Paediatric Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
The closing date is 10 July 2026 This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join the team and contribute to a Speech and language therapy led Autism pathway. As a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist ASC/Neurodevelopmental you will complete social communication assessments/ADOS and ADI as part of the Neurodevelopmental assessment pathway. To contribute to MDT discussions to make decisions about possible diagnosis. To write reports with advice and to signpost to appropriate support.
Main duties of the job
- 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.
About us Flexible working will be considered for all roles.
North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.
Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services with inpatient and elective care we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.
Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).
They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.
Our mission: We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other.
Our vision: We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn.
Our values:
- Kind: We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
- Open: We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
- Fair: We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
- One team: We work well together and with our communities
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose: To complete social communication assessments as part of the Neurodevelopmental assessment pathway. To contribute to MDT discussions to make decisions about possible diagnosis. To write reports with advice and to signpost to appropriate support.
Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical skills
- 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 sensitively 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 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
Clinical Governance Requirements - 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)
Continuing Professional Development - 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
Teaching Skills - 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
Clinical Leadership - To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate
Analytical Skills - 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
Please see attached Full Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification Job Specific Requirements
- The ability to travel independently across Bridgewater Trust
- The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs, including on occasions evenings
Skills and Knowledge
- Knowledge of Code of Practice and
- Understanding of the principles of clinical
- governance/audit
- Previous experience of NHS IT systems
- Excellent interpersonal skills including
- observation, listening and empathy
- skills
- Negotiation and problem solving skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and
- Good presentation skills, both written
- and verbal
- Good organisational skills
- Good auditory skills and ability to
- transcribe speech phonetically
- Demonstrates ability to be a good team
- Member
- Knowledge of assessment tools
Sponsorship
- Please confirm your Right to Work status (share-codes will be checked where applicable).
Qualifications
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or Equivalent
- Health Care Professions Council registration.
- RCSLT Licence to Practice
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
- Evidence of additional training / continuing professional development around specialist area
- AODS training
- ADI training . click apply for full job details
