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Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Annex 21)
NHS AfC: Band 6
Main area Therapies Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week Job ref 409-7957697
Site St Helens Town St Helens Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/06/2026 23:59 Interview date 16/06/2026
After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third‑party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to transfer the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Job overview
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist – Complex Rehabilitation
Band 6 (Annex 21 will be considered)
22.5 hours per week
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, person‑centered speech and language therapist with a passion for rehabilitation. We have an exciting opportunity for a band 6 speech and language therapist looking to develop specialist skills in the rehabilitation of complex communication and swallowing disorders, within a close interdisciplinary team at Seddon Specialist Rehabilitation Unit. We would also consider a development opportunity for an experienced band 5 therapist looking for an opportunity to progress to a band 6 post within complex rehabilitation.
We are looking for a speech and language therapist that is committed to delivering quality, person‑centered rehabilitation to maximise independence and help people to rebuild their lives following complex illness or injury. As part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network (CMRN), we provide individually tailored intervention programmes to suit the needs of patients who have suffered traumatic and life‑changing diagnoses. We are a motivated, forward‑thinking interdisciplinary team that is led by a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine.
The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change.
Main duties of the job
The role involves working with adults with acquired and progressive neurological conditions, and requires knowledge and understanding of the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders. The role also involves a complex dysphagia caseload and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop skills in swallowing rehabilitation and dysphagia management alongside a band 7 speech and language therapist. Opportunities to develop skills in videofluoscopy will also be provided.
The successful candidate will be an effective communicator and listener with a compassionate nature and commitment to delivering outstanding patient care, be willing to go the extra mile and think outside of the box. A flexible approach is essential to meet the demands of the service. You will be keen to develop your assessment and intervention skills for patients with complex communication and swallowing disorders and be able to work as an integral part of the interdisciplinary team.
We offer an excellent staff supervision system enabling our team to develop both the service and themselves. Support from a Band 7 Speech and language therapist will be provided as well as opportunities for CPD within MWL and across CMRN.
All posts are subjected to medicals and enhanced CRB checks. Please note that if you are successful you will be expected to pay for the cost of the enhanced CRB disclosure which is £44 and will be deducted from your first salary.
Working for our organisation
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
* Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
* Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
* National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
* To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care.
* To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
* To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi‑pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
* Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence‑based practice and treatment options. Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
* To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
* Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
* To have the ability to undertake self‑directed/lone working in a variety of locations.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
* HCPC registration
* Clinical Educators Certificate or equivalent/experience (Annex 21)
Experience
* Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence based practice in relevant health setting (Annex 21)
* Substantial experience working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders. (Annex 21)
* Experience of working with patients with complex neurological conditions.
* Awareness of own strengths and limitations.
* Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools.
* Evidence of effective working within an MDT.
* Experience of Service development (Annex 21)
* Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches.
* Demonstrates continuous Professional Development.
* Audit and research in a clinical area (Annex 21)
Skills
* Knowledge of evidence‑based assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired speech and language disorders in adults.
* Knowledge of evidence‑based assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired swallowing disorders in adults.
* Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills.
* Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
* Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings.
* Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills.
* Have a flexible approach to working with good time management.
Other
* Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver.
Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward‑thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.
Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.
The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact Recruitment@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk
We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision‑making process.
The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship.
eVisa Update
For successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK.
Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account.
Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to:
* Understand how to generate an eVisa share code.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 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.
Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment.
If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
Flexible Working
We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that:
* All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
* There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
* Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.
At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage.
Working for Team MWL
Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
The Trust is a non‑smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website.
You will be expected to undertake the Trusts' commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.
Additional Information
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here.
An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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