Job summary
- Main area
- Learning Disabilities
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 267-LD8184097
- Employer
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Slade House
- Town
- Oxford
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Speech and Language Therapist (FTC)
Band 6
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
We are a responsive and innovative Foundation Trust that places our values of Caring, Safe and Excellent at the heart of everything we do. We take great pride in our staff and believe that investing in you is key to us achieving our vision of outstanding care delivered by outstanding people.
We work with a wide range of partner organisations to deliver care and support to people in their own homes and from a number of hospitals and community bases. We focus on delivering care as close to home as possible for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
We actively support anti-racism, equality, diversity, and inclusion so, if you’re excited about this job opportunity and you meet our Trust values, but feel unsure about applying, then please get in touch and we will be happy to have a conversation with you.
We are also committed to increasing diversity in the workforce, that is why we actively encourage applications from those groups of people who are currently under-represented, which include amongst others: people with disabilities; men from all socio-economic backgrounds; people from diverse ethnic backgrounds; and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Good luck and we hope to hear from you.
Job overview
Are you a Speech and Language Therapist with a passion for problem-solving, data analysis, and making a real difference?
Join our Intensive Support Team in Oxford, where you'll support children and adults with learning disabilities and complex behavioural needs across Oxfordshire. Using your SLT expertise alongside Positive Behaviour Support and behavioural approaches, you'll help uncover the reasons behind behaviour, influence support plans, and improve outcomes for the people we work with.
This varied role combines community visits, assessments, data analysis, and intervention work, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in SLT, PBS, and Applied Behaviour Analysis while managing your own diary within team core hours.
If you're enthusiastic about learning, collaboration, and delivering meaningful person-centred support, we'd love to hear from you.
Applicants must have a full valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work. Adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010 where required.
Please note: This role is offered on a fixed-term basis for 12 months to cover maternity leave (from mid-December 2026). The post is also available as a secondment opportunity.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will have responsibility for their own caseload, as an autonomous practitioner, adapting their approach to meet the needs of the client and the framework of the team’s working model. This includes the following:
- To manage a complex caseload of clients (children and adults) in a collaborative and multi-professional way
- To participate in the planning and development of evidence-based interventions; assess, plan, implement and evaluate those interventions.
- To provide advice, training and education to other professionals, support staff and students from other professions as necessary.
- To provide support and supervision for junior colleagues and students on practice placements
- To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of the Intensive Support Team and your professional role within the team.
- The post holder will work in partnership with members of Community Learning Disability Teams and Learning Disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team.
Working for our organisation
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:
• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To provide comprehensive Speech and Language Therapy assessment for individuals referred to the Intensive Support Team for a range of clinical presentations such as learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, mental illness, complex physical need and autism, within the remit of the Team. This will involve gathering, interpreting and evaluating highly complex information from a variety of sources, using evidence-based therapy outcome measures and analysing the individual’s needs using skilled problem-solving approaches seeking support and advice from a supervisor as appropriate.
- To formulate, implement, evaluate and adapt individualised programmes for individuals on the caseload, taking their goals into consideration and using clinical reasoning skills and seek support and advice from a supervisor as appropriate.
- To collect, collate and analyse data/ information regarding the effectiveness of behaviour support plans and speech and language interventions and provide written reports as appropriate.
- To develop skills and awareness in Applied Behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support to compliment speech and language therapy interventions and the work of the Intensive Support Team.
- To work towards skills in planning and implementing multidisciplinary training for carers and staff on specialist health issues
- To provide supervision to junior members of the team and hold line management responsibilities
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
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge and an understanding of the needs of service users who challenge services and who have complex health needs.
- Understanding of the statutory / legal requirements for working within the specialty.
- Knowledge of SLT models, underpinned by theory and practical experience, including application of standardised assessments.
- Demonstrates knowledge of range of SLT assessment tools & therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of Positive Behavioural Support model and Functional Analysis and experience of application of these models of working.
- Knowledge and application of standardised behavioural assessments (e.g., QABF, FAI).
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Qualified Speech and Language Therapist
- Registered & practicing member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- Learning disabilities and challenging behaviour specific post graduate courses
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses e.g.: Makaton/ PECs/ Talking Mats.
- Accredited (or similar) post graduate dysphagia training
Job Related Aptitude & Skills
Essential criteria
- Competent IT skills for use of electronic health records and ability to adapt to new developments.
- Ability to work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team.
- Excellent organisational skills including good time management – clinical and non-clinical.
- Communicate effectively, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
- Demonstrates excellent presentation skills to deliver reports, verbally and written information.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with children, young people and adults with complex speech, language and communication needs
- Experience of contributing to education of children, young people, families, colleagues in health and education settings
- Experience of working with individuals with a learning disability
Desirable criteria
- Experience within a community learning disability health setting
- Experience of working with people who exhibit behaviours which challenge
- Experience managing a caseload and supervising others
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to manage emotional consequences of working with patients with a range of communication disorders.
- Able to act independently and on own initiative but recognise when to seek support.
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of self-directed learning/reflective practice.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Intensive Support Team
- Job title
- Intensive Support Team Inbox
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01865 901419
- Additional information
At Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust we want to employ people not just with experience, but with the aptitude and motivation to succeed and whose values resonate with our own.
Therefore, if you don’t meet all the requirements of the role and are unsure about applying but are excited about the opportunity, please do get in touch. We will be happy to discuss the requirements in more detail ahead of making a written application.
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