Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

3316 - Highly Specialist Adult Speech & Language Therapist

The closing date is 05 January 2026

Job summary

We are excited to offer a one-year fixed term or secondment opportunity for a Band 7 Highly Specialist Team Lead to join our Adult Inpatient Speech and Language Therapy Service to cover maternity leave. This is an excellent opportunity for an established Band 7, or an experienced Band 6 ready to take the next step, to develop leadership, clinical expertise and service development skills within a supportive and forward-thinking team.

You will provide clinical and professional leadership across adult inpatient areas including general medicine, surgery, stroke and critical care, supporting high-quality, evidence-based care. The role includes leading and developing staff, driving service improvement initiatives, and working with the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver outstanding patient care.

We offer robust supervision, opportunities for further training, and the chance to influence and shape SLT provision within the hospital. Please get in touch if you would like any further information about this role.

Main duties of the job

- To be responsible for providing a highly specialist service to Barnsley Hospital for adults with a variety of communication and swallowing difficulties with dysphagia.

- To develop, provide and participate in the training and support of other professionals working with this client group.

- To oversee the clinical provision of input to adults with dysphagia and communication difficulties and to provide assessment and advice to the client group, their carers and other professionals.

- To hold responsibility for own caseload and undertake the measurement and evaluation of own clinical work and practice and that of the acute SLT team, through the use of evidence-based projects, practice development work, audit and outcome measures, working within clearly defined operational policies and procedures.

About us

We reserve the right to close positions early

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing Trust, currently rated Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and achieving significant progress in the delivery of our strategic objectives, including our ambition to be the best Place to Work

We scored best in the country in the most recent NHS Staff Survey for teamwork, compassionate leadership, and supporting work/life balance. In 2024's survey, the Trust also scored above average in every theme of the NHS People Promise the promise NHS colleagues make to each other to improve the experience of working in the NHS for everyone

We are proud of the commitment of our colleagues to ensuring a strong and sustainable future and our organisation is highly valued by our local communities

There has never been a better time to join Barnsley Hospital. It is moving at pace and a we can do this attitude is evident right through the organisation

Barnsley Hospital NHS FT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and fair treatment to all applicants

For individuals who may require sponsorship under the skilled worker or health & care visa route please use the link on the right hand side of the advert to check your eligibility, please note that band 2 and 3 entry roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship

The cost of the DBS (criminal records check) for Band 6 and above roles will only be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction

Details

Date posted

22 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9163-3316E-12-25

Job locations

Pogmoor Road

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S75 2EP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Supporting Documents

Please refer to the values-based recruitment guidance and associated documentation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Supporting Documents

Please refer to the values-based recruitment guidance and associated documentation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Therapy, or equivalent.
  • RCSLT Certificate to Practice as a Speech and Language Therapist
  • Current registration with the Health Professions Council
  • Post Graduate Certificate, accreditation or equivalent in adult dysphagia in Dysphagia

Desirable

  • Advanced Post Graduate Certificate in Adult Dysphagia

Knowledge and Awareness

Essential

  • Highly developed Substantial specialist experience of a range of clinical protocols in adult dysphagia
  • Proven clinical competence in the assessment, diagnosis and management of adults with dysphagia and communication difficulties
  • Experience coordinating the work of others
  • Experience of line management/supervision or a keen interest in developing these skills
  • Substantial experience in developing, writing, delivering and evaluating training to others including groups
  • Substantial Knowledge of contemporary issues in the Health, Education and Social Care Community relevant to the client group.
  • To demonstrate substantial and comprehensive skills in the field of adult dysphagia, including the provision of specialist programmes of intervention
  • Substantial knowledge of the functions of related professions with this client group.

Desirable

  • Specialist experience of a range of clinical protocols in paediatric dysphagia including neonates, infants and children

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Significant relevant clinical skills gained during a postgraduate period.
  • Skills to promote the service to the public and other health, education and social service professionals.
  • Understand the need for confidentiality.
  • Awareness of health and safety requirements.

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Written and verbal communication skills which allow professional information to be conveyed in an accurate and organised manner, taking account of the communication setting.
  • Effective communicator in a variety of settings with a variety of different people including ability to work effectively as part of a team
  • Ability to use initiative
  • Proven organisational and time management skills

Desirable

  • Flexible attitude to working hours.

Experience

Essential

  • Proven relevant continuous professional development in working with adults with communication and swallowing disorders dysphagia

Desirable

  • Experience working with adults with communication and swallowing disorders in an acute hospital

Values based questions

Essential

  • In around 100 words please describe what Equality & Diversity means to you and why they are important.
  • In around 100 words please describe what motivates you to do a good job
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Therapy, or equivalent.
  • RCSLT Certificate to Practice as a Speech and Language Therapist
  • Current registration with the Health Professions Council
  • Post Graduate Certificate, accreditation or equivalent in adult dysphagia in Dysphagia

Desirable

  • Advanced Post Graduate Certificate in Adult Dysphagia

Knowledge and Awareness

Essential

  • Highly developed Substantial specialist experience of a range of clinical protocols in adult dysphagia
  • Proven clinical competence in the assessment, diagnosis and management of adults with dysphagia and communication difficulties
  • Experience coordinating the work of others
  • Experience of line management/supervision or a keen interest in developing these skills
  • Substantial experience in developing, writing, delivering and evaluating training to others including groups
  • Substantial Knowledge of contemporary issues in the Health, Education and Social Care Community relevant to the client group.
  • To demonstrate substantial and comprehensive skills in the field of adult dysphagia, including the provision of specialist programmes of intervention
  • Substantial knowledge of the functions of related professions with this client group.

Desirable

  • Specialist experience of a range of clinical protocols in paediatric dysphagia including neonates, infants and children

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Significant relevant clinical skills gained during a postgraduate period.
  • Skills to promote the service to the public and other health, education and social service professionals.
  • Understand the need for confidentiality.
  • Awareness of health and safety requirements.

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Written and verbal communication skills which allow professional information to be conveyed in an accurate and organised manner, taking account of the communication setting.
  • Effective communicator in a variety of settings with a variety of different people including ability to work effectively as part of a team
  • Ability to use initiative
  • Proven organisational and time management skills

Desirable

  • Flexible attitude to working hours.

Experience

Essential

  • Proven relevant continuous professional development in working with adults with communication and swallowing disorders dysphagia

Desirable

  • Experience working with adults with communication and swallowing disorders in an acute hospital

Values based questions

Essential

  • In around 100 words please describe what Equality & Diversity means to you and why they are important.
  • In around 100 words please describe what motivates you to do a good job

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 (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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 (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Pogmoor Road

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S75 2EP


Employer's website

https://www.barnsleyhospital.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Pogmoor Road

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S75 2EP


Employer's website

https://www.barnsleyhospital.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Lead SLT

Vanessa Turnbull

vanessa.turnbull@nhs.net

01226432377

Details

Date posted

22 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9163-3316E-12-25

Job locations

Pogmoor Road

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S75 2EP


Supporting documents

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