Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 28 August 2025

Job summary

Are you seeking a speech & language therapy role within a well-established team of skilled and experienced clinicians? If you want todevelop your own clinical skills with a varied range of clients in the community this could be the post for you. We are looking to recruit apermanent, Band 6 Specialist SLT.

This role gives the post holder a unique opportunity to work with a large group of specialist Speech and Language Therapists as they develop their knowledge and skills.

Our Speech & Language Therapists work with adults who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties.

We work in community settings, including clinics and home visits.

We work remotely where it is beneficial but also use our base to see patients and hold line management and supervision sessions.

We value CPD and carry out robust clinical supervision and appraisals to encourage therapists' specialist interests and innovation.

The team has Assistant Practitioners who provide treatment plans and training. The team is led by an operational manager and we have excellent AHP support within Mersey Care leadership.

This post would suit someone who is looking to develop their skills within a community setting or perhaps someone who is interested inbroadening their clinical skills with a more varied caseload.

Main duties of the job

To provide evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy assessment and intervention to service users who have communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties. These occur as a consequence of physical and mental health conditions such as: Learning Disability, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia and Mental Illness.

The caseload may cover the whole spectrum of communication disorders, e.g., non-verbal communication, dysfluency, high level language / social use of language and voice as applicable to the service.

The role will be integrated within the therapy team and will work with the team to develop person-centred care plans.

Supervision will be provided by a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Details

Date posted

20 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per Annum / Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

350-CC7417388

Job locations

Livingston Drive Health Centre

Aigburth

Liverpool

L17 8SJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To participate as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with specific responsibility to assess and treat adults with complex health needs.

To be responsible for the delivery of specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment, delivery and evaluation of evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy intervention in a variety of settings including inpatient, individuals home setting, care homes or outpatient clinics for clients withcommunication and swallowing disorders, such as dysphagia, dysfluency, voice, head and neck.

To act as a Care coordinator where applicable, ensuring that clients have full access to any generic services that they require.

To be responsible and accountable for their own caseload and ensure that care plans are written and reviewed regularly.

To contribute to the prioritisation of the waiting list for Speech and Language Therapy.

To complete intake assessments on behalf of the team and feedback to the multi-disciplinary team.

To work alongside and liaise with other professionals within the team, staff at day centres, residential staff and families.

To provide clinical advice to these on the communication needs of clients, resolving areas of conflict as necessary.

To provide specialist knowledge on alternative and augmentative systems of communication, where appropriate. To ensure that all relevant agencies have access to all systems.

To Identify and take responsibility for allocating work and providing supervision to Speech and Language Therapy assistants.

To provide training days to staff teams around specific individuals communication to devise strategies and management plans.

To be able to deputise on the absence of the clinical lead and ensure coordination of caseload is well managed within the team.

To be an active and enthusiastic team member by participating with service improvement activities, promoting innovation, being supportive to other team members and proactive when identifying potential issues in the service.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To participate as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with specific responsibility to assess and treat adults with complex health needs.

To be responsible for the delivery of specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment, delivery and evaluation of evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy intervention in a variety of settings including inpatient, individuals home setting, care homes or outpatient clinics for clients withcommunication and swallowing disorders, such as dysphagia, dysfluency, voice, head and neck.

To act as a Care coordinator where applicable, ensuring that clients have full access to any generic services that they require.

To be responsible and accountable for their own caseload and ensure that care plans are written and reviewed regularly.

To contribute to the prioritisation of the waiting list for Speech and Language Therapy.

To complete intake assessments on behalf of the team and feedback to the multi-disciplinary team.

To work alongside and liaise with other professionals within the team, staff at day centres, residential staff and families.

To provide clinical advice to these on the communication needs of clients, resolving areas of conflict as necessary.

To provide specialist knowledge on alternative and augmentative systems of communication, where appropriate. To ensure that all relevant agencies have access to all systems.

To Identify and take responsibility for allocating work and providing supervision to Speech and Language Therapy assistants.

To provide training days to staff teams around specific individuals communication to devise strategies and management plans.

To be able to deputise on the absence of the clinical lead and ensure coordination of caseload is well managed within the team.

To be an active and enthusiastic team member by participating with service improvement activities, promoting innovation, being supportive to other team members and proactive when identifying potential issues in the service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Accredited Speech and Language Therapy qualification (BSc)
  • Registration with HCPC

Desirable

  • Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist (RCSLT)
  • Post graduate training/qualification in Dysphagia

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • A philosophy and approach that empowers people
  • Knowledge of alternative and augmentative communication and dysphagia
  • Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary Team
  • Experience with provision of supervision and delegation to junior members of staff
  • Experience of use of outcome measures for clinical evaluation
  • Basic IT Skills (Microsoft Software: Excel, World, Power Point, MS Teams)
  • Driving Licence
  • A person-centred approach to service delivery
  • Understanding of current NHS changes

Desirable

  • Direct experience of working with adults with communication and Swallowing disorders
  • Experience of inter agency working
  • Experience of designing and delivering training for staff groups
  • Experience of using iPads and other forms of technology to support communication
  • Experience of facilitating groups

Skills

Essential

  • A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights
  • Ability to convey information and skills to direct care staff
  • Good time management and organizational skills
  • Flexible approach skills towards service change, demands and pressure

Desirable

  • Experience of providing clinical supervision (to students or SaLT staff)

Values

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change oriented
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Accredited Speech and Language Therapy qualification (BSc)
  • Registration with HCPC

Desirable

  • Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist (RCSLT)
  • Post graduate training/qualification in Dysphagia

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • A philosophy and approach that empowers people
  • Knowledge of alternative and augmentative communication and dysphagia
  • Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary Team
  • Experience with provision of supervision and delegation to junior members of staff
  • Experience of use of outcome measures for clinical evaluation
  • Basic IT Skills (Microsoft Software: Excel, World, Power Point, MS Teams)
  • Driving Licence
  • A person-centred approach to service delivery
  • Understanding of current NHS changes

Desirable

  • Direct experience of working with adults with communication and Swallowing disorders
  • Experience of inter agency working
  • Experience of designing and delivering training for staff groups
  • Experience of using iPads and other forms of technology to support communication
  • Experience of facilitating groups

Skills

Essential

  • A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights
  • Ability to convey information and skills to direct care staff
  • Good time management and organizational skills
  • Flexible approach skills towards service change, demands and pressure

Desirable

  • Experience of providing clinical supervision (to students or SaLT staff)

Values

Essential

  • Continuous Improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change oriented

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Livingston Drive Health Centre

Aigburth

Liverpool

L17 8SJ


Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Livingston Drive Health Centre

Aigburth

Liverpool

L17 8SJ


Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Manager

Sarah Higgins La Placa

sarah.higginslaplaca@merseycare.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

20 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per Annum / Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

350-CC7417388

Job locations

Livingston Drive Health Centre

Aigburth

Liverpool

L17 8SJ


Supporting documents

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