Job summaryThis is a great opportunity if you are looking to further develop your specialist skills working with adults with learning disabilities and their networks.We are looking for an enthusiastic Therapist to come and join our well respected and innovative Adult Learning Disability (ALD) Directorate Speech and Language Therapy service. Therapists play an essential role within each of the three Borough's multi-agency community ALD teams and other commissioned services by contributing to a number of clinical pathways delivering high quality, evidenced based care to people with learning disabilities and their carers.You will be based within the Greenwich multi-disciplinary community learning disability team but work flexibly across the teams in Bexley and Bromley as required. In each team you will work with Band 7 SaLT Clinical Leads, other Band 6 SaLTs and Band 5 SaLT Co-workers. You will have a small caseload of adults with varying degrees of learning disability, some of whom have complex needs including dysphagia, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, mental health difficulties and/or behaviour that challenges.Oxleas deliver ALD, ASD, SEND and Mental Health SaLT across three London Boroughs and other sites. We meet regularly as a clinical team. We have a robust clinical supervision structure and a strong focus on CPD.Main duties of the jobTo manage own caseload of clients with Learning Disabilities and with communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties.To line manage/clinically supervise SaLT Co-workers, SaLT Assistant and Specialist Support Workers as directed by Functional Team Manager and Professional Lead for ALD SaLT.To deliver high quality Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis and intervention to people with Learning Disabilities in partnership with their families/carers.To act as part of the multi-disciplinary Learning Disability teams and represent the Speech and Language Therapy Service at Team/Directorate meetings/working parties.About usOxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:We're KindWe're FairWe ListenWe CareJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesManagement and leadership responsibilitiesTo induct, train, review work performance and clinically supervise/appraise SaLT Co-workers, SaLT Assistant, Specialist Support Workers and students as identified.To provide mentoring and support to newly qualified Speech and Language Therapist (Band 5) in order to enable post holder to complete The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy Competency Framework.To contribute to the development of Speech and Language Therapy Service policies and procedures.To contribute to LD Service development through relevant meetings and working groups.To plan and deliver training courses.ClinicalTo carry out and interpret specialist assessments of the communication skills and needs of people with learning disabilities including those with complex/challenging needs and their carers.To diagnose the communication impairments of people with learning disabilities including those with complex/challenging needs.To carry out and interpret specialist assessments of the eating and drinking (dysphagia) skills and needs of people with learning disabilities including those with complex/challenging needs.To diagnose eating and drinking impairments of people with learning disabilities including those with complex/challenging needs.To plan, implement and monitor specialised packages of care including direct therapy, advice and training.To contribute to specialist multi-disciplinary assessment and care packagesTo contribute to medical diagnosis including differential diagnosis.To contribute to and carry out Capacity to Consent Assessments in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act.To advise other teams within Oxleas LD directorate regarding transitions services.To work as a member of the Learning Disability Team by completing Initial Assessments, Carers Assessments and any other requirements.To participate in CPA procedures/meetings and act as Care Co-ordinator when required.To demonstrate a high level of clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence-based practice and clinical outcome measures.To follow Health and Safety guidelines regarding unpleasant working conditions, e.g. Hepatitis, lone visits, exposure to bodily fluids.To demonstrate developed physical skills obtained through experience and multi- dimensional observation skills and use of specialist softwareResearchTo plan, co-ordinate and carry out regular and ongoing complex audits of Speech and Language Therapy Service work in order to contribute to knowledge of clinical effectiveness and outcomes.To plan, co-ordinate and carry out research projects using recognized research methodologies.CommunicationTo demonstrate well-developed specialist communication and presentation skills at all timesTo provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information where there may be significant barriers to understanding or acceptance possibly within emotive, distressing and/or antagonistic atmospheres.To adapt spoken and written information to suit the communication needs of the listener/audience.To demonstrate well-developed persuasion, motivation, negotiation, empathy and reassurance.To liaise with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Learning Disability and Transitions Teams.To maintain close links with School, College, Day and Residential Service and Staff/Managers.To liaise with relevant colleagues within the local Community and Acute Service (e.g. Dietetics, Speech and Language Therapists, GPs etc).To develop and deliver specialist presentations and training to a range of audiences including Service Users, carers, staff and Professional colleagues, in both small and large groups.To adapt information to meet the specific communication needs of people with learning disabilities by identifying and producing accessible versions.To maintain clinical records in accordance with local standardsTo provide letters and reports as necessary in accordance with local standards.To provide accurate and contemporaneous statistical information in accordance with local standards.To use basic word processing skills and specialist software packages to develop communication aids and accessible information.Freedom to ActTo act in accordance with local policies and procedures at all times.To adhere to the principles of Valuing People at all times.To maintain knowledge of relevant current best practice and clinical effectiveness within the Speech & Language Therapy, Learning Disability field.To maintain a personal Development Portfolio.Person SpecificationQualifications/RegistrationEssentialProfessional Speech and Language Therapy qualification and member of RCSLTMember of HCPCEvidence of CPDExperienceEssentialCompleted NQP competenciesExperience of working with young people or adults with LD (in any capacity)Previous experience of MDT workingDesirableExperience of supervising SaLTs, SaLTAs and/or studentsClinical skills and knowledgeEssentialKnowledge and use of low and high tech AAC systems including basic signing skillsDesirablePost basic Dysphagia competencesAwareness of the RCSLT Five Good Communication StandardsDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameOxleas NHS Foundation TrustAddressWoolwich Centre35 Wellington StreetWoolwich, LondonSE18 6HQEmployer's websitehttp://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)