Overview
An exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The role involves clinical leadership for school‑age social communication difficulties and selective mutism and working as part of the Wigan Neurodevelopmental Pathway.
The post will provide clinical leadership and development of evidence‑based care pathways, training packages for the Speech Therapy service and the wider children’s workforce. It involves identification, assessment and provision of interventions for communication disorders, including social communication difficulties and selective mutism. Responsibilities also include completing social communication assessment as part of the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Pathway, contributing to MDT discussions and working closely with families, schools and Wigan CAMHs to support children and young people with selective mutism/anxiety around speaking.
* Assess and diagnose children with communication disorders, including social communication difficulties and selective mutism; take a lead role in the day‑to‑day running of a highly specialist caseload.
* Develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy programmes for school staff and evaluate outcomes.
* Take clinical responsibility for a varied paediatric caseload of differing complexities and organise effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
* Ensure that clients are involved in planning and prioritisation of their treatment plans wherever possible.
* Provide advice and coaching to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication difficulties.
* Demonstrate clinical effectiveness by using evidence‑based practice and outcome measures.
* Produce reports regarding client needs and summarise proposed treatment plans.
* Contribute to legal documents such as Education Health & Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews.
* Adapt practice to meet individual client circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
* Maintain up‑to‑date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
* Share information with clients, carers and other professionals, observing data protection guidelines.
* Contribute to multi‑disciplinary teams to ensure a client‑focused approach to treatment.
* Communicate complex information from assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals.
* Communicate effectively with the child or young person and their carers to maximise treatment potential and ensure understanding of the condition.
* Work closely with clients, carers and other professionals to negotiate and agree client management.
* Demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and colleagues, ensuring effective communication where significant barriers exist.
* Respond sensitively at all times, particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of clinical difficulties and their implications.
* Demonstrate skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic process.
* Demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
* Deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, in line with trust policy.
* Foster productive relationships with others who have challenging communication difficulties and may be under stress.
* Employ excellent communication skills.
* Identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communication, both verbal, non‑verbal and environmental.
* Assess and advise on optimising the client’s communicative environment, considering the communication skills of carers and other professionals.
* Assess the capacity of the child or young person to give valid, informed consent; work within a legal framework with children and parents for consent to treatment.
* Gather statistical data punctually.
* Participate in departmental research as required.
* Undertake Clinical Governance/audit projects within the local service as required.
* Develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including safeguarding children, SEN procedures, working with vulnerable adults and other legal frameworks.
* Identify personal/professional development to be included in a Personal Development Plan/Professional Portfolio.
* Participate in individual performance review ensuring objectives reflect service and trust plans.
* Attend relevant training and development to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist speech and language therapist and maintain up‑to‑date HCPC and RCSLT registration.
* Demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to RCSLT professional and local clinical guidelines.
* Attend relevant courses, in‑service training, meetings and special interest groups.
* Be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
* Work within defined departmental and national protocols / policies and professional code of conduct.
* Manage and prioritise own caseload independently.
* Discharge appropriately, agreeing a point of closure with the client and carers and informing other professionals.
This advert closes on Sunday 31 May 2026.
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