Highly Specialist S&L Therapist/Deputy Team Manager
- West London NHS Trust
- West London NHS Trust, Armstrong Way, Southall, UK
- 27 Oct, 2026
Job Description
West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.
We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.
Job overview
This is a great opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) to join our friendly and supportive Physical Health AHP Team, working across adult and older adult mental health inpatient services.
You will work with a varied and interesting caseload, supporting people with communication and swallowing difficulties, including those with dementia, acquired brain injury, stroke and other complex needs.
Working alongside Dietitians, Physiotherapists and the wider ward multidisciplinary teams, you will help deliver integrated, person-centred physical healthcare.
As a senior SaLT, you will have the opportunity to provide clinical leadership, share your expertise and contribute to the development of the service. You will work alongside experienced Band 7 clinicians, with support from the Team Manager and opportunities for professional development.
Main duties of the job
You will independently manage a varied caseload, providing specialist assessment and management of communication and swallowing difficulties across adult and older adult mental health inpatient wards.
Working closely with junior SaLT’s, you will share your expertise, provide clinical supervision and support colleagues in assessing and managing complex clinical presentations. Clinical leadership and supervisory responsibilities will develop as you settle into the role, with support from the Team Manager.
You will contribute to multidisciplinary care planning, clinical decision-making and risk management, working collaboratively with ward teams and Physical Health AHP colleagues.
Alongside clinical work, you will help shape the SaLT service through multidisciplinary training, quality improvement, audit and service development. You will also share responsibility for deputising for the Team Manager with other senior AHP clinicians and within agree responsibilities when required.
We are looking for an experienced, approachable and collaborative clinician who enjoys sharing expertise, supporting colleagues and learning as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
- Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Registration with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
- RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Level C/D (2014 framework or equivalent).
Desirable criteria
- Relevant postgraduate or additional training, e.g. AAC, Makaton, Talking Mats, Intensive Interaction or supervision.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Substantial post-qualification experience working with adults and older adults
- Independent assessment, management and review of acute and chronic dysphagia, including mealtime management and outcome evaluation.
- Assessment and intervention for speech, language and cognitive-communication needs in adults, including those with complex presentations.
- Experience managing a complex caseload autonomously within community or inpatient clinical settings.
- Effective multidisciplinary working to support patients with dysphagia and communication needs.
- Experience providing clinical supervision to junior SLTs and/or students.
- Experience delivering training or structured groups to service users and/or staff.
Desirable criteria
- Experience with supporting adults with mental health conditions, neurodivergent people and/or individuals with complex communication and behavioural support needs.
- Experience applying the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) in clinical practice.
- Experience using total communication approaches, including AAC and visual supports.
- Experience supporting and escalating complex swallowing decisions.
- Experience contributing to service development, audit, quality improvement, research and/or innovation.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of formal and informal assessment tools and evidence-based interventions for dysphagia and complex communication needs.
- Understanding of clinical governance, audit and quality standards.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and standards, including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Accessible Information Standard.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of research, audit or quality improvement methodologies.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Clear verbal and written communication with service users, carers and professionals, including high-quality clinical documentation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy, active listening and a collaborative approach.
- Ability to adapt communication to individual, cultural and linguistic needs.
- Sound professional judgement, effective problem-solving skills and confidence in clinical decision-making.
- Strong organisational, prioritisation and time-management skills.
- Ability to practise autonomously and manage competing clinical and non-clinical demands.
- Skills in developing and delivering structured groups
Desirable criteria
- Ability to develop and support specialist areas of clinical practice or services.
- Demonstrates leadership potential, emotional intelligence and willingness to undertake delegated management responsibilities
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- Reflective practice and proactive engagement in supervision, feedback and professional development.
- Demonstrates commitment to the values of West London NHS Trust and actively promotes these through everyday practice and professional conduct.
- Ability to travel between clinical sites as required to meet service needs, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
Salary
Salary Band
Hours
West London NHS Trust is a diverse provider of mental health, community, and social care services, serving approximately 800,000 residents across the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Hounslow. With about 6,000 staff, they operate from sites like St Bernard’s Hospital and the secure Broadmoor Hospital, focusing on community-based recovery and specialist care
