Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Inpatient Therapy

Integrated Care System; Halifax; On-site; CAD 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist for inpatient therapy, focusing on respiratory and critical care. This permanent role involves managing a clinical caseload, advancing practices, and supervising other staff while contributing to service improvements. The ideal candidate will have specialized skills in communication disorders, hold relevant qualifications, and be capable of working autonomously in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Qualifications

• Registered with HPC and evidence of relevant postgraduate training.
• Experience in therapeutic techniques for adults with communication disorders.
• Ability to identify learning needs for continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage clinical workload and treat patients autonomously.
• Conduct assessments and implement individualized care interventions.
• Lead development of evidence-based protocols and clinical standards.

Skills

Assessment skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Education

Masters level or equivalent

Clinical Educator Training

Registered with HPC

Job description

Go back Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Inpatient Therapy

The closing date is 30 July 2025

We are seeking a clinical lead for the Speech & Language Therapy service across Inpatient wards with a focus on respiratory and critical care.

The role will involve advancing clinical practice in this area of work and taking a lead in evolving and embedding best practice within the adult speech and language therapy team.

Main duties of the job

• To manage the acute caseload, including your own clinical caseload and appropriately delegating work to others within the MDT to deliver the service required.

o To perform specialist assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex conditions.

o To implement, evaluate and modify highly complex, individualised care/ interventions.

o To be involved in best interest and mental capacity assessments as required.

o To lead development and implement evidence based protocols and standards of care.

o To provide support and supervision to others (both for inpatient and community colleagues where required), and supervision of student(s) on clinical placement.

o To be involved in MDT events, including workforce development and training, meetings and conferences

Contribute to the VFS rota and be given opportunities to develop skills in this area, as well as contributing to the development of a FEES service

About us

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) is a dynamic and successful organisation with a strong organisational and personal development focus.

CHFT prides itself on its strong vision and values.

Our vision: "Together we will deliver outstanding compassionate care to the communities we serve"

We do this by demonstrating our values and behaviours, alongside One Culture of Care - caring for each other the same way we care for our patients.

Our values:

• We put people first
• We work together to get results
• We do the must-dos

Our behaviours:

• I'll step in others' shoes, and I'll be kind and welcoming to all
• I'm committed to improving services and I'll go see examples of good practice
• I'm respectful of others. I support diversity and inclusion
• I will role model the must-dos to keep everyone safe and well

CHFT employs over 6,000 colleagues who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH) and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI) as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients' homes.

In December 2018 the Department of Health and Social Care awarded CHFT £196.5m to invest in local health services. This investment will be used to build new buildings on both sites including a brand new A&E and Paediatric A&E building, a new Enhanced ICU and an upgrade to theatres wards. A new staff and patient car park will also be built.

Job responsibilities

Work within the Inpatient therapy service leading, co-ordinating and developing effective clinical interventions within the speciality of Respiratory and critical care, in order to advance clinical practice in the team in line with current evidence base.

Manage autonomously a clinical workload of patients / clients at a highly specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinical records.

Have highly specialist assessment and treatment skills in the areas listed but not limited to:

o Instrumental assessment

o Assessment for suitability for augmentative communication

Apply evidence based knowledge within the highly specialist clinical area acquired through in depth experience and academic study to a highly specialist post graduate level.

Have the ability to work flexibly and contribute to changing working patterns including bank holidays and 7 day working as required.We currently provide a Mon-Fri service.

A full overview of the job descriptions and main responsibilities can be found in the Job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered with HPC
• Evidence of relevant post graduate training
• Clinical Educator Training
• Member of Professional Body
• Study to Masters level or equivalent

Experience

• Highly specialist experience of assessment and therapeutic techniques for adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders
• Experience in assessment, treatment and evaluation therapy in communication and swallowing disorders in acute stroke patients
• Experience in contributing to service improvements
• Experience in case management of clients with complex needs
• Experience in planning, allocating and delegating tasks
• Experience in objective swallowing assessment (videofluoroscopy and or FEES)
• Experience in management of patients with tracheostomy
• Previous experience working at Band 7 level

Training

• Ability to identify own learning needs and engage in self-directed learning for CPD
• Evidence of experiential learning
• Attendance of relevant SIGs

Special Knowledge/ Expertise

• Highly expert in developing and delivering training on communication and swallowing disorders within and outside of the profession, i.e. dysphagia awareness training, dysphagia screen training, teaching relevant part of university accredited courses
• Ability to manage customer expectation e.g. dealing with complaints
• Demonstrates Reflective Practice
• Knowledge of relevant Legislation, NSF'S/ Local and National initiatives
• Critical Appraisal Skills

Practical/Intellectual Skills/Personal Qualities

• Demonstrates positive attitudes and behaviours
• Ability to organise self and others e.g. rotas, events
• Proven ability to work well in a team
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with people with complex difficulties
• Ability to make decisions and problem solve when dealing with complex situations
• Ability to work in a stressful environment and concentrate in conditions requiring emotional demands
• Ability to recognise own limitations and have a willingness to share and learn skills from others
• Ability to prioritise own and others caseloads

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.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

£47,810 to £54,710 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Reference number

372-COM2525-A

Job locations