Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Go back Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

The closing date is 15 June 2026

Band 7 - Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Therapy Services

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join the Speech and Language Therapy Team. The therapist will be expected to work closely alongside their clinical lead counterparts to promote effective team working and service delivery

We are looking for a Speech and Language Therapist with experience of working in the acute hospital setting with acquired speech, language, voice and communication impairments and dysphagia, to provide specialist input to the acute general medical wards, critical care, Merseyside Burns Unit and Outpatients. The successful applicant will work flexibly over 7 days, alongside highly experienced therapists, forming part of the SLT senior team with other advanced specialists for Urgent and Emergency care, Stroke and the complex rehab unit.

The ideal applicant will be expected to actively participate in shaping future developments within the service as it continues to grow.

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change.

The successful candidate will:

• Have experience of supervising band 6 and band 5 Speech and Language Therapists and students on placement.
• Have experience of video fluoroscopy skills in this area, we are working towards offering a FEES service.
• Have evidence of postgraduate training and development.
• Have the ability to work flexibly to changing working patterns as the team work their 37.5 hours across a 7-day rota, participating in late shifts (11am-7pm).

Our team offer:

• Regular support and supervision from experienced Speech and Language Therapists and members of the wider MDT
• Both external and in-service training to promote clinical excellence and evidence-based practice.
• Strong links with the wider MDT and opportunities for interprofessional working.
• Links to the Research and Innovation department and opportunities to contribute to National and Local research studies.
• Opportunities for part time and flexible working.

This post will be suitable for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking to further develop their skills in adult acute and outpatient working.

We are committed to providing student education and you will be required to contribute to clinical education for speech and language therapy students and contribute as part of the multidisciplinary team to the education of student across the trust.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

Our services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.

To fulfil the role of Speech and Language Therapist you will need to have HCPC registration, be a member of RCSLT and have evidence of appropriate CPD activity and experience of working with adult patients.

• To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these.
• To demonstrate as appropriate to role highly developed physical skills for assessment and treatment of patients eg dexterity, co-ordination, palpatory and other senses.
• To deputise for senior staff in leading specific team.

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Clinical Educators Certificate or equivalent/experience
• MSc in relevant health studies or equivalent qualification/experience

• Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence based practise in relevant health setting
• Awareness of own strengths and limitations
• Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
• Experience of leadership of a team including change management
• Evidence of effective working within an MDT
• Experience of Service development
• Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches
• Audit and research in a clinical area
• Demonstrates continuous Professional Development

• Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
• Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
• Have a flexible approach to working with good time management

• Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver

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.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust