Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Lea; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK seeks a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. This role involves conducting high-quality assessments to identify early indicators of autism, working closely with families and a multidisciplinary team to deliver effective care. Candidates should possess a relevant BSc, HCPC registration, and experience in managing complex cases. With a commitment to early interventions, you'll improve outcomes for children in need of support. A warm, welcoming environment awaits you.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex patient caseloads as an autonomous clinician.
• Analytical ability to perform assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Evidence of significant post-registration training in specialist areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead assessments to identify early indicators of autism.
• Provide support and guidance to families throughout assessments.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team for accurate diagnoses.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Intervention strategies

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

BSc in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC registration

Member of the Royal College Of Speech and Language Therapists

Job description

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 25 December 2025

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:

• 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.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an SLT who wants to use their expertise to improve early identification, shape children's futures, and influence high‑quality autism pathways.

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.

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.

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.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description for further information about the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist positions available at WUTH.

As successful in this role, there is a requirement for you to have a standard/enhanced DBS. This will be paid for by the Trust and then deducted from your salary over a period of 3 month.

As this vacancy is within the division of Womens and Childrens, there is a mandatory requirement for successful applicants to join the DBS update service. The cost of joining the update service is £16 per year, and applicants are liable to cover this cost with no reimbursement from the Trust. Further details of how to join the update service will be provided upon appointment.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training

• 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.
• 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

• Basic computer skills
• Well-developed theoretical knowledge under pinning practice
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Good analytical, problem solving and clinical reasoning 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

• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in order to support others and needs of the service
• Ability to show initiative
• Good organisational skills
• 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.

Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata