Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 28 April 2026

The successful candidate will join the well-established and respected Intellectual and Developmental Difficulties (IDD) Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Service within Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, working specifically within Crisis Pathways for IDD services.

You will be well supported by senior colleagues, with opportunities for peer support. You will enjoy close links with our team and SLT colleagues within the East Midlands, and benefit from excellent levels of support, supervision, IT and CPD opportunities.

The role is based in Nottingham City and County, visiting patients in their own homes or in the Orion In patient Unit at Highbury Hospital, Nottingham.

We are looking for an experienced clinician who will oversee delivery of a specialist Speech & Language Therapy service to individuals accessing in patient services at the Orion Unit and the two Intensive Community Assessment and Treatment Teams (ICATT) - North and South.

Supporting adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism, this will comprise delivering traditional SLT assessment and treatment as well as pathway leadership, workforce training, workforce supervision & reflective practice sessions, consultation, 2nd opinions & signposting.

ICATT's overall purpose is to support the individual and their carers to maintain positive relationships to avoid placement breakdown and admission to hospital. You will be supporting this aim with your specialist communication knowledge and your understanding of the individual's needs based on the assessments and observations undertaken.

The Orion Unit is an assessment and treatment in patient unit providing support for adults who have a diagnosis of an intellectual disability and complex mental health difficulties and/or challenging behaviours that cannot be managed in the community. Using your person centred principles you will be using your specialist communication knowledge and experience to provide assessments and formulation, and support workforce development. You will provide clinical supervision for SLT colleagues working within the unit and ICATT service.

• To deliver and be accountable for independent clinical assessment, formulation, diagnosis and treatment of a specialist clinical caseload.
• To deliver professional supervision, reflective practice and guidance for the IDD Orion and ICATT workforce.
• To provide consultation, second opinions and signposting to the wider workforce on specific cases.
• To lead new practice and service/pathway redesign solutions working across boundaries.
• To provide training, building capacity and capability through work based and interprofessional learning.
• To represent the profession at forums as required.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

A full UK driving license and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

• Recognised HCPC Degree/diploma
• HCPC Registered
• RCSLT Registered
• Recognised ACP Masters (or equivalence) qualification

• Has the ability to perform the full range of duties
• Physical skills in line with role (including MVA as appropriate)

• Portfolio of relevant post qualification CPD including highly specialist clinical knowledge
• Evidence of management / leadership training and development
• Relevant post qualification CPD including highly specialist clinical knowledge within neurodevelopmental disorders
• Autism diagnostic training

• Experience and expertise in assessing and managing complex caseloads
• Experience of leading service development and developing pathways
• Experience of effective multi disciplinary/agency working and established interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Experience in using research evaluation / audit tools and demonstrating need.
• Experience of managing and clinically supervising others
• Experience in contributing to neurodevelopmental diagnostic process
• Experience in developing post diagnostic support
• Experience of co working with peer support workers
• Experience across children's and adult service pathways

• Expertise in knowledge of working with people with an intellectual development disability / autism
• Knowledge of National Policy and guidance relating to the population.
• Applied leadership knowledge.
• Highly specialist knowledge of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) of individuals with Autism & mental health diagnoses
• Knowledge of Speech Language Communication tools, assessments and interventions relating to the client group
• Knowledge of the link between unmet comm. needs, ASD, Mental health and risk
• Knowledge of specific relevant approaches

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Well organised
• Good reasoning skills
• Team builder and team member
• Ability to manage own well being with access to supervision to sustain this.
• Autonomous and able to work without direct supervision
• Motivated and a motivator
• Highly specialist skill in working with autistic people.
• Experience of supporting other staff and students
• Experience of managing a project or service initiative.
• Experience of contributing to audits

• Flexible working as required by the post
• A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust, Honesty, Respect, Compassion, Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation.

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.

£57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)