Team Leader: Children's Community Services

Team Leader, Children's Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) and Neurodevelopment Pathway

The Team Leader will provide operational and clinical leadership for the Children's Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) and Neurodevelopment Pathway team. This role ensures high-quality, safe, and effective services for children and young people with speech, language, communication needs (SLCN) and neurodevelopmental conditions, in line with national guidance, Trust priorities, and integrated care system objectives.

• Lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team of SLTs and Neurodevelopment staff and support staff, fostering a culture of excellence, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Manage day-to-day operations including caseload allocation, rota planning, and resource deployment.
• Provide line management, supervision, and appraisal for team members, ensuring compliance with mandatory training and professional standards.
• Support staff wellbeing and professional development through coaching, mentoring, and peer supervision.
• Ensure adherence to clinical guidelines, safeguarding standards, and Trust policies.
• Oversee audit, service evaluation, and quality improvement projects within the SLT and neurodevelopmental pathways.
• Champion evidence-based practice and contribute to local and system-wide initiatives to improve outcomes for children with complex needs.
• Collaborate with Service Manager and integrated care system partners to implement service specifications and pathway improvements (e.g., Lancashire SLCN Improvement Group actions).
• Drive innovation in care delivery, including digital solutions and integrated models across health, education, and social care.
• Monitor activity, capacity, and demand using job planning tools and SPA allocations for CPD, supervision, and governance tasks.
• Ensure timely triage, referral management, and discharge processes to maintain safe waiting times.
• Contribute to workforce planning and recruitment strategies for specialist roles.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is located just a forty‑five minute drive from Manchester, serving the communities of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre, and North Lancashire, including specialist tertiary care services for Cardiac and Haematology patients.