Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Rehab Ward

The closing date is 24 November 2026

Job summary
Are you a speech and language therapist (SLT) looking for a new challenge, or ready to take the next step in your career?

Do you have a special interest in the field of autism and mental health?

Are you interested in supporting successful transitions back into the community and enhancing interpersonal and communication skills for people in mental health rehabilitation services?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our warm, welcoming and inclusive multidisciplinary team. You will be leading the development of flexible, creative, person-centred and evidence-based speech and language therapy clinical pathways for our mental health rehabilitation services. An openness to challenge traditional ideas about models of communication and engage in innovative practice are essential for this role!

This is a newly-created post which will be based predominantly within our inpatient rehabilitation services which is currently undergoing an exciting redesign and development. Our priority is to ensure we provide the best service user experience and clinical outcomes possible. You will have access to regular supervision to develop your skills with a Consultant Speech and Language therapist and will be linked into our mental health inpatient network for speech and language therapy.

Main duties of the job
Lead the development of the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service within adult and older adult inpatient mental health services. Manage a specialist caseload, providing highly specialist assessment and intervention for people with complex mental health needs and co-occurring conditions within rehabilitation services. Assess and support communication needs, promote inclusive communication strategies and deliver evidence-based, person-centred interventions, monitoring and reporting on outcomes.

Provide advice, consultation and training to multidisciplinary colleagues, support staff, families and carers. Take a lead role in improving the identification and support of people with autism spectrum condition. Contribute specialist SLT expertise to MDT meetings, multi-agency meetings, tribunals and best-interest meetings.

Act as a lead clinician within the multidisciplinary team, working collaboratively with partner organisations to improve service provision and outcomes. Support service development through innovative, recovery-focused practice that enhances communication, engagement and independence.

The role requires autonomous working, independently organising, planning and prioritising workload and caseload responsibilities.

Based within the inpatient rehabilitation unit at the Bowmere Unit, the post also provides support, consultation and training to the Mental Health Intensive Support Team.

About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Details
Date posted: 10 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 373-SMH2793
Job locations: Bowmere Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1BQ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree in SLT
• Health Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to masters level equivalent

Desirable

• DISCO or ADOS/ADI-R trained.
• Post basic dysphagia qualification
• Leadership qualification

Knowledge and Expertise
Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of person centred care.
• Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and quality framework associated with the clinical speciality (e.g. MHA, Clinical & Social Governance)
• Good working knowledge and understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and SLT role within it.
• Understanding and application of safeguarding procedures, and input into complex intervention plans
• Understanding of the role and function of other organisations providing services to people with mental health needs and how these complement services the NHS provides
• Awareness of planning & developing services processes

Desirable

• Advanced clinical knowledge of medical and mental health conditions, diagnosis, treatment and care

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with people with mental health issues/learning disabilities/autism services
• Experience in leading change
• Experience of providing supervision to others
• Direct experience and expertise of working with clients with complex needs
• Awareness of current mental health agenda at both a national and local level
• Awareness of relevant legislation, national policy and best practice guidance

Desirable

• Bed based experience.
• Experience of working with people with neurodevelopmental disorders
• Experience of service development
• Strategic working across services with other disciplines

Trust Values
Essential

• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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
Employer name: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bowmere Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1BQ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head of Clinical Services, Zoe Dunner, Zoe.Dunne@nhs.net, 01244393338