Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Location

Wigan, England

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Salary

£49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata

Profession

Speech and Language Therapist

Grade

Band 7

Deadline

31 May 2026

Contract Type

Permanent

Posted Date

14 May 2026

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the recruitment of a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist . The post entails clinical leadership for School- age Social Communication difficulties and Selective Mutism for the service. The post also entails working as part of Wigan Neurodevelopmental Pathway/

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide clinical leadership for School- age Social Communication difficulties and Selective Mutism for the service.

This clinical leadership will include the development of evidence based care pathways, development and delivery training package for Speech Therapy service as well as wider children workforce.

The post involves identification at a highly specialist level of the type of communication disorder found in this client group and the provision of a range of appropriate interventions including individual and group programmes to the young people, their families and their staff.

The post involves completing social communication assessment as part of the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Pathway and to contribute to MDT discussions to make decisions about possible diagnosis.

The post involves working closely with families/schools and Wigan CAMHs to support children and young people with selective mutism/anxiety around speaking

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To assess and diagnose children with communication disorders, including those with social communication difficulties and Selective mutism. Will be required to take a lead role in the day to day running of a highly specialist caseload.
To develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy programmes for school staff to implement and to evaluate outcomes.
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 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 client’s 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 client’s 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 to multi-disciplinary teams to ensure a client focused approach to treatment
To communicate complex information from assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals
To communicate effectively with the child or young person and their carers to maximise treatment potential and ensure understanding of their condition. Addressing physical, psychological and emotional barriers to effective communication will be regularly 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 skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic process.
To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in line with Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust policy.
To foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties and may be under stress.
To employ excellent communication skills.
To identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance the effectiveness of communication, both verbal, non- verbal and environmental.
To assess and advise on optimising the client’s communicative environment, taking into consideration the communication skills of carers and other professionals.
To assess the capacity of the child or young person to give valid, informed consent. To be able to work within a legal framework with children and parents for consent to treatment.
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.
To identify personal/professional development by Personal Development Plan/Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework.
To participate in individual performance review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the service and trust plans.
To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist speech and language therapist and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration.
To demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines.
To attend relevant courses, in service training, meetings and special interest groups.
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
To work within defined departmental and national protocols / policies and professional code of conduct.
To manage and prioritise own caseload independently.
To discharge appropriately, agreeing a point of closure with the clients and carers and informing other professionals.