Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

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Oxford Health NHS Trust Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

The closing date is 11 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

Are you an ambitious Speech and Language Therapist ready to take your career to the next level in a dynamic and highly specialist forensic mental health service?

Join the Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service, part of the For Me Provider Collaborative, and play a vital role in transforming the lives of adults with complex mental health needs, neurodevelopmental conditions, communication difficulties and dysphagia. Working within secure inpatient settings, you will help some of the most vulnerable individuals find their voice, access treatment, and move forward in their recovery journey.

This is much more than a traditional Speech and Language Therapy role. As a key member of our multidisciplinary team, you will work across medium and low secure services in Oxford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury, providing specialist assessment, intervention and consultation to patients with complex communication and swallowing needs.

Every day brings variety and challenge. You will work alongside psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and other professionals, using your expertise to shape care plans, inform risk management, enhance patient engagement and support positive outcomes. Your work will directly influence patients' ability to understand, participate in and benefit from their treatment, helping them build independence and achieve their recovery goals.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will work across medium and low secure forensic mental health wards in Oxford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury providing specialist assessment, intervention and consultation for patients with communication and swallowing difficulties. You will support individuals to engage in their care, maximise independence and achieve their recovery goals. You will work collaboratively with patients, carers and colleagues across a variety of professional disciplines, contributing your specialist expertise to inform care planning and risk management.

The successful candidate will be a confident and autonomous practitioner with excellent clinical and interpersonal skills. You will have opportunities to contribute to service development, staff training, quality improvement initiatives and the continued development of speech and language therapy within forensic mental health inpatient services.

We offer a supportive and innovative working environment, regular clinical supervision, opportunities for leadership and service development, and access to continued professional development.

If you are passionate about reducing communication barriers, promoting patient voice and delivering high-quality, person-centred care within a specialist forensic setting, we would love to hear from you.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details

Date posted

29 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-FS8308075-2A

Job locations

Oxford Clinic

Sandford Road

Oxford

OX4 4XN

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Why Join Us?Forensic mental health care offers a unique and intellectually stimulating clinical environment where communication is often central to successful treatment and recovery. This role provides the opportunity to:

• Develop advanced clinical expertise in forensic mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders, complex communication needs and dysphagia.
• Work with a diverse patient group whose needs will challenge and expand your clinical skills.
• Shape and influence the future of Speech and Language Therapy within secure services.
• Lead and contribute to service development, quality improvement projects and staff training initiatives.
• Be part of an innovative, forward-thinking multidisciplinary team committed to excellence in patient care.

About YouYou will be a confident, compassionate and autonomous practitioner with excellent clinical reasoning, communication and interpersonal skills. You will be motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible difference to patients' lives and excited by the challenge of working within a specialist forensic setting.

What We OfferWe are committed to helping our staff thrive. In return, we offer:

• A supportive and experienced Speech and Language Therapy network.
• Regular professional and clinical supervision.
• Opportunities for leadership, innovation and service development.
• Access to ongoing professional development and specialist training.
• The chance to develop a highly sought-after specialist skill set within forensic mental health services.
• If you are passionate about breaking down communication barriers, championing patient voice and delivering outstanding personcentred care, this is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact while advancing your career in a truly specialist field.
• Join us and help people be heard, understood and empowered to recover.

Please see the job description for full details of the role, including education, knowledge and skills requirements.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Why Join Us?Forensic mental health care offers a unique and intellectually stimulating clinical environment where communication is often central to successful treatment and recovery. This role provides the opportunity to:

• Develop advanced clinical expertise in forensic mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders, complex communication needs and dysphagia.
• Work with a diverse patient group whose needs will challenge and expand your clinical skills.
• Shape and influence the future of Speech and Language Therapy within secure services.
• Lead and contribute to service development, quality improvement projects and staff training initiatives.
• Be part of an innovative, forward-thinking multidisciplinary team committed to excellence in patient care.

About YouYou will be a confident, compassionate and autonomous practitioner with excellent clinical reasoning, communication and interpersonal skills. You will be motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible difference to patients' lives and excited by the challenge of working within a specialist forensic setting.

What We OfferWe are committed to helping our staff thrive. In return, we offer:

• A supportive and experienced Speech and Language Therapy network.
• Regular professional and clinical supervision.
• Opportunities for leadership, innovation and service development.
• Access to ongoing professional development and specialist training.
• The chance to develop a highly sought-after specialist skill set within forensic mental health services.
• If you are passionate about breaking down communication barriers, championing patient voice and delivering outstanding personcentred care, this is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact while advancing your career in a truly specialist field.
• Join us and help people be heard, understood and empowered to recover.

Please see the job description for full details of the role, including education, knowledge and skills requirements.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Person Specification

Education

Essential

• BSc/MSc Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of ongoing CPD

Desirable

• Leadership training/qualification
• Training specific to working with forensic populations
• Training in use of specialist assessments/interventions

Skills

Essential

• Specialist assessment and management of communication disorders
• Assessment and management of dysphagia
• MDT working
• Use of IT equipment and systems

Desirable

• Leadership
• Quality improvement

Experience

Essential

• Working with people with mental health problems and/or severe mental illness
• Working as part of an MDT

Desirable

• Working in a forensic setting
• Working autonomously

Person Specification

Education

Essential

• BSc/MSc Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of ongoing CPD

Desirable

• Leadership training/qualification
• Training specific to working with forensic populations
• Training in use of specialist assessments/interventions

Skills

Essential

• Specialist assessment and management of communication disorders
• Assessment and management of dysphagia
• MDT working
• Use of IT equipment and systems

Desirable

• Leadership
• Quality improvement

Experience

Essential

• Working with people with mental health problems and/or severe mental illness
• Working as part of an MDT

Desirable

• Working in a forensic setting
• Working autonomously

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

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Oxford Clinic

Sandford Road

Oxford

OX4 4XN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Oxford Clinic

Sandford Road

Oxford

OX4 4XN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Professional Lead for AHPs and Social Work

Jenny Guest

[email protected]

07771890077

Details

Date posted

29 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-FS8308075-2A

Job locations

Oxford Clinic

Sandford Road

Oxford

OX4 4XN

United Kingdom

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