Speech and Language Therapist - Band 5

Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust Speech and Language Therapist - Band 5 The closing date is 03 August 2026 Would you like to be part of a large team of SLTs in an innovative and forward‑thinking trust? If so, we would love to hear from you. The GSTT SLT adults with learning disabilities team covers the diverse boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, making this an exciting opportunity to hold a varied caseload within an established and supportive team. You will be supported to complete your NQP competencies and to enhance and develop dysphagia competencies. You will be a key part of the SLT and wider MDT, and are encouraged to take part in service development projects and supervisions both peer and for other team members, therefore ensuring that no two days in this post will be the same. We are currently looking to recruit a 1 WTE (37.5 hours full time) band 5 post. This post will be largely based in the London borough of Southwark. The post holder will be responsible for the provision of a cohesive and effective speech and language therapy service to adults with learning disabilities resident within the boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham. They will act as a full member of the multidisciplinary team and work in accordance with the 4 key principles as stated in the White Paper – Valuing People Now. They will also be a member of a larger community Adults with Learning Disabilities Speech and Language Therapy team which covers the boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Lambeth. Main duties of the job The post holder will be responsible for the provision of a cohesive and effective speech and language therapy service to adults with learning disabilities resident within the boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth or Lewisham and are registered with a local GP. The post holder will provide assessment, advice and intervention to clients receiving services from a number of appropriate agencies, such as Social Services, not for profit organisations, private and voluntary sectors. The post holder will provide eating and drinking assessments and programmes to clients within competency. The post holder will be expected to deliver training to staff and significant others in the areas of communication and eating and drinking. The post holder will be required to work across borough boundaries, accessing and recording information using mobile devices. The post holder will be expected to develop and sustain professional relationships with the following key individuals and groups: * Allied Health Professionals both within the Adults with Learning Disabilities team, the wider community and hospital setting * Nursing and medical staff within Hospital settings * Community Nurses * Specialist Nurses such as Learning Disability Nurses * Specialist health services such as HEN team * Administrative and Clerical staff * Mental Health and Learning Disabilities About us Organisational Values Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it. It is important that you understand and reflect these values throughout your employment with the Trust. The post holder will be: * Caring * Ambitious * Inclusive Our values and behaviours framework describes what it means for every one of us in the Trust to put our values into action. The framework can be found on our Trust careers pages. Job responsibilities * To have responsibility for the assessment of, provide appropriate intervention for, and the management of clients communication abilities and deficits * To have responsibility for the assessment of, provide appropriate intervention for, and the management of clients eating and drinking skills within clinical competence * Responsibility for independently organising and prioritising caseloads within Southwark, advising line management of shortfalls and difficulties as they arise * To develop and maintain close working relationships with colleagues in health, social services, education and not for profit * To liaise with staff, support workers, tutors, professional team members and all significant others on all aspects of client services * To act as a source of reference and advice for this client group within the borough teams * To co‑ordinate the interface with other service providers for the implementation of home programmes and appropriate input into person centred planning * The maintenance of client case notes in keeping with professional standards, as per guidance from RCSLT and HCPC and local department policies * To develop training packages for the implementation of communication approaches within a range of environments * To assess clients eating and drinking skills using a risk assessment model, taking into consideration complex pre‑existing conditions, living situation and with due regard to cultural and legal issues, within clinical competence * To write reports and guidelines using formats that are accessible to the person, carers/family ensuring that existing barriers to communication are accommodated * To be able to use a variety of software packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Boardmaker, GRID 3, Inprint * To be aware of the use and application of multimedia packages and equipment such as digital stills cameras, digital movie cameras and audio recording devices * Any other duties designated by the Speech Language Therapy Manager, Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities compatible with the grading structure and sphere of competence. Please see job description document for full information on description and main responsibilities. Person Specification Education and Qualifications * Degree level study either speech language therapy/sciences or equivalent * Basic dysphagia training * Basic Makaton training Professional/Statutory Registration * Membership Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) * Membership of Royal College of Speech Language Therapists Experience and Abilities * Previous experience of working with people with learning disabilities * Experience commensurate with undergraduate training * Knowledge of the principles outlined in RCSLT Position Paper for People with Learning Disabilities 2023 * Previous experience with eating/drinking – experience on placements will be considered * Previous experience working within a multidisciplinary team * Experience of considering the impact of relevant legislation on practice * Experience of group facilitation Skills and Abilities * Ability to assess and provide intervention for adults with learning disabilities * Good presentation skills both written and verbal * Assessment & treatment skills in SLT * Skills in prioritising caseload * Sign communication * Work within a team Personal Qualities * Excellent communication skills with a range of individuals. * Desire to work with people within the disability service. * Able to work within a community and MDT setting * Awareness of Equality Diversity and Inclusion and ability to embed these principles within practice. * Able to adapt to change 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. Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust £38,488 to £46,852 a year inclusive of HCA J-18808-Ljbffr