.

Physical Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to risk assess and deal with health and safety matters for own and others work area and caseloads.
  • Ability to work autonomously.
  • Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to role.
  • Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service possibly including evenings and weekend working.

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive appropriate post-registration experience relevant to clinical area.
  • Experience in supervising and managing staff.
  • Experience of working with children and families.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Dietetics / SALT.
  • Current valid HCPC registration.
  • Practice Education / Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate (or to achieve within 12 months).

Desirable

  • MSC/Diploma in relevant area.

Training

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing professional development and post graduate training in relevant area.
  • Have demonstrable competence to work at Masters or Advanced Level.

Desirable

  • Management or leadership training.
  • Risk Assessment training.
  • Audit training.
  • Therapies training i.e. CBT-E, IPT, Sensory integration.
Person Specification

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Excellent leadership skills.
  • Excellent teaching skills.
  • Supervision skills.
  • Ability to demonstrate highly specialised clinical reasoning and treatment skills.
  • Excellent team working skills.
  • Proven experience of time management.
  • Excellent Prioritisation skills.
  • Negotiating skills.
  • Knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to clinical area.

Desirable

  • Basic IT skills.

Physical Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to risk assess and deal with health and safety matters for own and others work area and caseloads.
  • Ability to work autonomously.
  • Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to role.
  • Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service possibly including evenings and weekend working.

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive appropriate post-registration experience relevant to clinical area.
  • Experience in supervising and managing staff.
  • Experience of working with children and families.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Dietetics / SALT.
  • Current valid HCPC registration.
  • Practice Education / Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate (or to achieve within 12 months).

Desirable

  • MSC/Diploma in relevant area.

Training

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing professional development and post graduate training in relevant area.
  • Have demonstrable competence to work at Masters or Advanced Level.

Desirable

  • Management or leadership training.
  • Risk Assessment training.
  • Audit training.
  • Therapies training i.e. CBT-E, IPT, Sensory integration.

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

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Newton Lodge and Bretton Centre, Fieldhead Hospital

Ouchthorpe Lane

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 3SP


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Newton Lodge and Bretton Centre, Fieldhead Hospital

Ouchthorpe Lane

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 3SP


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Stacey Hayton

Stacey.Hayton@swyt.nhs.uk

07789753526

Details

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-F0659

Job locations

Newton Lodge and Bretton Centre, Fieldhead Hospital

Ouchthorpe Lane

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 3SP


Supporting documents

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