• Job Description

  Req#: C9152-26-0129?language=en&page=735&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking for a career development role or an already established Speech and Language Therapist Specialist Practitioner, looking to join a forward-thinking team? Our Dorset Community Adult Speech and Language Therapy service, based at Alderney Hospital/Shelley Road has the opportunity for you. The service has received new funding for transformation to create this post.

  As a Speech and Language Therapist Specialist Practitioner you will be responsible for providing a community clinical service. The service sees patients in their own home, in clinics and in Community Hospital settings. You will be expected to work collaboratively with other team members to manage the locality caseload as needed. You will be highly motivated and forward thinking.

  In return, we welcome ideas of change that could contribute to creating a better service for people living with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties. We offer CPD opportunities, regular supervision and peer supervision with other Band 6s.

  The Speech and Language Therapist Specialist role is a 22.5 hour permanent post. Our service embraces flexible working and we support a hybrid model of working both from home and in office.

  Main duties of the job

  This post offers the opportunity to:

  Work with individuals with a wide range of neurological conditions who present with complex communication and swallowing difficulties

  Work closely with experienced speech and language therapists in the community setting to develop specialist skills.

  Refer and attend Videofluoroscopy clinic as appropriate.

  Develop skills and knowledge of working with patients with AAC.

  Attend regular local speech and language therapy meetings with a strong bias to CPD.

  Opportunity to supervise band 5 therapists, to work with SLT assistants and also to work with therapists from the other community SLT Teams.

  Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

  Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

  About us

  At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

  We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

  Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

  Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

  Details

  Date posted

  04 February 2026

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 6

  Salary

  £23,209 to £27,948 a year p.a.

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

  Reference number

  152-C379.25

  Job locations

  Alderney Hospital/Shelley Road

  Ringwood Road

  Poole

  BH12 4NB

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

  As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare is working in partnership with The Princes Trust to support people getting into work, as part of this partnership, we are offering an employability service to support individuals between 16-30 years old with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

  As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare is working in partnership with The Princes Trust to support people getting into work, as part of this partnership, we are offering an employability service to support individuals between 16-30 years old with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

  Person Specification

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

  Essential

  • Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level supplemented by post registration diploma level specialist training and/or short courses or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty
  • Membership of the relevant Professional Body
  • Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
  • Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio

  Desirable

  • Knowledge and understanding of Trust Strategy relevant to role

  JOB SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

  Essential

  • Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
  • Experience of specialist working
  • Experience of managing change
  • Demonstrable knowledge of assessment and therapeutic interventions in area of specialism
  • Experience of developing specialist programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing highly specialist advice
  • Able to demonstrate specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate information in order to make a clinical judgement regarding diagnosis and intervention.
  • Ability to prioritise and organise workload effectively

  Desirable

  • Recent previous experience within a comparable role

  PERSONAL QUALITIES/ATTRIBUTES

  Essential

  • Evidence of demonstrating the Trust's values and behaviours.
  • Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
  • Able to overcome barriers to understanding where there are physical or mental disabilities.
  • Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.
  • Experience of planning and organising complex activities, e.g. organise own time and that of junior staff and learners, planning off duty rotas and undertaking discharge planning involving co-ordination with other agencies.
  • Ability to use own initiative within sphere of authority
  • Demonstrable ability of using tact and diplomacy
  • Demonstrable ability to analyse situations and provide a resolution
  • Knowledge and understanding of legislation relevant to practice
  • Ability to evaluate care leading to improvement in quality standards an service improvement
  • Demonstrable leadership qualities and the ability to perform as a role model
  • Willingness to advance own clinical knowledge, skill and competence based on current evidence

  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/RESOURCES

  Essential

  • Experience of using electronic patient / service user record systems

  BUSINESS TRAVEL

  Essential

  • Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business. - Level 1/2

  Person Specification

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING

  Essential

  • Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level supplemented by post registration diploma level specialist training and/or short courses or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty
  • Membership of the relevant Professional Body
  • Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
  • Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio

  Desirable

  • Knowledge and understanding of Trust Strategy relevant to role

  JOB SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

  Essential

  • Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level
  • Experience of specialist working
  • Experience of managing change
  • Demonstrable knowledge of assessment and therapeutic interventions in area of specialism
  • Experience of developing specialist programmes of care for an individual or groups of patients/clients and of providing highly specialist advice
  • Able to demonstrate specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate information in order to make a clinical judgement regarding diagnosis and intervention.
  • Ability to prioritise and organise workload effectively

  Desirable

  • Recent previous experience within a comparable role

  PERSONAL QUALITIES/ATTRIBUTES

  Essential

  • Evidence of demonstrating the Trust's values and behaviours.
  • Able to communicate effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
  • Able to overcome barriers to understanding where there are physical or mental disabilities.
  • Able to analyse and assess situations and to interpret potentially conflicting situations and determine appropriate action, where there is a range of options and judgement is required.
  • Experience of planning and organising complex activities, e.g. organise own time and that of junior staff and learners, planning off duty rotas and undertaking discharge planning involving co-ordination with other agencies.
  • Ability to use own initiative within sphere of authority
  • Demonstrable ability of using tact and diplomacy
  • Demonstrable ability to analyse situations and provide a resolution
  • Knowledge and understanding of legislation relevant to practice
  • Ability to evaluate care leading to improvement in quality standards an service improvement
  • Demonstrable leadership qualities and the ability to perform as a role model
  • Willingness to advance own clinical knowledge, skill and competence based on current evidence

  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/RESOURCES

  Essential

  • Experience of using electronic patient / service user record systems

  BUSINESS TRAVEL

  Essential

  • Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business. - Level 1/2

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  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.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  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.

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Alderney Hospital/Shelley Road

  Ringwood Road

  Poole

  BH12 4NB

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Alderney Hospital/Shelley Road

  Ringwood Road

  Poole

  BH12 4NB

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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