This exciting opportunity will enable the post holder to work within the Secure and Specialist Learning Disability Division based at Hollins Park Hospital. You will work amongst a range of professionals including Support workers, Nurses, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Psychiatry and Peer Support Workers.

You will be part of a supportive service enabling and facilitating people with mental illness to meet their health needs and access mainstream health services. You will support the following three wards as part of the Multi discplinary Team:

Tennyson is an 8 bedded female Secure Step Down Unit.

Marlowe is a 15 bedded male Low Secure Unit

Chesterton is a 16 bedded female Low Secure Unit.

All areas deliver care to adults with mental illness who require admission in a specialist forensic care setting. As a Band 7, there will be opportunities to contribute to service development, clinical pathways and staff training. You will be supported and encouraged to develop your own leadership skills and continuing professional development.

Due to Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust being a large organisation there may be regular opportunities for additional bank work/overtime to supplement this part time post.

Main duties of the job

As the Specialist band 7 Speech and Language Therapist, you will be responsible for managing a clinical caseload involving the assessment and management of dysphagia and communication difficulties with our patients . You will provide support to the wider MDT, represent Speech and Language Therapy in projects or meetings , and provide relevant training. You will offer interventions to support risk management, positive behaviour support plans and communication. You will work collaboratively with professional colleagues and provider services to deliver person-centred care. You will provide leadership and guidance on communication and dysphagia within the MDT, and to mainstream and provider services.

As a new service to Hollins Park, you will be able to work with the senior leadership team to establish and raise the profile of Speech and Language therapy and highlight the value and contribution of intervention to this client group.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Job description Job responsibilities

As the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will be responsible for managing a clinical caseload involving the assessment and management of dysphagia and communication difficulties with our patients . You will provide support to the wider MDT, represent Speech and Language Therapy in projects or meetings , and provide relevant training. You will offer interventions to support risk management, positive behaviour support plans and communication. You will work collaboratively with professional colleagues and provider services to deliver person-centred care. You will provide leadership and guidance on communication and dysphagia within the MDT, and to mainstream and provider services.

Person Specification Criteria Essential

• oAccredited Speech and Language Therapy qualification (BSc)
• oReg. member of HCPC
• oExperience of carrying out specialist assessments and interventions
• oPost graduate training/qualification in Dysphagia
• oProven ability to work independently, prioritise and manage own complex caseload.
• oExperience of working with highly complex cases, such as progressive illness and rare conditions.

Desirable

• oReg. member of RCSLT
• oAdvanced level dysphagia training (masters level).
• oCervical auscultation training
• oAwareness of Total Communication
• oConsideration of working within a mental health provision
• oEvidence of postgraduate study.
• oExperience of supervision, appraisal and development of therapy staff and students.
• oKnowledge and experience of symbol software packages.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

350-SELD4392836