Overview
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Speech & Language Therapist seeking to develop their career in a Clinical Leadership role. Alongside clinically leading Speech & Language therapy staff in a locality team, this post will enable the postholder to develop their specialist skills in the area of social communication difficulties.
The post holder will be responsible for providing clinical expertise in the area of social communication. This will involve maintaining an updated social communication clinical care pathway in line with current evidence base, updating and providing specific training to staff, parents and wider professionals who are working with children and young people with social communication disorders, as well as providing second opinions for speech and language therapist across the Children\'s Therapy Service of Pennine, Central and West. In addition, the role has an exciting opportunity to work within the diagnostic service with ELHT providing clinical expertise and working with the wider MDT to shape the service delivery. This position will be based within the Blackburn with Darwen team supporting the current operational and clinical team to support the Speech and Language Therapists and speech and language therapy assistants.
Responsibilities
We work with children and young people aged 0-19 with well developed and evidenced based pathways covering the needs of children with communication needs. We can offer clinical and management supervision, continuing professional development and deliver specialist Speech and Language Therapy Forums. You would be part of the strong network of clinical leads within the Children\'s Therapy Service. The Blackburn with Darwen team comprises of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, consisting of both therapists and assistants. We work closely with colleagues in health, education and social care to provide a genuinely child-centred service. We work in a variety of locations, including clinics, children\'s own homes, nurseries and schools. The successful candidate must be able to effectively manage their own time, and demonstrate excellent communication skills. An interest in working with children, young people and their families with social communication difficulties is essential. The Children\'s Integrated Therapy and Nursing Team are led by a multidisciplinary management team including AHP leadership. This is an exciting time to join our team if you are interested in shaping our future service delivery model for children and young people with social communication difficulties.
About us
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
Details
Date posted: 01 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 351-CEN2241-CPC-A
Job locations: Children\'s Speech Therapy Blackburn & Darwen, Simmons\' St, Blackburn, BB2 1AX
Qualifications
* Professional Degree or equivalent in speech and language therapy
* Evidence of continued professional development
* Evidence of formal training / self-study / specialist experience to Master\'s level equivalent
Knowledge
* Detailed understanding of clinical governance framework & implications for practice, including audit and research governance
* Extensive knowledge of a range of therapy techniques and programmes and their applications for children with diverse needs/ related to client group
* Highly motivated to explore and lead creative and innovative ways of working
Experience
* Evidence of recent and relevant post graduate experience encompassing the specialist field of practice that demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of specialist area
* Extensive experience of working with children with complex needs and their families in community settings
* Evidence of leading and implementing clinical change
Skills
* Confident to work independently as lead specialist
* Demonstrating excellent leadership and team working skills
* Ability to critically analyse and evaluate service issues to promote service improvement
Compliance
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.
Employer details
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Children\'s Speech Therapy Blackburn & Darwen, Simmons\' St, Blackburn, BB2 1AX
Employer\'s website
https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/
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