Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 23 July 2025

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and collaborative multi-disciplinary team player with excellent communication skills to join our Adult SLT service in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will have experience of working with adults and have skills in the assessment and management of aphasia, apraxia and dysarthria and swallowing disorders.

Our SLT team delivers high quality services to adults with acquired communication and swallowing problems across Northumberland and North Tyneside. We have well established videofluoroscopy and FEES, VLE and cough clinics in a number of settings. We pride ourselves in providing a joined-up service for patients which involves team-working at all levels of service delivery.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

This post will include Locality Co-ordinator responsibilities for the West North Tyneside locality involving:

  • overseeing and managing the patient waiting list to ensure timely and equitable access to SLT services
  • lead on caseload management, ensuring effective allocation of cases and prioritisation according to clinical need
  • provide advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis and interventions for a varied caseload, including complex cases
  • work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, patients and families to delivery high-quality patient-centred care
  • offer clinical supervision and mentorship to junior colleagues and students

The successful candidate will be part of a Adult Community SLT leadership team and will be supported to develop high level clinical competencies in the areas of dysphagia and communication assessment and management. The postholder will have access to videofluoroscopy clinic and a developing community FEES clinic with the support of senior colleagues. Structured support and supervision is provided.

About us

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality - opening a state of the art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. Do you want to work in one of the best performing NHS organisations in England? Work in an organisation that supports its staff and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients? You can live and breathe in an area that has the cleanest air, cost effective living, great nightlife, some of the best schools with a wealth of history available on your doorstep. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn't, this is what you get when you work for Northumbria Healthcare, this is the Northumbria Way! Please read 'applicant guidance notes' before submitting your application.

Details

Date posted

09 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-7321645IO

Job locations

Oxford Centre

West Farm Avenue

Longbenton

NE12 8LT


Job description

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the post include:

  • Independently assess, diagnose and treat own highly specialised caseload of patients and maintain associated records.
  • Participate in research in own specialist area.
  • Take a leadership role in stroke offering advice, support and supervision to the SLT team, integrating goals for the team into the wider service area objectives.
  • To improve and maximise the communication and/or feeding skills of patients through liaison and joint working with staff.
  • Supervise the work of junior staff/assistants/volunteers and others working with the postholder.
  • Contribute to the induction, mentoring and support of other more junior staff and may be required to facilitate clinical case discussions as part of peer review.
  • Take full SLT student placements, contributing to their assessment and examination.

Due to the nature of this role it is essential that the postholder has a valid driving licence and can meet the travel requirements of the post.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the post include:

  • Independently assess, diagnose and treat own highly specialised caseload of patients and maintain associated records.
  • Participate in research in own specialist area.
  • Take a leadership role in stroke offering advice, support and supervision to the SLT team, integrating goals for the team into the wider service area objectives.
  • To improve and maximise the communication and/or feeding skills of patients through liaison and joint working with staff.
  • Supervise the work of junior staff/assistants/volunteers and others working with the postholder.
  • Contribute to the induction, mentoring and support of other more junior staff and may be required to facilitate clinical case discussions as part of peer review.
  • Take full SLT student placements, contributing to their assessment and examination.

Due to the nature of this role it is essential that the postholder has a valid driving licence and can meet the travel requirements of the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
  • Health Professions Council - License to Practice
  • Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree or equivalent
  • Significant relevant experience at Postgraduate level
  • Highly developed auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • Relevant specialist experience within specified clinical area
  • Experience of developing and delivering training packages
  • Experience of supervising, mentoring and supporting less experienced SLTs, students and assistants.
  • Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
  • In depth knowledge of national policies and procedures and best practice (relevant to the specialist client group)
  • Specialist knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
  • In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit

Other Requirements

Essential

  • It is an essential requirement of the role that the post holder has a valid driving licence and is either a car owner and able to use the car for work purposes, or has a Trust personal lease vehicle which may be used for the role. However, the Trust would consider making reasonable adjustments to the role, if necessary, to enable a disabled person to undertake the role.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
  • Health Professions Council - License to Practice
  • Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree or equivalent
  • Significant relevant experience at Postgraduate level
  • Highly developed auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • Relevant specialist experience within specified clinical area
  • Experience of developing and delivering training packages
  • Experience of supervising, mentoring and supporting less experienced SLTs, students and assistants.
  • Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
  • In depth knowledge of national policies and procedures and best practice (relevant to the specialist client group)
  • Specialist knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
  • In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit

Other Requirements

Essential

  • It is an essential requirement of the role that the post holder has a valid driving licence and is either a car owner and able to use the car for work purposes, or has a Trust personal lease vehicle which may be used for the role. However, the Trust would consider making reasonable adjustments to the role, if necessary, to enable a disabled person to undertake the role.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Oxford Centre

West Farm Avenue

Longbenton

NE12 8LT


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Oxford Centre

West Farm Avenue

Longbenton

NE12 8LT


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead, Adult SLT Service

Louise Kellett

Louise.Kellett@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

09 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-7321645IO

Job locations

Oxford Centre

West Farm Avenue

Longbenton

NE12 8LT


Supporting documents

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