Specialist Speech and Language Therapist | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (0.8 WTE) to develop specialist skills in adult communication and dysphagia within a supportive team. You will manage an independent caseload and deliver assessments and interventions across Knowsley and St Helens in community settings.

You will work with patients, carers and multidisciplinary teams, providing specialist advice, supervision to SLT assistants, and contributing to service development and

Qualifications

• Specialist Speech and Language Therapy skills for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Competence in dysphagia assessment and management.
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and carers.

Responsibilities

• Manage an independent caseload of adults with communication and swallowing disorders.
• Undertake specialist dysphagia assessments and evidence-based management plans.
• Provide assessment and intervention across community settings (homes, clinics, care homes).
• Collaborate with patients, families, MDTs and partner agencies for person-centred care.
• Contribute to waiting list management and service prioritisation.
• Provide training and support to carers, staff and healthcare professionals.
• Support service development, audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Supervise SLT assistants and students as required.
• Participate in clinical supervision and CPD activities.
• Promote collaborative team working and service development.

Skills

Dysphagia management

Adult SLT

Clinical supervision

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor-level SLT registration

Job description

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Are you an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop your specialist skills in adult communication and dysphagia within a supportive and experienced team?

We are seeking a motivated Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (0.8 WTE) to join our Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service. This is an exciting opportunity for a therapist with dysphagia competencies to work with adults who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties arising from a range of physical and mental health conditions.

You will be part of a well-established team delivering high-quality, person-centred care across community settings across Knowsley and St Helens, including outpatient clinics, care homes, patients' own homes and adult mental health wards. The role offers a varied caseload, excellent opportunities for professional development and access to regular clinical supervision from experienced senior clinicians.

We are committed to supporting innovation, continuous learning and staff wellbeing, making this an ideal opportunity for a therapist looking to further develop their skills and contribute to service improvement.

The post holder will provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis and intervention for adults presenting with communication and/or swallowing difficulties acrossKnowsley and St Helens.

1. Managing an independent caseload of adults with communication and swallowing disorders.
2. Undertaking specialist dysphagia assessments and implementing evidence-based management plans.
3. Providing assessment and intervention within a range of community settings including patients' homes, clinics, care homes and adult mental health wards.
4. Working collaboratively with patients, carers, multidisciplinary teams and partner agencies to deliver person-centred care.
5. Contributing to waiting list management and service prioritisation.
6. Providing advice, training and support to carers, support staff and healthcare professionals.
7. Supporting service development, clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives.
8. Supervising Speech and Language Therapy assistants and students as required.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

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

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

The post holder will:

1. Provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties associated with neurological, physical and mental health conditions, including Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease and Dementia.
2. Independently manage and prioritise a complex caseload acrossKnowsley and St Helens, ensuring timely and effective intervention in accordance with clinical need and service priorities.
3. Assess and manage dysphagia, including the development and implementation of evidence-based eating and drinking recommendations to minimise clinical risk and promote patient safety.
4. Deliver care across a range of community settings including outpatient clinics, care homes, patients' own homes and adult mental health wards.
5. Develop, implement and review person-centred treatment plans, ensuring interventions are outcome-focused and evidence-based.
6. Maintain accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous clinical records in line with professional and organisational standards.
7. Provide specialist advice and support to patients, families, carers, multidisciplinary teams and partner organisations.
8. Contribute to the management and prioritisation of referrals and waiting lists to ensure equitable access to the service.
9. Support the assessment, provision and implementation of alternative and augmentative communication strategies where appropriate.
10. Deliver education, training and support to healthcare professionals, care staff and carers regarding communication and dysphagia management.
11. Supervise, support and delegate work to Speech and Language Therapy assistants as appropriate.
12. Participate in clinical supervision, appraisal and continuing professional development activities.
13. Contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement projects and implementation of best practice.
14. Actively promote collaborative team working and contribute positively to the ongoing development of the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop specialist clinical skills while making a real difference to adults with communication and swallowing difficulties living across Knowsley and St Helens.

This advert closes on Thursday 15 Oct 2026

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