Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join a dedicated team at a leading healthcare provider in the North West. This role focuses on assessing and managing communication and dysphagia needs of patients within a rehabilitation setting. You will collaborate with a diverse team of healthcare professionals to deliver person-centered care, ensuring quality and safety are prioritized. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals recovering from brain injuries, this position offers a fulfilling career path with opportunities for professional development and growth.

Qualifications

• Completion of a recognized training course in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Registered with the HPC and evidence of specialist training.

Responsibilities

• Conduct dysphagia assessments and interventions.
• Support communication needs of inpatient service users.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving skills

Presentation skills

Organisational skills

Leadership abilities

Critical appraisal of research

Education

Relevant degree/diploma approved by the RCSLT and HPC

Postgraduate certificate in the specialty

Evidence of management and leadership training

Job description

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 7

Main area: Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Band 7, Grade Band 7, Contract: Permanent, Hours: Full-time - 37.5 hours per week, Job ref: 350-MHC6856214-B

Site: Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Town: Liverpool, Salary: £46,148 - £52,809 per annum, Salary period: Yearly, Closing date: 29/05/2025 23:59

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Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination, and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ people who are under-represented in our workforce. We also welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel, recognizing the benefits of their skills, training, and experience. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.

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Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) to assess, manage, and support the communication and dysphagia needs of inpatient service users at the Brain Injury Rehabilitation ward, based in the Sid Watkins building on the Aintree Hospital site.

You will join a motivated inpatient team, including Neuropsychiatry, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Nursing, and our team of Rehabilitation Co-therapists.

You will also be part of the wider Mental Health Care Division SALT service. We aim to provide person-centred care, ensuring quality and safety are central. We meet regularly for peer support, clinical supervision, and team meetings.

Main duties of the job

• Dysphagia assessment and intervention
• Communication assessment and intervention
• Supporting capacity assessments
• Service evaluation/audit
• Integral member of the MDT
• Attendance at MDT meetings and patient reviews

Working for our organisation

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical and mental health services in the North West, serving over 1.4 million people and covering regions including North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services supporting physical and mental health, including inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction, and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three UK trusts offering high secure mental health facilities.

Our core commitment is to ‘perfect care’—safe, effective, positive, timely, equitable, and efficient. We support staff development and work collaboratively with service users, families, and carers to shape future services. We are currently implementing a programme of organisational and service transformation to improve quality and reduce costs.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification document for full details of this role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Completion of a recognised training course awarding relevant degree/diploma approved by the RCSLT and HPC
• Registered with the HPC – License to practice
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master’s level or equivalent
• Experiential training demonstrating highly specialist skills in the area
• Evidence of management and leadership training
• Membership of relevant special interest groups
• Postgraduate certificate in the specialty

Knowledge/Experience

• Relevant experience at undergraduate/postgraduate level
• Experience of specialist assessments and interventions
• Ability to work independently, prioritise, and manage complex caseloads
• Experience working with highly complex cases, such as progressive illnesses and rare conditions
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working, leading service projects, and training others
• Advanced knowledge of assessment tools and national policies relevant to the client group
• In-depth knowledge of therapeutic interventions, clinical governance, record keeping, and confidentiality in the NHS
• Experience as a Clinical Educator and providing supervision
• Experience facilitating groups and using technology like iPads
• Experience delivering and developing staff and carer training, including student training

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, problem-solving, and presentation skills
• Organisational, prioritisation, and time management skills
• Good auditory discrimination and phonetic transcription skills
• Leadership and teamwork abilities, along with independence and adaptability
• Critical appraisal of research articles and effective communication of complex information

Values

• Accountability, Support, High professional standards, Responsiveness, Engaging leadership, Transparency, Discretion, Change orientation

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Please ensure you check your email for all correspondence. All application communications will come from apps.trac.jobs, not NHS Jobs.

Only applicants demonstrating how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria. Indicate this in your application if applicable.

If you require reasonable adjustments during recruitment, email [e-mail].

We may close the vacancy early once sufficient applications are received. Apply promptly if interested.

The Trust expects all post holders requiring an enhanced DBS to subscribe to the DBS Update Service, enrolling for a fee of £16 per year.

Applicants needing sponsorship should check their eligibility at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

Flexible working requests will be considered.

The use of AI in applications is monitored; declare if used.

New NHS entrants will start at the first pay point of the band.

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Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must hold appropriate UK professional registration.

This role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) 2020, requiring a DBS disclosure.