Job summary
We are looking for an experienced therapist to join our friendly Children's SLT leadership
team in County Durham. This is an exciting new role that offers the variety of
being a Locality Lead with the opportunity to lead on our pathway for children
with voice disorders. Support and training will be available for the successful
candidate, depending on experience. As a locality lead you will hold a varied
caseload, offer day to day support, supervision and line management to a
locality team. Alongside, you will have
time to manage a small caseload of children with disorders of voice and to
develop the pathway for the service.
In April 2025, Children's Speech and Language Therapy,
Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy came together to create a wider
children's therapies team within CDDFT. This is an exciting time to join our
team as we move towards an integrated therapies service for children within
County Durham.
Main duties of the job
Partnership working with both professionals and families.
The opportunity to work with children with a range of
different speech, language and communication needs.
Opportunity to develop skills working with children with
voice disorders and to support pathway development work within the service
Work within a designated locality, being part of a close
knit team.
Development of leadership and line management skills
Joining an established leadership team team within the
service and also within the wider childrens therapies.
Work within a range of community settings including clinics,
homes and education settings.
Provide supervision and support to assistant
practitioners, generalist therapists and students
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have been employed for a minimum of two years
of as a HCA Band 3 within the NHS for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Independently
manage and negotiate the management of complex cases with others e.g. onward
referral to highly specialist clinicians or other specialist support agencies
e.g. consultants, Educational Psychologists.
Day to day leadership within the childrens SALT service
Continually
evaluate the effectiveness of care protocols and packages of care, audit and
implement changes as appropriate in conjunction with lead clinician/line
manager
Evaluate
the effects of the communication difficulty on the psychological health of the
client.
Contribute
to the planning, implementation and evaluation of teaching and training in the
specialist area to parents, carers, volunteers and professionals involved in
the care of the client group with support from the lead clinician.
Undertaking
all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
Liaising
with parents/carers, multi-disciplinary/multi-agency teams, in the assessment,
reporting and treatment programming, ensuring a holistic approach.
Contributing
to and actively participating in, In-Service training, supervision, C.P.D. and
appraisal.
Maintaining
clinical and statistical records, including high quality written reports for a
variety of required purposes.
Work with
the operational lead to develop and coordinate service provision and policy
development for children with speech, language and communication difficulties
Provide
supervision to assistant Speech and Language Therapy staff, generalist
therapists and students
Job description
Job responsibilities
Independently
manage and negotiate the management of complex cases with others e.g. onward
referral to highly specialist clinicians or other specialist support agencies
e.g. consultants, Educational Psychologists.
Day to day leadership within the childrens SALT service
Continually
evaluate the effectiveness of care protocols and packages of care, audit and
implement changes as appropriate in conjunction with lead clinician/line
manager
Evaluate
the effects of the communication difficulty on the psychological health of the
client.
Contribute
to the planning, implementation and evaluation of teaching and training in the
specialist area to parents, carers, volunteers and professionals involved in
the care of the client group with support from the lead clinician.
Undertaking
all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
Liaising
with parents/carers, multi-disciplinary/multi-agency teams, in the assessment,
reporting and treatment programming, ensuring a holistic approach.
Contributing
to and actively participating in, In-Service training, supervision, C.P.D. and
appraisal.
Maintaining
clinical and statistical records, including high quality written reports for a
variety of required purposes.
Work with
the operational lead to develop and coordinate service provision and policy
development for children with speech, language and communication difficulties
Provide
supervision to assistant Speech and Language Therapy staff, generalist
therapists and students
Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential
- Driving posts musty have valid Full UK driving licence
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- High-level problem-solving skills
- Well developed leadership skills Planning, organisation and evaluation skills
- Flexibility in approach
- Ability to work under pressure
- Knowledge of NHS, National and Education policies
- Able to motivate others
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Computer literate
Desirable
- Knowledge of clinical guidelines relating to voice disorders
- Line management experience
Statutory Registration
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant Experience of working as a SLT, which must include working with children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties
- Working in partnership with children and parents
- Supporting less experienced staff
- Experience of working in a range of environments, including schools
Desirable
- Experience of working with children with voice disorders
- Experience of planning across a clinical or non clinical area of service
- Experience of planning and delivering teaching and training
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
- Certificate to practise as a Speech and Language Therapist
- Evidence of post graduate experience within the clinical area relevant to the post
Desirable
- Counselling qualification
- Evidence of leadership training
- Training in clinical supervision
Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential
- Driving posts musty have valid Full UK driving licence
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- High-level problem-solving skills
- Well developed leadership skills Planning, organisation and evaluation skills
- Flexibility in approach
- Ability to work under pressure
- Knowledge of NHS, National and Education policies
- Able to motivate others
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Computer literate
Desirable
- Knowledge of clinical guidelines relating to voice disorders
- Line management experience
Statutory Registration
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant Experience of working as a SLT, which must include working with children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties
- Working in partnership with children and parents
- Supporting less experienced staff
- Experience of working in a range of environments, including schools
Desirable
- Experience of working with children with voice disorders
- Experience of planning across a clinical or non clinical area of service
- Experience of planning and delivering teaching and training
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
- Certificate to practise as a Speech and Language Therapist
- Evidence of post graduate experience within the clinical area relevant to the post
Desirable
- Counselling qualification
- Evidence of leadership training
- Training in clinical supervision
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).
