Job summary
We are seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with extensive experience of working with individuals who have a learning disability and complex communication and/or dysphagia needs. The post holder will work as part of a Multidisciplinary Team providing specialist services for adults who have a learning disability. The Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) team work closely with the individuals who use our services and the post holder will be expected to have excellent communication skills, and to engage closely with individuals who use our services following a holistic, co-production approach to provision of Speech and Language Therapy services. The post holder will take a clinical lead role in dysphagia across the Adult Learning Disabilities (ALD) SLT service, including providing training, support and supervision to SLTs within the team around dysphagia, and taking a leadership role in progressing and developing the dysphagia service within the team. The post holder will be expected to manage highly complex communication and dysphagia cases, including cases that are in Court of Protection. The post will also involve contribution to the development of National policies and processes around communication and dysphagia, and to contribute to service development within the Health Board as required by the Professional Lead or Service Manager. The role also includes deputising for the Professional Lead for SLT as required.
Main duties of the job
Manage the delivery of the speech & language therapy service within Pembrokeshire CTLD.
Joint Clinical Lead for Dysphagia for Adult Learning Disabilities Service within the Health Board. This will include working with dysphagia clinical lead colleague and Professional Lead for LDSLT to lead on development and review of dysphagia service, developing and maintaining service guidance, protocols, standards and knowledge base relating to dysphagia; supporting and empowering service user and carer engagement; supervision of LDSLTs and leading a Professional Practice Group in line with service needs.
Manage the day to day prioritisation and administration of own workload independently, adher to deadlines, advise the Professional Lead for SLT (ALD)/or head of department on issues of service delivery including shortfall and service pressures.
Hold a highly complex dysphagia caseload, provide consultation for SLTs around complex dysphagia cases.
Assess, diagnose, develop and implement Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapy care packages for patients/clients on own caseload, managing highly complex dysphagia and communication cases.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.
We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.
We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.
Our services are provided in:
- Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
- Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
- Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
- 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
- Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services
Job description
Job responsibilities
Work as an integral part of a Multidisciplinary Community Team for Learning Disabilities, and engage with other professionals, carers, families and patients, by discussing own and others input around a patient/clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan.
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 02/12/2025.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Work as an integral part of a Multidisciplinary Community Team for Learning Disabilities, and engage with other professionals, carers, families and patients, by discussing own and others input around a patient/clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan.
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 02/12/2025.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Knowledge
Essential
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- Evidence of successful completion of training/specialist short courses up to Master's Degree or equivalent level, and relevant to area of clinical expertise
- HCPC registration
- RCSLT Registration
- Member of Relevant CEN/SIG/PPG
- Understanding of implications of bilingualism on language use and development
- Knowledge and experience of working with patients who have a learning disability to a highly specialist level
- Knowledge of a wide range of specialist assessment tools and procedures to evaluate communication skills, particularly relevant to the highly specialist caseload
- Knowledge of key characteristics leading to a highly specialist differential diagnosis relevant to adults who have a learning disability
- Knowledge of selecting, setting and evaluating highly specialist treatment goals
- Knowledge of a highly specialist range of therapeutic interventions relevant to specialist clinical area, and able to demonstrate the evidence base for these approaches
- Knowledge and understanding of key documents and legislation relating to specialist area
- Well established knowledge of legal and professional issues of confidentiality
- Knowledge of record keeping standards, data protection / Caldicott guidelines
- Knowledge of health and safety issues
- Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to area of clinical expertise
- Accredited post-basic dysphagia training with extensive experience of managing complex cases.
Desirable
- Basic Counselling
- Knowledge of a range of research approaches
- Understanding of principles of change management
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post registration clinical experience relevant to the post including:
- Experience of audit and service evaluation
- Delivering highly specialist training to a range of audiences
- SLT Student placement, nclusive of assessment up to and including final year
- Supporting less experienced staff
- Supervision of associate practitioners/support workers
- Experience of providing second opinions to SLTs and other professionals
Desirable
- Management of change
- Demonstrable leadership experience
- Delivering therapy through the medium of Welsh
- Supervision/line management of SLTs
Language Skills
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications & Knowledge
Essential
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- Evidence of successful completion of training/specialist short courses up to Master's Degree or equivalent level, and relevant to area of clinical expertise
- HCPC registration
- RCSLT Registration
- Member of Relevant CEN/SIG/PPG
- Understanding of implications of bilingualism on language use and development
- Knowledge and experience of working with patients who have a learning disability to a highly specialist level
- Knowledge of a wide range of specialist assessment tools and procedures to evaluate communication skills, particularly relevant to the highly specialist caseload
- Knowledge of key characteristics leading to a highly specialist differential diagnosis relevant to adults who have a learning disability
- Knowledge of selecting, setting and evaluating highly specialist treatment goals
- Knowledge of a highly specialist range of therapeutic interventions relevant to specialist clinical area, and able to demonstrate the evidence base for these approaches
- Knowledge and understanding of key documents and legislation relating to specialist area
- Well established knowledge of legal and professional issues of confidentiality
- Knowledge of record keeping standards, data protection / Caldicott guidelines
- Knowledge of health and safety issues
- Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to area of clinical expertise
- Accredited post-basic dysphagia training with extensive experience of managing complex cases.
Desirable
- Basic Counselling
- Knowledge of a range of research approaches
- Understanding of principles of change management
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post registration clinical experience relevant to the post including:
- Experience of audit and service evaluation
- Delivering highly specialist training to a range of audiences
- SLT Student placement, nclusive of assessment up to and including final year
- Supporting less experienced staff
- Supervision of associate practitioners/support workers
- Experience of providing second opinions to SLTs and other professionals
Desirable
- Management of change
- Demonstrable leadership experience
- Delivering therapy through the medium of Welsh
- Supervision/line management of SLTs
Language Skills
Desirable
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).
