Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

2 DAYS / WEEK - 1 day based at RMCH & consideration of flexible arrangements.

Contract - starting ASAP for up to 18 months, ending no later than 31/03/26.

This post is an exciting opportunity to be involved in a new pilot at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, working with Newcastle University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Exposure in the womb to certain antiseizure medications can result in learning difficulties, SLCN and possible physical health difficulties.You would be a member of the multidisciplinary team undertaking SALT assessments for children, young people and adolescents who have been exposed to antiseizure medications in utero and are at high risk of a foetal exposure syndrome such as foetal valproate spectrum disorder.

Following assessment procedures you would provide information regarding SLCN within the multidisciplinary team meetings. You will also provide guidance to educational settings, family members as appropriate with strategies/ programmes.

The age range for this clinical pathway is 10 yrs - 20+. SALT supervision and support will be provided for the assessments of adults involved. Many of these will have additional learning needs.

Alongside the clinical work you would also be involved in research, audit and service evaluation. In collaboration with the wider team there is the opportunity to be involved with research data analysis and to contribute to writing research papers. Full clinical supervision/ support will be provided.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will ensure the development, systematic provision, and evaluation of a high-quality specialised SALT service to patients within the pilot service at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. The successful applicant will be responsible for SALT assessments and the integration of this information into the wider multidisciplinary care management for these patients. There will be close liaison with similar services nationally (eg. Newcastle NHS Foundation Trust) and with the patient's local services. The post will include multidisciplinary work with senior colleagues in clinical genetics, paediatrics, psychology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

This post involves a flexible approach to working, to ensure SLCNcan be addressed and supported. Responsibilities include:

• SALT assessment and intervention with children, adults, and their families
• frequent contribution to MDT diagnostic clinics and clinical discussions
• consultation and provision of SALT advice for both diagnostic/formulation purposes and intervention
• staff training
• utilising research skills for audit, policy and service development and research under the supervision of the service clinical lead
• liaison and effective teamwork within the multidisciplinary service and with colleagues from similar services nationally and with staff from tertiary clinical genetics, paediatric, community health and education services.

About us

MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of £2.6bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.