Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Birkenhead; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Birkenhead is looking for a Speech and Language Therapist to support early autism diagnosis, conduct communication assessments, and work closely with families. The ideal candidate will hold a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy, possess HCPC registration, and have excellent organizational and analytical skills. This role offers a chance to be part of a dynamic team, with opportunities for professional development and an emphasis on early intervention strategies.

Benefits

Strong support network

Regular clinical supervision

Access to training opportunities

Qualifications

• BSc or equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Experience as a registered AHP to develop specialist skills.
• Ability to work autonomously managing complex patients.
• Experience in guiding and mentoring others within the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead communication assessments for autism diagnosis.
• Work with families providing guidance and support.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team for holistic diagnoses.
• Administer assessments and provide insightful reports.
• Champion early intervention strategies for communication development.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Empathy

Education

BSc in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC registration

Tools

Hospital computer systems

Job description

Job summary

Are you passionate about making a life-changing impact early in a child's development? We're looking for a skilled and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to play a pivotal role in our early assessment pathway for autism diagnosis.

In this role, you will:

Be part of developing the dynamic and responsive ND MDT pathway.

• Lead high-quality communication assessments to identify early indicators of autism, including speech, language, social communication, and play skills.


• Work closely with families, offering guidance, developmental insight, and compassionate support throughout the assessment journey.


• Collaborate within a dynamic multidisciplinary team of paediatricians and specialist nurses, contributing your specialist expertise to ensure accurate and holistic diagnoses.


• Administer evidence-based assessment tools and provide clear, insightful reports that help shape each child's support plan.


• Champion early intervention, helping families and settings understand practical strategies that foster communication and social development.


• Work in collaboration and harmony with the community Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy team to enable coordinated care and support to be provided.

Main duties of the job

This post is to assess, develop and deliver highly specialised care to children and families of children referred into Community Paediatrics on the Neuro Development pathway, working alongside a team of clinicians.

Support and development opportunities

Within the team we will provide:

• A strong support network for both clinical work and wellbeing within a well established and experienced team.


• Opportunities to learn from highly experienced MDT team members.


• Both clinical and managerial supervision on a regular basis.


• Annual appraisals.


• Opportunities to access internal and external training if relevant to your role.

The successful applicant will be highly motivated to work with children and their families/carers and have excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skills and be an enthusiastic team member.

About us

All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as \"competent and caring staff\" by our patients.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.

We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral's only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.

We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m.

The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training Essential

• BSc or equivalent qualification recognised by HCPC in Speech and Language Therapy.


• HCPC registration.


• Post graduate experience (including Experience as a registered AHP to consolidate basic post-graduate skills & to develop more specialist skills followed by appropriate experience in a relevant area of work at a senior level).


• Demonstrate a high degree of expertise and competency in a wide range of skills which involves assessment and treatment underpinned by sound theoretical knowledge; experience of highly complex caseload management; experience of advising and guiding others within profession and other members of the MDT.


• Ability to work as an autonomous clinician, managing own case load, including complex patients, and time, using clinical reasoning and analytical skill to perform appropriate assessment, identify problems and appropriate treatment plan.


• To have the analytical ability to be able to review treatment / services, with evidence of taking part in audit.


• Demonstrate awareness of the roles of others in providing patient care and ability to work as an effective team member.


• Ability to identify learning needs and develop the skills of staff and students in speciality. This includes mentorship, appraisal, supervision and training.

Desirable

• Member of the Royal College Of Speech and Language Therapists.


• Active collection of relevant CPD in portfolio.


• Evidence of significant and relevant post registration training and relevant evidence in CPD portfolio in order to prove development of specialist clinical skills and development of highly developed specialist knowledge. Profession specific training in specialist area, recognised as equating to master's level.

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Basic computer skills.


• Well-developed theoretical knowledge under pinning practice.


• Good written and oral communication skills.


• Good analytical, problem solving and clinical reasoning skills.

Desirable (Knowledge and Skills)

• Knowledge and experience in hospital computer system.


• Ability to communicate within difficult circumstances and demonstrate empathetic approach to patients.


• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), analytical, problem-solving skills and clinical reasoning.


• Understanding of national issues and relating them to own clinical practice.

Personal Attributes Essential

• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in order to support others and needs of the service.


• Ability to show initiative.


• Good organisational skills.

Desirable (Personal Attributes)

• Ability to organise own workload and administrational procedures.

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

Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

St Catherine's Health Centre
Church Road
Tranmere
CH42 0LQ

Employer's website

https://www.wuth.nhs.uk