Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for the recruitment of Highly
Specialist Speech and Language Therapists into our new Neurodevelopmental
Pathway (NDP) assessment team. The post
holder will work alongside paediatricians and our post-diagnostic
neurodevelopmental nursing team.
The successful post holders will demonstrate a passion for
working with children and young people with Autism and have a strong interest
in understanding how Autism and other conditions may impact on a child/young
person and their families.
The team deliver services to children and young people
across the borough of Halton (Widnes and Runcorn) based in the Child
Development Centre, Widnes. The CDC is located
off the M62 and north of the M56 next to the town of Warrington and offers free
parking. Mileage and toll bridge
expenses can be claimed for duties requiring a crossing of the bridges.
A variety of hours are offered and applications are welcomed
from those who may wish to work on a full or part time basis. Bridgewater
Community Healthcare NHS FT (BCHFT) has a well-established flexible working
policy in place to support a positive work-life balance.
If you are interested in this post then please contact
Esther Gibson, Team Leader for Childrens Specialist Services on 07881 008612
for further information of the role and to arrange a visit to meet the team.
We look forward to meeting you soon.
Main duties of the job
At BCHFT, our mission is to improve local health and wellbeing in the communities we serve. We want to ensure that our patients, their families, communities, and our stakeholders receive the right care, in the right place and at the right time.
Job Purpose:
To
complete social communication assessments as part of the Neurodevelopmental
assessment pathway. To contribute to MDT discussions to make decisions about
possible diagnosis. To write reports with advice and to signpost to appropriate
support.
About us
Flexible working will be considered for all roles.
Unfortunately, we do not hold a sponsor licence for working Visas.
At Bridgewater, our PEOPLE values shape how we deliver our
NHS services in your local community.
They help us deliver our mission to improve local health and
promote wellbeing in the communities we serve.
After all, values are about people and they were
created in partnership with our staff to reflect what they felt was important
to them
Here at Bridgewater our shared values flow through the organisation.
P- Person-centred-We are passionate about individual needs and
promote independence in the healthcare we provide..
E- Empowered- We empower our people and encourage new ideas to deliver and create improvements in community care.
O- Open and Honest -We behave in a way that develops relationships
based on trust, openness, honesty and respect.
P- Professional-We support our people, so everyone has the right
skills and training to deliver outstanding patient care.
L- Locally Lead -We are always learning about our communities and
show great pride in being a local provider of health and care.
E- Efficient -We use our resources wisely to provide
sustainable and value for money healthcare for our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Bridgewater
Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Teaching
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust plan to integrate and form a new organisation on
the 1st April 2026. As such, if your start date is on or after
1st April 2026, you will be employed by the newly formed organisation.
Should you join Bridgewater prior to this date, your employment will
automatically transfer into the new organisation. We are confident that this
transition will provide new opportunities and a continued commitment to
excellence in patient care.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Clinical Skills
- To assess and diagnose within the highly specialist clinical area
- To produce detailed reports reflecting specialist knowledge regarding patients' needs and summarising proposed treatment plans.
- To contribute to legal documents such as Education, Health and Care Plans. Annual reviews and individual education plans.
- To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
- To adapt practice to meet individual patients 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 carers and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines
To contribute to multi-disciplinary discussions regarding possible diagnosis.
- To communicate complex information from specialist assessment to patients, carers and other professionals
- To demonstrate empathy with patients, carers and other professionals, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding exist.
- To respond sensitivity at all times, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications
- To demonstrate expert skills in managing conflict within the context of the highly specialist clinical 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/or 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
- To provide specialist assessment and advice on optimising the patient's communication environment, including the communication skills of carers and other professionals within the patient's environment
- To provide supervision and specialist clinical advice, support and second opinions for therapists and other professionals working within highly specialist clinical area, offering case discussions, joint assessments.
- To demonstrate independence in dealing with complex issues associated with caseload management
- To discharge appropriately, agreeing a point of closure with the client/carer, and informing other professionals
Clinical Governance Requirements
- To gather statistical data punctually
- To participate in departmental research as required
- To initiate and undertake clinical governance/audit projects within: clinical area, as required
- To demonstrate expert knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks (clinical area)
Continuing Professional Development
- To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives relating to clinical specialism
- To participate in Individual Performance Review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical specialism
- To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist working in the field of complex communication disorders and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration
- To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional Guidelines and develop local guidelines within specialist clinical area
Teaching Skills
- To develop and deliver specialist training to others in area of clinical expertise
- 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
Clinical Leadership
- To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate
Analytical 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 into account all aspects of the patient's communication, including verbal, non-verbal and environmental.
- To anticipate and take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of relationships with patients, carers and other professionals
- To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from specialist assessment seeking internal and external support as appropriate
Responsibility for Patient Care and Contact with Carers
- To demonstrate a well-developed ability to manage people with challenging behaviours 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.
Extent of Responsibility for Planning and Organisation
- To advise line manager on clinical issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
- To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups
- To use specialist knowledge to lead service/policy developments as appropriate
Physical Skills
- To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients
- To demonstrate skills in positioning clients with disabilities
- To demonstrate highly developed ability to use AAC appropriately
- To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of people, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
Responsibility for Equipment or Financial Resources
- To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate
- To be responsible for the security, care, maintenance and delivery of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients
Freedom to Act
- To provide leadership within appropriate specialist area
- Manages complex caseload independently
- To monitor and evaluate own specialist service delivery and provide progress reports
- To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking support as appropriate
- To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
Full job description attached.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Bridgewater
Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Teaching
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust plan to integrate and form a new organisation on
the 1st April 2026. As such, if your start date is on or after
1st April 2026, you will be employed by the newly formed organisation.
Should you join Bridgewater prior to this date, your employment will
automatically transfer into the new organisation. We are confident that this
transition will provide new opportunities and a continued commitment to
excellence in patient care.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Clinical Skills
- To assess and diagnose within the highly specialist clinical area
- To produce detailed reports reflecting specialist knowledge regarding patients' needs and summarising proposed treatment plans.
- To contribute to legal documents such as Education, Health and Care Plans. Annual reviews and individual education plans.
- To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
- To adapt practice to meet individual patients 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 carers and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines
To contribute to multi-disciplinary discussions regarding possible diagnosis.
- To communicate complex information from specialist assessment to patients, carers and other professionals
- To demonstrate empathy with patients, carers and other professionals, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding exist.
- To respond sensitivity at all times, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications
- To demonstrate expert skills in managing conflict within the context of the highly specialist clinical 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/or 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
- To provide specialist assessment and advice on optimising the patient's communication environment, including the communication skills of carers and other professionals within the patient's environment
- To provide supervision and specialist clinical advice, support and second opinions for therapists and other professionals working within highly specialist clinical area, offering case discussions, joint assessments.
- To demonstrate independence in dealing with complex issues associated with caseload management
- To discharge appropriately, agreeing a point of closure with the client/carer, and informing other professionals
Clinical Governance Requirements
- To gather statistical data punctually
- To participate in departmental research as required
- To initiate and undertake clinical governance/audit projects within: clinical area, as required
- To demonstrate expert knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks (clinical area)
Continuing Professional Development
- To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives relating to clinical specialism
- To participate in Individual Performance Review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical specialism
- To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist working in the field of complex communication disorders and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration
- To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional Guidelines and develop local guidelines within specialist clinical area
Teaching Skills
- To develop and deliver specialist training to others in area of clinical expertise
- 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
Clinical Leadership
- To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate
Analytical 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 into account all aspects of the patient's communication, including verbal, non-verbal and environmental.
- To anticipate and take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of relationships with patients, carers and other professionals
- To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from specialist assessment seeking internal and external support as appropriate
Responsibility for Patient Care and Contact with Carers
- To demonstrate a well-developed ability to manage people with challenging behaviours 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.
Extent of Responsibility for Planning and Organisation
- To advise line manager on clinical issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
- To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in working groups, policy development groups
- To use specialist knowledge to lead service/policy developments as appropriate
Physical Skills
- To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients
- To demonstrate skills in positioning clients with disabilities
- To demonstrate highly developed ability to use AAC appropriately
- To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of people, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
Responsibility for Equipment or Financial Resources
- To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate
- To be responsible for the security, care, maintenance and delivery of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients
Freedom to Act
- To provide leadership within appropriate specialist area
- Manages complex caseload independently
- To monitor and evaluate own specialist service delivery and provide progress reports
- To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking support as appropriate
- To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
Full job description attached.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience assessing Children/YP with social communication difficulties
- Experience of managing large caseloads, prioritisation, planning workloads
- Experience of monitoring service outcomes
Job Specific Requirements
Essential
- The ability to travel independently across Bridgewater Trust
- The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs, including on occasions evenings
Sponsorship
Essential
- Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share-codes will be checked if applicable).
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language
- Therapy Degree Qualification or
- Equivalent
- Health Care Professions Council registration.
- RCSLT Licence to Practice
Desirable
- Registered member
- of Royal College of
- Speech and
- Language
- Therapists
- Membership of
- relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
- Evidence of additional training / continuing professional development around specialist area
- AODS training
- ADI training
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.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Knowledge of Code of Practice and
- National Curriculum
- Understanding of the principles of clinical
- governance/audit
- Previous experience of NHS IT systems
- Excellent interpersonal skills including
- observation, listening and empathy
- skills
- Negotiation and problem solving skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and
- reflection skills
- Well developed concentration skills
- Good presentation skills, both written
- and verbal
- Good organisational skills
- Prioritisation skills
- Good auditory skills and ability to
- transcribe speech phonetically
- Demonstrates ability to be a good team
- Member
- Knowledge of assessment tools
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience assessing Children/YP with social communication difficulties
- Experience of managing large caseloads, prioritisation, planning workloads
- Experience of monitoring service outcomes
Job Specific Requirements
Essential
- The ability to travel independently across Bridgewater Trust
- The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs, including on occasions evenings
Sponsorship
Essential
- Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share-codes will be checked if applicable).
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language
- Therapy Degree Qualification or
- Equivalent
- Health Care Professions Council registration.
- RCSLT Licence to Practice
Desirable
- Registered member
- of Royal College of
- Speech and
- Language
- Therapists
- Membership of
- relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
- Evidence of additional training / continuing professional development around specialist area
- AODS training
- ADI training
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.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Knowledge of Code of Practice and
- National Curriculum
- Understanding of the principles of clinical
- governance/audit
- Previous experience of NHS IT systems
- Excellent interpersonal skills including
- observation, listening and empathy
- skills
- Negotiation and problem solving skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and
- reflection skills
- Well developed concentration skills
- Good presentation skills, both written
- and verbal
- Good organisational skills
- Prioritisation skills
- Good auditory skills and ability to
- transcribe speech phonetically
- Demonstrates ability to be a good team
- Member
- Knowledge of assessment tools
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
