Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Warrington; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization is seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to deliver high-quality therapy to children aged 0-19 in Warrington. This role involves assessing communication disorders, developing treatment plans, and providing training to staff in schools. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree, HCPC registration, and experience managing various speech and language difficulties. Additionally, flexible working options are available, supporting a balanced approach to community health care.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Continuous professional development

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Health Care Professions Council registration is essential.
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification required.
• Experience in managing communication disorders, especially related to ASD and DLD.

Responsibilities

• Assess and diagnose children with communication disorders.
• Develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy programmes.
• Provide training and coaching for staff in educational settings.

Skills

Experience with complex communication difficulties

Excellent interpersonal skills

Knowledge of SEND Code of Practice

IT skills

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification

Health Care Professions Council registration

RCSLT Licence to Practice

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced Speech and Language Therapist who is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to provide a high standard of Speech and Language Therapy to children and young people in Warrington.

In this role, you will work across two teams, the Childrens Speech and Language Therapy Team and the Childrens Neurodevelopmental Pathway Assessment (NDP) Team.

You will see children/young people aged 0‑19 in a range of settings including clinic, mainstream schools and specialist provisions as required. You will work alongside B5, B6 and B7 SLTs and SLT assistants as part of a large, supportive, and innovative team.

You will work closely with families, health colleagues and education staff to develop programmes that will be implemented in schools and at home.

You will have allocated time, along with colleagues, to influence service development using the latest evidence and can take on additional responsibility in an area of interest.

We have regular team meetings, as well as protected learning time / in‑service training. We also offer flexible working opportunities such as working from home when appropriate.

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust mission

To improve local health and wellbeing in the communities we serve. We want to ensure that our patients, their families, communities, and our stakeholders receive the right care, in the right place and at the right time.

Main duties of the job

You will provide specialist assessment of children and young peoples’ needs and develop programmes to be implemented by education staff in school settings and parents/carers at home.

You will provide specialist assessment of children and young peoples’ social communication to contribute to their Autism assessment within Warrington’s Neurodevelopmental Pathway.

You may work in a clinic setting delivering therapy to children with a range of speech and language difficulties.

You will deliver training for other professionals as required.

You will need an interest in and/or experience of working with children and young people with complex communication difficulties, learning difficulties, social communication difficulties, selective mutism, speech disorders and Developmental Language Disorder.

You will share responsibility with other Highly Specialist and Specialist SLTs for further developing the service to ensure best practice in place and to monitor outcomes for children and their families.

You will support less experienced staff and will have access to support from Highly Specialist Therapists as well as the Speech and Language Therapy Team Leaders.

You will need to work flexibly across community settings.

It is essential that the post holder is a driver with access to a vehicle for work purposes, subject to provision of the Equality Act 2010.

About us

Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

Unfortunately, we do not hold a sponsor licence for working Visas.

At Bridgewater, our PEOPLE values shape how we deliver our NHS services in your local community.

They help us deliver our mission to improve local health and promote wellbeing in the communities we serve.

After all, values are about people and they were created in partnership with our staff to reflect what they felt was important to them.

Here at Bridgewater our shared values flow through the organisation.

P – Person‑centred … We are passionate about individual needs and promote independence in the healthcare we provide.

E – Empowered … We empower our people and encourage new ideas to deliver and create improvements in community care.

O – Open and Honest … We behave in a way that develops relationships based on trust, openness, honesty and respect.

P – Professional … We support our people, so everyone has the right skills and training to deliver outstanding patient care.

L – Locally Lead … We are always learning about our communities and show great pride in being a local provider of health and care.

E – Efficient … We use our resources wisely to provide sustainable and value for money healthcare for our patients.

Job details

• Date posted: 12 January 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 12 months
• Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working
• Reference number: C9835‑WA25‑074c
• Job locations: Child Development Centre, Sandy Lane, Warrington, WA2 7NE

Job responsibilities

See attached JD:

• To assess and diagnose children with a range of communication disorders, including as part of their social communication assessment within the NDP Team.
• To develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy programmes for school staff and parents to implement and to evaluate outcomes for children with communication difficulties.
• To take clinical responsibility for a varied paediatric caseload of differing complexities and to organise this effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• To ensure that clients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their treatment plans wherever possible.
• To provide advice, training and coaching to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication difficulties.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence‑based practice and outcome measures.
• To produce reports regarding clients' needs and summarising proposed treatment plans.
• To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health & Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews.
• To adapt practice to meet individual clients' circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
• To maintain up‑to‑date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.

Person specification – Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health Care Professions Council registration.
• RCSLT Licence to Practice.
• Relevant postgraduate training in complex communication difficulties.

Desirable

• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
• Evidence of additional training / continuing professional development around specialist area e.g. SEMH, DLD

Person specification – Experience

Essential

• Experience independently managing a wide range of communication disorders including communication linked to ASD, DLD, speech disorders, disorders existing alongside learning difficulties and/or SEMH.
• Experience working in collaboration, sharing strategies and implementing programmes and advice and coaching staff in mainstream / special schools.
• Experience in day‑to‑day running of a community / mainstream / special school caseload and supporting newly qualified staff and assistants.
• Involvement in training/coaching other professionals / parents.
• Experience in designing and providing training.
• Relevant postgraduate clinical experience.

Desirable

• Training in SEMH / Selective Mutism / DLD.
• Experience supervising other SLTs/assistants e.g. running clinical supervision sessions.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team to contribute to Autism assessment.
• ADOS/ADI qualifications.

Person specification – Sponsorship

• Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship? (share‑codes will be checked if applicable)

Person specification – Skills and attributes

Essential

• In‑depth knowledge of SEND Code of Practice and National Curriculum
• Knowledge of relevant NICE guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills.
• Negotiation and problem‑solving skills.
• Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills.
• Well developed concentration skills.
• Good presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Good auditory skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically.
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member.
• Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group.
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group).
• Well established knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group).
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group).
• Knowledge of standards of record‑keeping.
• IT skills.
• Evidence of CPD.

Desirable

• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit.
• Previous experience of NHS IT systems.

Person specification – Job specific requirements

• The ability to travel independently across Bridgewater Trust.
• The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs, including on occasions evenings.

Relationships

• If you are related to a director, or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.

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. 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 for criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details

• Name: Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Address: Child Development Centre, Sandy Lane, Warrington, WA2 7NE
• Website: http://bridgewater.nhs.uk/