Clinical Lead Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Clinical Lead Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist to enhance their evidence-based service for neonates within a collaborative partnership. The role includes leading therapy services, training staff, and managing complex caseloads, requiring advanced expertise in neonatal care.

Qualifications

• Substantial postgraduate clinical experience as a band 7 SLT.
• Validated/nationally recognized postgraduate advanced competencies in neonatal dysphagia.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver a high-quality Speech and Language service for neonates.
• Provide training and support to less experienced speech therapists.

Skills

Clinical supervision

Evidence-based practice

Neonatal care

Autonomous practitioner

Education

BSc. or MSc. in Speech and Language Therapy

Registration via Healthcare Professions Council

Job description

Go back Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Lead Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 11 July 2025

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled speech and language therapist to develop a high quality, evidence based speech and language therapy service to the Liverpool Neonatal Partnership.

Working across Alder Hey Children's and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trusts you will be responsible for leading the speech and language therapy service in this highly complex clinical field.

By Spring 2026, the Liverpool Neonatal Partnership will comprise 68 cots across the 2 sites. 17 ITU 25 HDU 18 low dependency and 8 Transitional Care.

You should have a highly advanced level of knowledge, skills and experience in neonatal care and will work as an autonomous practitioner within a multi-disciplinary team.

Consideration will be given to candidates with an interest in expanding neonatal SLT skills at a band 7 with appropriate support and development provided.

Main duties of the job

• Leading, co-ordinating and delivering a high quality, evidence-based Speech and Language service to the highly specialised and complex clinical area of neonates requiring a highly advanced level of knowledge, skills and experience.
• Providing clinical supervision, training and support to less experienced delegated highly specialist paediatric speech therapists working in neonates.

About us

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist health care to over 275,000 children and young people each year. In addition to the hospital site located in the West Derby area of Liverpool, Alder Hey has a presence in community outreach sites and, in collaboration with other providers, our clinicians help deliver care closer to patients' homes by holding local clinics at locations from Cumbria to Shropshire, in Wales and the Isle of Man. The Trust also provides inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs at our Alder Park building in the nearby borough of Sefton.

We currently have more than 4,000 staff working across our community and hospital sites. We're also a teaching and training hospital providing education and training to around 540 medical and over 500 nursing and allied health professional students each year.

As black and minority ethnic (BME) employees are currently under-represented in this area, we particularly welcome applications from members of our BME communities. All appointments will be made on merit.

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Leading, co-ordinating and delivering a high quality, evidence-based Speech and Language service to the highly specialised and complex clinical area of neonates requiring a highly advanced level of knowledge, skills and experience.
• Providing clinical supervision, training and support to less experienced delegated highly specialist paediatric speech therapists working in neonates.

Key result areas:

• To work as a highly experienced autonomous practitioner within a multi-disciplinary team providing expert advice to consultant and junior medical and/or nursing staff, other health professionals and professional agencies e.g. education, social services on the management of neonates
• To assess, treat and monitor a specialist caseload of neonatal patients with highly complex needs and maintain accurate records.
• To contribute to / lead SLT policy development within neonates
• To act as a national source of expertise within the specialist area for all healthcare professionals and other professional agencies.
• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of professional and clinical work, working to agreed local, national and professional standards.

Person Specification

BSc. or MSc. in Speech and language therapy

• BSc. or MSc. in Speech and language therapy
• Registration via Healthcare Professions Council
• Validated /nationally recognised post graduate advanced competencies in the management of neonatal dysphagia -
• Substantial postgraduate clinical experience with several years working as a band 7 SLT including experience within L3 neonatal unit
• Substantial postgraduate clinical experience with several years working as a band 7 SLT including experience within L3 neonatal unit

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Hospital/ Liverpool Women's Hospital

Alder Hey Hospital/ Liverpool Women's Hospital