Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (dysphagia specialist)

Job summary

Do you have an interest in working with children with complex needs?

Do you have experience of working with children with complex communication disorders, complex eating and drinking difficulties and severe learning disabilities? Do you enjoy working with a range of other professionals? If so, wed like to hear from you.

Come and join our newly established Children and Young Peoples (CYP) Community Speech and Language Service. We are looking for an enthusiastic, forward-thinking Band 7 speech and language therapist (SLT). You will lead and shape our dysphagia provision alongside the team lead.

This role combines clinical expertise with service development. You will support children with complex feeding and swallowing needs. You will work closely with families, schools, and multidisciplinary teams and will co-ordinate provision of suitable Augmentative and Alternative Communication support for children with complex needs. There is a strong advisory element within this role.

Main duties of the job

Duties and Responsibilities

To assess and diagnose children with complex communication disorders, complex eating and drinking difficulties and severe learning disability. To co-ordinate therapeutic support for Augmentative and Alternative Communication for children with complex needs.

To develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment and programmes and to measure and evaluate outcomes

To ensure that clients / parents / teaching staff are involved in the planning and prioritisation of the treatment plans wherever possible.

To provide highly specialist advice and programmes to parents / guardians, carers and other professionals regarding the management and care of children with complex communication disorders, complex eating and drinking difficulties, AAC needs and severe learning disability

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures

To produce detailed reports, reflecting specialist knowledge, regarding clients needs and summarising proposed treatment plans

To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews as appropriate

To adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences

About us

Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.

Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).

They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

Our mission

We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

Our vision

We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

Our values

• Kind: We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
• Open: We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair: We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team: We work well together and with our communities

Details

• Date posted: 26 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: C9835-HC26-054
• Job locations: The Bridges, Crow Wood Health Park, Crow Wood Lane, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 3NA, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

In conjunction with the Team Leader for Speech and Language Therapy, to plan, develop and co-ordinate the Speech and Language Therapy service to children with complex communication disorders, complex eating and drinking difficulties and severe learning disability. To co-ordinate provision of suitable Augmentative and Alternative Communication support for children with complex needs. There is a strong advisory element within this role.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Skills

To assess and diagnose children with complex communication disorders, complex eating and drinking difficulties and severe learning disability. To co-ordinate therapeutic support for Augmentative and Alternative Communication for children with complex needs.

To develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment and programmes and to measure and evaluate outcomes

To ensure that clients / parents / teaching staff are involved in the planning and prioritisation of the treatment plans wherever possible.

To provide highly specialist advice and programmes to parents / guardians, carers and other professionals regarding the management and care of children with complex communication disorders, complex eating and drinking difficulties, AAC needs and severe learning disability

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures

To produce detailed reports, reflecting specialist knowledge, regarding clients needs and summarising proposed treatment plans

To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews as appropriate

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

To share information with clients, carers and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines

To contribute highly specialist knowledge to multi and uni disciplinary teams to ensure a client focused approach to treatment

To communicate complex information from specialist assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals. To represent at health panels where required

To work closely with clients, carers and other professionals to negotiate and agree client management

To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding exist

To respond sensitively at all times particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications

To demonstrate expert skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic process

To demonstrate expert skills in managing conflict within the clinical specialist area

To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in line with Organisational policy

To foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties and who may be under stress

To employ excellent communication skills

To apply expert strategies to facilitate and enhance the effectiveness of communication, both verbal, non-verbal and environmental, including the use of high and low tech AAC where required

To provide highly specialist assessment and advice on optimising the clients communicative environment taking into consideration the communication skills of parents / guardians, carers and other professionals

To specialist clinical advice, support and second opinions for therapists and other professionals working with children with complex communication disorders, complex eating and drinking difficulties, AAC needs and severe learning disability, offering case discussions, joint assessments, joint intervention and therapy programmes as appropriate

To demonstrate independence in dealing with complex issues related to caseload management

To employ counselling skills with parents and clients with highly complex needs

To discharge appropriately agreeing a point of closure with the parents and child and informing other professionals as appropriate

Teaching Skills

To develop and deliver specialist training to others in the area of complex communication disorders, behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties and special needs

To demonstrate the ability to target training appropriately to the needs of course participants

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.

Clinic Governance Requirements

To gather statistical data punctually

To participate in departmental research as required

To undertake Clinical Governance / audit projects within the local service as required

To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: safeguarding children, SEN procedures, working with vulnerable adults and other legal frameworks

Continuing Professional Development

To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan / Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives relevant to this clinical specialism of complex learning difficulties and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

To participate in individual performance review, ensuring that the objectives set reflect the service and trust plans, including objectives relevant for complex learning difficulties and emotional behavioural disorders

To attend relevant special interest groups, specialist short courses and advanced training in order to develop and maintain skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist and to maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration

To demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines and develop local guidance in specialist area for the department

To attend relevant in service training and meetings

To demonstrate knowledge of, and adherence to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines and best practice.

Clinical Leadership

To supervise the work of specialist, generalist therapists, newly qualified therapists and assistants

To participate in student placements as appropriate

To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice independently, with peers and mentors to identify own strengths and development needs

To demonstrate a well-developed ability to integrate information taking account of all aspects of the clients communication including verbal, non-verbal and environmental

To anticipate and take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of relationships with parents / guardians and other professionals

To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessment, seeking support and advice from a specialist as appropriate

To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from specialist assessment seeking support from internal and external sources as appropriate

Responsibility for Client Care and Contact with Carers

To demonstrate the well-developed ability to manage people with communication disorders and challenging behaviour including the application of appropriate management strategies

To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis

Please see full Job Description and Person Specification attached