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Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd
Yorkshire, UK
04 Apr, 2026

Permanent

Job Description

Employer:

NHS Jobs

Location:

Halton, WA8 3NA

Pay:

£47,810.00 to £54,710.00 per year, £47810.00 - £54710.00 a year

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

Closing Date:

30/04/2026

About this job

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust plan to integrate and form a new organisation on the 1st April 2026. As such, if your start date is on or after 1st April 2026, you will be employed by the newly formed organisation.

Should you join Bridgewater prior to this date, your employment will automatically transfer into the new organisation.

We are confident that this transition will provide new opportunities and a continued commitment to excellence in patient care.

Responsibilities

To assess and diagnose within the highly specialist clinical area
To produce detailed reports reflecting specialist knowledge regarding patients' needs and summarising proposed treatment plans.
To contribute to legal documents such as Education, Health and Care Plans.
Annual reviews and individual education plans.
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences
To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies
To share information with carers and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines
To contribute to multi-disciplinary discussions regarding possible diagnosis.
To communicate complex information from specialist assessment to patients, carers and other professionals
To demonstrate empathy with patients, carers and other professionals, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding exist.
To respond sensitivity at all times, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications
To demonstrate expert skills in managing conflict within the context of the highly specialist clinical area
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in line with trust policy
To foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties and/or who may be under stress
To employ excellent communication skills
To apply expert strategies to facilitate and enhance the effectiveness of communication, both verbal, non-verbal and environmental
To provide specialist assessment and advice on optimising the patient's communication environment, including the communication skills of carers and other professionals within the patient's environment
To provide supervision and specialist clinical advice, support and second opinions for therapists and other professionals working within highly specialist clinical area, offering case discussions, joint assessments.
To demonstrate independence in dealing with complex issues associated with caseload management
To discharge appropriately, agreeing a point of closure with the client/carer, and informing other professionals
To gather statistical data punctually
To participate in departmental research as required
To initiate and undertake clinical governance/audit projects within: clinical area, as required
To demonstrate expert knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks (clinical area)
To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives relating to clinical specialism
To participate in Individual Performance Review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical specialism
To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist working in the field of complex communication disorders and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration
To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional Guidelines and develop local guidelines within specialist clinical area
To develop and deliver specialist training to others in area of clinical expertise
To demonstrate the ability to target training appropriately to the needs of course participants
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided
To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice independently, with peers and mentors to identify own strengths and development needs
To demonstrate a well-developed ability to integrate information, taking into account all aspects of the patient's communication, including verbal, non-verbal and environmental.
To anticipate and take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of relationships with patients, carers and other professionals
To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from specialist assessment seeking internal and external support as appropriate
To demonstrate a well-developed ability to manage people with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies
To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis.
To advise line manager on clinical issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups
To use specialist knowledge to lead service/policy developments as appropriate
To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients
To demonstrate skills in positioning clients with disabilities
To demonstrate highly developed ability to use AAC appropriately
To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of people, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate
To be responsible for the security, care, maintenance and delivery of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients
To provide leadership within appropriate specialist area
To manage complex caseload independently
To monitor and evaluate own specialist service delivery and provide progress reports
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking support as appropriate
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.

Full job description attached.

Jobs are provided by the Find a Job Service from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Hours

Full time