Speech and Language Therapist (Advanced Specialist)

NHS; Cheadle; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A national charity for children with complex needs in Cheadle seeks an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to provide specialist therapy, lead other therapists, and collaborate with multiple disciplines. Candidates should hold a recognized qualification in Speech and Language Therapy, and possess experience with complex needs. The position involves managing therapy delivery, conducting research, and providing training. Competitive benefits include professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Access to on-site fitness facilities

Health and wellbeing support

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Evidence of continued professional development including Master's level study or working towards.
• Completion of post basic dysphagia qualification.
• Ability to appraise and devise outcome measurement tools.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist speech and language therapy to children and young people.
• Provide high quality line management to qualified Speech and Language Therapists.
• Conduct research and/or project work relevant to the specialist area.

Skills

Understanding of neurodevelopmental disabilities

Excellent written and verbal communication

Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team

Organizational skills

Ability to lead and direct others

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification (BSc or MSc)

Registered member of RCSLT

Registration with HCPC

Leadership and Management qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Speech and Language Therapist (Advanced Specialist)

Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist ready to take the next step in your career?At Seashell Trust, were a nationally recognised charity supporting children and young people with the most complex neuro-disabilities,including autism, multi-sensory impairments, and profound learning and physical disabilities.Youll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary Health Team working across our school, college, and residential settings to deliver truly integrated, person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

Youll deliver specialist speech and language therapy to children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, with a focus on communication, interaction, and access to learning. Working collaboratively across Health, Education, and Care, youll contribute to early assessment and intervention, support service development, and provide clinical supervision under the guidance of the SaLT Lead. Building strong therapeutic relationships with students and their families will be central to your role, ensuring continuity, consistency, and quality throughout their journey at Seashell.

About us

Seashell Trust is a national charity based in Cheadle Hulme, supporting children and young people with complex needs through education, care, therapy, and outreach. Our inclusive, person-centred approach is delivered by a skilled multi-disciplinary team in a welcoming and collaborative environment. We offer a comprehensive induction, generous annual leave, access to on-site fitness facilities, health and wellbeing support, and professional development opportunities. Join us during an exciting period of growth, including a new college build and campus transformation.

Job responsibilities

Leadership and Management

Ensure that all actions and decisions take consideration of the impact on our children, young people and families in accordance with Seashell Trusts Core Values. Acting as a role model for colleagues in terms of standards of behaviour, professional expertise and integrity.

Provide high quality line management to qualified Speech and Language Therapists.

Lead elements of Speech and Language Therapy clinical governance agendas including clinical audit, risk assessment, learning and development.

Co-ordinate Speech and Language Therapy student placements.

Clinical Responsibilities

To provide a specialist in-depth assessment and intervention plans for children and young people with a variety of complex needs including physical and intellectual disabilities, multi-sensory impairment, communication difficulties, autism spectrum conditions and behaviours of concern.

To assess the need for specialist equipment and manage the procurement and safe use of specialist equipment.

To use the principles and practices of Speech and Language Therapy to complete comprehensive Assessment of communication and dysphagia needs and inform management.

To provide an communication perspective of the young person and contribute to multidisciplinary team work.

Contribute to the MDT assessment process, informing long term goal setting, ongoing formative assessment, progress reviews, strategies and levels of support for students.

To plan and implement SaLT interventions, monitoring and evaluating outcomes.

To demonstrate the safe and appropriate use of specialist equipment to parents/carers, educational staff and therapy colleagues.

To adhere to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and HCPC guidance.

Liaise with other health and education providers to promote continuity of care

Provide support and training to family members and carers to promote transfer of skills into the home environment.

Provide clear written therapy programmes and specialist reports in a timely manner.

Maintain up to date, accurate clinical records in line with professional requirements.

Maintain accurate records of clinical support delivered to evidence adherence with funding schedules.

Research and Development

Identify the areas of need for training packages to upskill the broader workforce. Design, deliver and evaluate training both internally and externally.

Utilise technology to enhance efficiency in delivery of training.

Conduct research and/or project work in relation to specialist area that supports the ongoing work and innovations in relation to the complex needs of the Trusts children and young people.

Present and share findings from service evaluation and research at professional conferences. Secure opportunities to share best practice within professional networks to promote reputation of the Trust.

Participate in continuous professional development. Maintain compliance with mandatory training and identify and undertake external opportunities for development to ensure HCPC requirements for CPD are met.

Undertake regular supervisions (clinical, peer and line management supervisions) as defined and provided by the Trust.

Observe and coach qualified colleagues and support staff as required to ensure quality of provision.

Quality Assurance

To lead on elements of Clinical Governance for SaLT provision (under the guidance of the Lead SaLT) through activities such as audits of need, audits of care, service prioritisation, staff development and business planning.

To demonstrate ability to respond to audit findings and implement action plans to promote quality improvement.

Contribute to individual risk assessment for children and young people.

Identify potential financial and reputational risks of projects or new approaches/equipment and weigh up against benefits.

Support junior SaLTs and staff teams to develop risk awareness in relevant areas.

Service Development

Conduct scoping of need for SaLT Provision in areas of expertise.

Design models of delivery and negotiate contracts under the guidance of the Lead SaLT

Maintain current knowledge of national and professional guidance. Ensure new innovations are adopted in line with requirements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification e.g. Bsc or Msc
• Evidence of continued professional development including Masters level study or working towards
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Leadership and Management qualification

Skills and knowledge

• Understanding of the needs of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism spectrum conditions, MSI, profound and multiple intellectual disabilities and complex physical disabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to write and maintain reports and student notes.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Able to implement, monitor and revise occupational therapy programmes.
• Ability to lead and direct others.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities of clinical caseload and requirements of service development.
• Upskill education and residential staff through the design and delivery of training and 1-1 coaching.
• Ability to interact with children and young people with complex communication impairments.
• Confident in using Microsoft Word and ability to use internet for range of functions.
• Awareness of technological advances to support communication skills.
• Completion of post basic dysphagia qualification.
• Ability to apply technology and new innovations to support development of communication skills.
• Ability to appraise and devise outcome measurement tools.
• Skills in using and developing Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

Experience

• Experience of working as a SaLT with children and/or young people with profound and complex learning disabilities and physical disabilities.
• Experience of management and clinical supervision of qualified professionals.
• Experience of developing clinical governance agendas including clinical audit.
• Experience of conducting service evaluation.
• Experience of supporting broad range of Alternative and Augmentative Communication solutions for individuals with intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Conditions
• Completion and publishing of research/sharing of service evaluation findings via professional conferences and publications.
• Project management.
• Provision of equipment.
• Use of voice output communication aids, range of access methods and communication software packages
• Working with children and young people who demonstrate behaviours of concern.
• Experience of working within an education environment.

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.