Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Warrington

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our large, friendly and innovative paediatric Speech and Language Therapy team. We can offer the opportunity to work alongside a diverse range of skilled clinicians and support staff across a well-established service. We place equal importance on delivering excellent outcomes for children and young people and ensuring the wellbeing, development and support of our workforce.

As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist you will provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children with complex communication disorders. This includes children across a range of settings (e.g., mainstream schools, special schools, designated provisions), but particularly pre‑school age children known to our Child Development Centre (CDC). You will work closely with a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist within this role.

Main duties of the job

• The postholder will provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, particularly those with complex developmental needs.
• They will manage an independent paediatric caseload, develop and evaluate evidence-based therapy programmes, and work closely with families, education staff and multidisciplinary teams to achieve positive outcomes.
• The role includes providing advice, training and support to parents, carers and professionals, producing clinical reports and contributing to statutory processes such as Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
• The postholder will use advanced clinical reasoning to inform decision‑making, communicate complex and sensitive information effectively, and ensure care is child‑centred and tailored to individual needs.
• The postholder will contribute to service development, clinical governance, audit and quality improvement activities, while maintaining accurate records and complying with professional, safeguarding and information governance requirements.
• They will also support the development of colleagues, students and support staff through supervision, training and mentorship, and maintain their own continuing professional development in line with HCPC and RCSLT standards.

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

• Mission: We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other.
• Vision: We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn.
• Values: Kind, Open, Fair, One team.

Job responsibilities

• To assess and diagnose children with communication disorders, including those with special needs.
• To develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy programmes for school staff and parents to implement and to evaluate outcomes for children with communication difficulties.
• To take clinical responsibility for a varied paediatric caseload of differing complexities and to organise this effectively regarding clinical priorities and use of time.
• To ensure that clients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their treatment plans wherever possible.
• To provide advice and coaching to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication difficulties.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence‑based practice and outcome measures.
• To produce reports regarding clients' needs and summarising proposed treatment plans.
• To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health & Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews.
• To adapt practice to meet individual clients' 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 clients, carers and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines.
• To contribute to multi and uni‑disciplinary teams to ensure a client-focused approach to treatment.
• To communicate complex information from assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals.
• To work closely with clients, carers and other professionals to negotiate and agree client management.
• To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved.
• To respond sensitively at all times particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications.
• To demonstrate skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic process.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• To foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties.
• To employ excellent communication skills.
• To assess and advise on optimising the clients' communicative environment.
• To assess the capacity of the child or young person to give valid, informed consent.

Teaching Skills

• To participate in the development and delivery of training/coaching to others.
• 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.