Welcome from our Chief Executive

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

We have a fantastic opportunity for a committed and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to join our expanding Community Learning Disability Team in Worthing, West Sussex. We are looking for someone who is passionate about working with people with a learning disability to improve their life experiences.

Our Community Learning Disability Teams are multi-disciplinary and work to meet the health and wellbeing needs of adults who have a learning disability. We also work closely with Adult Social Care.

The varied and interesting clinical work is mostly in the community so you will need to be able to travel between locations in a timely manner.

You would be joining a dynamic speech and language therapy team with a national profile and a commitment to continuing professional development. We provide frequent specialist supervision and peer support networks and an environment where innovative and progressive practice are encouraged.

Main duties of the job

Working with people who have a learning disability and communication and/ or eating and drinking difficulties to improve their safety and quality of life.

We are looking for an experienced clinician with a dysphagia qualification who is committed to improving the lives of people who have a learning disability and who need support with their communication and/or eating and drinking.

To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID

Working for our organisation

You would be joining:

A local multidisciplinary learning disability team, alongside a wider pan - Sussex team of Speech and Language Therapists with a national profile, excellent CPD opportunities and a structure which supports career development.

Sussex is a beautiful part of the country, with easy access to the sea and the South Downs National park. There are excellent transport links to London and Gatwick.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Working with adults with learning disabilities with dysphagia and communication difficulties in the community alongside a multi disciplinary team of colleagues.

Please see Job Description for full details.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree or Masters qualification or equivalent
• Health Professions Council - licence to practice
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
• Evidence of completion of specialist short courses related to learning disabilities.
• Post-basic qualification in dysphagia

Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria

• experience as a Speech & Language Therapist working in learning disabilities
• Experience of training other professionals
• Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
• Knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to client group)
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit.
• Knowledge of record keeping standards
• Ability to adapt written and verbal communication to suit the needs of people with communication and learning disabilities. This may include Makaton signing, symbols and pictures etc

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.