Job summary
Do you have an interest working with young people within the Youth Justice Service? Do you have experience working with young people with complex communication difficulties/social, emotional and mental health issues and/or neurodevelopmental difficulties. Do you enjoy working with a range of other professionals?
We are looking for an enthusiastic and skilled Speech and Language Therapist to join our newly established community Children and Young Peoples Speech and Language Therapy team.
In this role you will deliver Highly Specialist Speech and Language assessment for young people known to the Youth Justice Service to inform them, their families/carers and the people around them of any identified communication difficulties. You will then provide appropriate training, therapy, advice and support to the young person and their family/carers, working alongside a range of other professionals.
You will work across two friendly and supportive teams (YJS and SLT) with access to ongoing CPD and regular supervision.
Main duties of the job
In conjunction with the SLT Team Leads and Youth Justice Service Lead, you will plan, develop and deliver the Speech and Language Therapy service to children with speech, language communication needs known to the Youth Justice Service. There is a strong support and advisory element within this role.
See JD for further detail:
To assess and diagnose speech, language, communication needs (SLCN) for young people accessing YJS including those with special educational needs and those in care.
To develop and advise on strategies to support young people with SLCN accessing YJS. This includes working with young people and with the people who live and work with them on a daily basis.
Where appropriate and in agreement with the young person, to develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment and programmes and to measure and evaluate outcomes.
To ensure that clients / parents or carers / YJS staff /teachers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of the treatment programmes wherever possible.
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures
To produce reports, reflecting highly specialist knowledge, in a format that is easily understood by the young person. Reports will include summary of strengths and needs and functional strategies for daily living.
To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans and Court Reports.
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-HC26-058
- Job locations: The Bridges, Crow Wood Health Park, Crow Wood Lane, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 3LZ, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose:
In conjunction with the Team Leader, to plan, develop and deliver the Speech and Language Therapy service to children with speech, language communication needs known to the Youth Justice Service (YJS). There is a strong support and advisory element within this role.
Professional
To assess and diagnose speech, language, communication needs (SLCN) for young people accessing YJS including those with special educational needs and those in care.
To develop and advise on strategies to support young people with SLCN accessing YJS. This includes working with young people and with the people who live and work with them on a daily basis.
Where appropriate and in agreement with the young person, to develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment and programmes and to measure and evaluate outcomes.
To ensure that clients / parents or carers / YJS staff /teachers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of the treatment programmes wherever possible.
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
To produce reports, reflecting highly specialist knowledge, in a format that is easily understood by the young person. Reports will include summary of strengths and needs and functional strategies for daily living.
To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans and Court Reports.
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 (notes inputted into YJS patient management system as agreed with Bridgewater Information Governance Team)
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 attend high risk review meetings as requested.
To communicate complex information from highly specialist assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals.
To make onward referrals as appropriate.
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 assessment and therapeutic process.
To demonstrate expert skills in managing conflict within the clinical highly specialist area .
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in line with trust 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, verbal, non verbal and environmental.
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 provide highly specialist clinical advice, support other professionals working with children with speech, language, communication disorders.
To demonstrate independence in dealing with complex issues related to caseload management.
To employ counselling skills with parents/carers and clients with highly complex needs.
To discharge appropriately agreeing a point of closure with the parents/ carers, young person and informing other professionals as appropriate.
Teaching Skills
To develop and deliver highly specialist training to others in the area of SLCN, including YJS staff and parents/carers.
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.
Please see full Job Description and Person Specification attached.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience at a post graduate level
- Relevant highly specialist experience post qualification
- Experience within specialist area including SEMH/ Neurodevelopmental difficulties/ ACEs and Trauma Informed care.
- Experience in planning and providing care to children and young people independently.
Desirable
- Previous experience working with Youth Justice services.
Sponsorship
Essential
- Please confirm your Right to Work status (share-codes will be checked where applicable).
Relationships
Essential
- If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent
- Health Care Professions Council RCSLT Licence to Practice
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to masters level equivalent
Desirable
- Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Membership of Relevant Special Interest Groups
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of SEN process and EHCP
- Awareness of Code of Practice and National Curriculum.
- Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
- Highly developed Negotiation and Problem solving Skills
- Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
- Well developed concentration skills
- Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
- Excellent organisational skills
- Prioritisation skills
- Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume clinical leadership responsibilities
- Well established knowledge of a broad range assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
- In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures (relevant to the specialist client group)
- In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
- In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance /audit
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group)
- Knowledge of standards of record keeping
Job Specific Requirements
Essential
- The ability to travel independently across the Trust
- The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist roles in Warrington
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist in Youth Justice Service with Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Warrington, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 to £56,515 a year. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 12 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (26 Jun 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.