Clinical Lead Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapist has arisen at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will lead a specialized therapy service for neonates, providing high-quality clinical support within a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring optimal patient care in a complex clinical environment.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate, and deliver high quality evidence-based Speech and Language service.
• Provide clinical supervision, training, and support to speech therapists.

Skills

Neonatal care

Clinical supervision

Evidence-based practices

Education

BSc. or MSc. in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Job summary

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.

Details Date posted

27 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

411-MED-25-7248375

Job locations

Alder Hey Hospital/ Liverpool Women's Hospital

Eaton Rd

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Job description 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.

Job description 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 Essential

• 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 -

Desirable

• 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

Person Specification BSc. or MSc. in Speech and language therapy Essential

• 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 -

Desirable

• 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Hospital/ Liverpool Women's Hospital

Eaton Rd

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Employer's website

https://alderhey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Hospital/ Liverpool Women's Hospital

Eaton Rd

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Employer's website

https://alderhey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)