Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Senior Speech and Language Therapist – £3,000 Joining Bonus

We are looking for a Senior Speech and Language Therapist to join the Health and Justice SLT team at HMP Deerbolt Mental Health Team, a Category C men’s prison in Barnard Castle.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide assessment and intervention for individuals with speech, language, communication and swallowing needs.
• Work as part of the Prison Mental Health team and the wider Health and Justice SLT team.
• Give communication advice and strategies to individuals and their supporters.
• Raise awareness and improve workforce knowledge and skills in speech and language needs.
• Provide therapeutic input where appropriate.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including mental health, staff, Prisoner Officers, Alcohol and Drug Recovery agencies, Education and Employment services, and Probation.
• Operate within a robust clinical framework and deliver high-quality advice to key agencies.

Qualifications and experience:

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy and significant experience in the field.
• Experience with service users in mental health or learning disabilities with complex needs.
• Minimum 12 months post‑qualifying experience of Speech and Language Therapy delivery.
• Experience supporting people with mental health issues, learning disability or autism.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team (SW essential criteria).
• Clinical risk assessment and application in practice.
• Current UK professional registration.
• For international applicants: IELTS level 7 (SLT
  8).

Desirable requirements:

• Postgraduate training in relevant specialist areas such as dysphagia or autism diagnostics.
• Knowledge of evidence‑based practice in designated specialist area.
• Awareness of professional standards and their application to practice.

Additional information:

• Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 per annum (Band 6).
• Contract:
  
  Permanent, Full‑time, Compressed hours.
• Location:
  
  HMP Deerbolt, Bowes Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 2AG
  .
• Reference Number: 346‑FMH‑170‑25‑B.
• Joining bonus: £3,000 Trust welcome bonus – £1,500 on joining, £750 after year 1, £750 after year 2.
• Prisoning requires passing Prison Vetting – applicant must have resided in the UK for at least the past 3 years.
• Certificate of Sponsorship and UK Registration requirements for international applicants apply.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check required (Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975).

Contact:
Joanne Mitchell, Team Manager, Mental Health Team, HMP Deerbolt – 01833 633 253.

We welcome applications from diverse candidates and are an equal opportunity employer.