Southern Health’s Specialist Services Division is seeking a resilient, enthusiastic and compassionate Speech and Language Therapist to join its Children and Young People’s Services. The successful candidate must have excellent engagement and communication skills, a sense of fun, and a professional and innovative approach to practice.

The 3 Child and Adolescent Mental Health inpatient units comprise of Bluebird House, a medium secure forensic service on the edge of the New Forest; Austen House, a low secure forensic service on the edge of the New Forest; and Leigh House, a Tier 4 general acute and specialist eating disorder unit near Winchester. The Speech and Language Therapy Team will also provide a service to Swanwick Lodge Secure Children’s Home as part of the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Service. The 4 units provide residential care for young people aged 10 to 18 years who are experiencing complex mental health and social difficulties, and may also pose a risk to themselves and/or others.

Each CAMHS inpatient unit is purpose built with excellent facilities, and a multi-disciplinary team comprising of Psychiatrists, Psychological Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Nurses, Support Workers and Dieticians as well as a team of local authority Education Tutors and Learning Coaches. Swanwick Lodge has similar facilities and resources, with the residential care provided by local authority staff.

As a peripatetic Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will work as a valued member of the multi-disciplinary teams contributing to the assessment, rehabilitation and discharge planning for a caseload of young people.

You will have relevant post-graduate experience, and whilst previous experience of working with young people with mental health conditions is not essential, an understanding of the types of challenges and difficulties these young people face would be beneficial.

You will support the young people to engage effectively in their admissions by educating and training the multi-disciplinary team to understand their speech, language and communication needs, and how to address them.

You will provide leadership and guidance to junior Speech and Language Therapy team members and students, support the development of a generally communication-supportive environment within the CAMHS inpatient units, and support the development of the Speech and Language Therapy service through a process of evaluation and review.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to contribute to various local and Trust quality improvement projects, and there are also excellent opportunities for continuous professional development, research and marketing.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

348-SS-I-801B