Clinical Lead - Early Language Support for Every Child

NHS; Hartlepool; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits a passionate Speech and Language Therapist to lead the Early Language Support for Every Child programme in Hartlepool. This role involves providing specialist therapy services, operational management, and collaborating with a dedicated team to improve health outcomes for children. Join a supportive organization committed to delivering exceptional care and professional development. If you are enthusiastic about making a difference in the lives of children and young people, this position offers a rewarding career path with opportunities for growth and recognition.

Benefits

Health and Well-being Initiatives

Staff Benefits

Professional Development Opportunities

Staff Recognition Programs

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent qualification required.
• Masters degree or equivalent postgraduate knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational management of Speech and Language Therapy input.
• Deliver specialist therapy services to children with communication difficulties.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for effective service delivery.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Problem Solving Skills

Knowledge of NHS Policies

Knowledge of Clinical Guidelines

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Masters Degree or Equivalent

Job description

Job summary

Band 7: Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist: Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC)

Full time: Fixed Term until end of March 2026

*Post may close early if sufficient volume of applications is reached*

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and highly skilled Speech and Language Therapist, with significant experience.

Hartlepool are currently implementing a project called 'Early Language Support for Every Child' (ELSEC). The ELSEC programme aims to improve early identification and support for children with speech, language and communication needs.

The post holder will join the team delivering the ELSEC programme within Hartlepool, working alongside a Programme Lead Speech and Language Therapist, a Specialist Teacher and Speech and Language Support Workers.

Main duties of the job

As a Speech and Language Therapist working within the programme, you will be passionate about improving health outcomes for children and young people. Working alongside the other professionals in the team, you will be responsible for:

1. Providing day to day operational management of the Speech and Language Therapy input within the ELSEC programme in Hartlepool.
2. Providing a specialist speech and language therapy service to children and young people with a diverse range of communication difficulties.
3. Contributing to wider ELSEC pathfinder activities, e.g. ELSEC learning events.

About us

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.

We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool"

Date posted: 22 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year pro rata per annum

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 10 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 345-COM7101251

Job locations: University Hospital of Hartlepool, Holdforth Road, Hartlepool, TS24 9AH

Job description Job responsibilities

1. To work collaboratively with the Childrens Therapies Professional Lead, Service Leads, and ELSEC Leads to coordinate services across the ELSEC Programme.
2. To complete clinical assessments to identify appropriate client management, e.g. inclusion in the ELSEC programme or referral to the specialist service.
3. To develop and implement specialist care protocols and programmes of care and treatment, to meet the needs of clients in conjunction with their parents, carers, education staff and other members of the appropriate multi-disciplinary team (MDT). To ensure clients/families are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible.
4. To continually evaluate the effectiveness of care protocols and packages of care, audit and implement changes as appropriate in conjunction with other Leads / line manager.
5. To plan, implement and evaluate teaching and training to parents, carers, volunteers and professionals as appropriate.
6. To lead on the development and coordination of service provision within the locality, including pathway development with reference to evidence based practice.
7. To undertake and lead departmental projects or undertake additional duties relevant to the business of the ELSEC Programme.
8. To provide day to day management of the assistant practitioner team working within the ELSEC programme including work allocation, reviewing work performance.
9. To advise the ELSEC Lead on service delivery issues within the locality, including pressures and shortfalls.
10. To provide specialist education, training and supervision to speech and language therapy assistant practitioners and partners within the ELSEC programme.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• Degree or equivalent qualification in SLT.
• Masters degree or equivalent postgraduate knowledge.
• Registered member of the HCPC.

Experience Essential

• Significant experience working as a SLT.
• Minimum of 1 year experience of working in children's SLT services.
• Working in partnership with clients/carers and professionals.
• Working as part of a MDT.

Desirable

• Experience of planning and coordinating across a clinical or non clinical area of service.
• Experience of planning and delivering teaching and training.

Skills Essential

• Well developed leadership skills.
• Broad knowledge of NHS and Education policies.
• Knowledge of clinical guidelines relating to developmental communication difficulties.

Skills and Attributes Essential

• High level problem solving skills.
• Flexibility in approach.
• High level planning, organisation and evaluation skills.

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Address: University Hospital of Hartlepool, Holdforth Road, Hartlepool, TS24 9AH

Employer's website

https://www.nth.nhs.uk/