Speech and Language therapist in Dewsbury inDewsbury PUBLISHED FRI 4 APR 2025 Jump to job information section

Band 5 - 6 development post

We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time Speech & Language Therapist to join the Kirklees Intensive Support Team (IST), providing support to people who live in Kirklees.

The primary function of the IST is to provide intensive assessment, formulation, and intervention within a Positive Behavioural Support Model to a cohort of our most complex service users with behaviours that challenge and mental health needs. In turn reducing the risk of hospital admission/placement breakdown/contact with the Criminal Justice Service.

The successful applicant will work in the services IST, which works proactively and intensively with a small number of service users, aiming to reduce hospital admissions and placement breakdowns. The post holder will support the wider community team as required to ensure we provide a safe and equitable service to all people with a Learning Disability across Kirklees.

We are looking for a confident, motivated, and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care.

The work will be undertaken in a variety of settings, including private and local authority day placements, residential homes, community setting and inpatient units.

We are dedicated to the personal and professional development of our staff through management supervision, Clinical supervision from a band 7 highly specialist speech and language therapist.

You will be a highly motivated and conscientious individual, who has the desire to work creatively with people with learning disabilities.

The role will involve working closely with the IST MDT clinicians to provide an intensive, wrap-around service to help improve the outcomes for the service users. You will be required to use your speech and language therapy skills to support the assessment and delivery of high-quality therapeutic interventions to address the holistic needs of service users with a focus on communication and dysphagia. This will involve assessment and reports to feed into Positive Behavioral Support plans/interventions, liaison with families and support staff to implement communication interventions, and participation in meetings to help facilitate the co-ordination of cases.

The core hours of the team are 09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday, although all members of the IST are expected to provide support outside these hours on occasion, according to clinical need.

For further information or to arrange a visit to the team please contact Andrew Birkenshaw on

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application

About us

This is a band 5-6 developmental post. Band 6 available if experienced.

The post holder will be required to work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team, providing specialist speech and language therapy assessment and treatment for service users in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a range of individual and group community based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in the promotion of Salt and Language therapy within the service area. The post holder will be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.

The post holder will contribute to the leadership and development of the Specialist Learning Disability Health Team in accordance within local and national guidance.

To undertake specific standardised and non-standardised assessments to formulate effective treatment plans in conjunction with the service user, family and carer.

Formulate and deliver individual treatment programmes based on specialist knowledge for differential diagnosis for communication and dysphagia, (evidence based practise, national and local guidelines using profession specific clinical skills and techniques. (eg standardised assessments, AAC, group and individual work).

To interpret the assessment results in order to plan and implement a client centred speech and language therapy treatment programme on an individual and/or group basis to achieve therapeutic goals.

To ensure therapeutic interventions are of a high professional standard, informed by evidence based practice and involves the service user and carer in all aspects of the care programme.

To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the effect of disability providing training and advice on lifestyle changes/adaptations to the clients social and physical environments.

To act as the care programme co-ordinator as required and to offer carers an assessment and care plan where appropriate.

To contribute to a co-ordinated team approach throughout the assessment and in meeting the service users needs including developing and maintaining close working relationships with all relevant services, and agencies within the voluntary sector.

To regularly evaluate the effectiveness of group and individual speech and language therapy interventions by undertaking specific audits and using outcome measures such as standardised / other relevant assessments and service user satisfaction questionnaires.

To continue treatment interventions where necessary to assist in the transition of skills from an inpatient setting to living independently within the community.

To work effectively within the multi-agency team ensuring that both written and verbal communication is clearly maintained to ensure a seamless service.

To be responsible for the maintenance of appropriate clinical records concerned with service user treatment, in accordance with risk management documentation guidelines.

To arrange/attend appropriate clinical team meetings, referral meetings, case conferences, care programme approach meetings and any other as required by clinical need and as directed by the Lead AHP.

To provide accurate and timely reports, statistical data through the electronic recording system and other information as required.

To participate in monthly clinical and managerial supervision and to provide clinical supervision to other speech and language staff.

To work as an autonomous practitioner.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms.Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.