Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Rehab Ward

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Chester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for a role in the Bowmere Unit inpatient rehabilitation ward. You will lead the development of the SLT service, manage a specialist caseload and work within a multidisciplinary team to improve communication outcomes for adults in mental health rehab.

The post requires autonomous planning, strong supervisory skills, and a commitment to evidence-based, person-centred care, with

Qualifications

• Degree in SLT with HCPC registration.
• Specialist training or Masters level in SLT is advantageous.
• Experience in mental health or autism-focused SLT preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of SLT services within inpatient mental health rehab.
• Manage a specialist caseload with highly specialist assessment and intervention.
• Provide advice, consultation and training to MDT colleagues, families and carers.
• Lead clinician in MDT meetings and multi-agency safeguarding discussions.
• Support service development and innovative practice within rehabilitation services.

Skills

Autonomous working

Leadership

Clinical assessment

Communication skills

Training and supervision

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC Licence to Practice

Specialist courses / Masters level

Tools

DISCO/ADOS-ADI-R

Job description

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Rehab Ward

The closing date is 24 November 2026

Are you a speech and language therapist (SLT) looking for a new challenge, or ready to take the next step in your career?

Do you have a special interest in the field of autism and mental health?

Are you interested in supporting successful transitions back into the community and enhancing interpersonal and communication skills for people in mental health rehabilitation services?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our warm, welcoming and inclusive multidisciplinary team. You will be leading the development of flexible, creative, person-centred and evidence-based speech and language therapy clinical pathways for our mental health rehabilitation services. An openness to challenge traditional ideas about models of communication and engage in innovative practice are essential for this role!

This is a newly-created post which will be based predominantly within our inpatient rehabilitation services which is currently undergoing an exciting redesign and development. Our priority is to ensure we provide the best service user experience and clinical outcomes possible. You will have access to regular supervision to develop your skills with a Consultant Speech and Language therapist and will be linked into our mental health inpatient network for speech and language therapy.

Main duties of the job

Lead the development of the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service within adult and older adult inpatient mental health services. Manage a specialist caseload, providing highly specialist assessment and intervention for people with complex mental health needs and co-occurring conditions within rehabilitation services. Assess and support communication needs, promote inclusive communication strategies and deliver evidence-based, person-centred interventions, monitoring and reporting on outcomes.

Provide advice, consultation and training to multidisciplinary colleagues, support staff, families and carers. Take a lead role in improving the identification and support of people with autism spectrum condition. Contribute specialist SLT expertise to MDT meetings, multi-agency meetings, tribunals and best-interest meetings.

Act as a lead clinician within the multidisciplinary team, working collaboratively with partner organisations to improve service provision and outcomes. Support service development through innovative, recovery-focused practice that enhances communication, engagement and independence.

The role requires autonomous working, independently organising, planning and prioritising workload and caseload responsibilities.

Based within the inpatient rehabilitation unit at the Bowmere Unit, the post also provides support, consultation and training to the Mental Health Intensive Support Team.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [e-mail] or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £15 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree in SLT
• Health Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to masters level equivalent
• DISCO or ADOS/ADI-R trained.

Knowledge and Expertise

• Knowledge and understanding of person centred care.
• Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and quality framework associated with the clinical speciality (e.g. MHA, Clinical & Social Governance)
• Good working knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and SLT role within it.
• Understanding and application of safeguarding procedures, and input into complex intervention plans
• Understanding of the role and function of other organisations providing services to people with mental health needs and how these complement services the NHS provides
• Awareness of planning & developing services processes
• Advanced clinical knowledge of medical and mental health conditions, diagnosis, treatment and care

Experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health issues/learning disabilities/autism services
• Experience in leading change
• Experience of providing supervision to others
• Direct experience and expertise of working with clients with complex needs
• Awareness of current mental health agenda at both a national and local level
• Awareness of relevant legislation, national policy and best practice guidance
• Bed based experience.
• Experience of working with people with neurodevelopmental disorders
• Experience of service development
• Strategic working across services with other disciplines

Trust Values

• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust