Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to lead a small team within the Oxfordshire Community SALT service. This role involves managing clinical supervision, ensuring quality patient care, and developing services while providing specialist input for clients with communication or swallowing difficulties.

Benefits

Excellent opportunities for career progression

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days

Access to tailored learning and development

Competitive pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health First Aiders

Qualifications

• Experience in neurological rehabilitation desired.
• Evidence of training as clinical supervisor is essential.
• Registered membership with relevant professional organisations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage referrals and clinical caseloads effectively.
• Ensure high quality, patient-focused services.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to improve service delivery.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Interpersonal Skills

Management

Clinical Assessment

Education

Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification

HCPC Registration

Registered Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Leadership Qualification

Job description

Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop your leadership and management skills?

We’re seeking a skilled SALT to lead and manage a small team within the Oxfordshire Community SALT service. You’ll share responsibility for the daily management and clinical supervision of therapists across the county. Alongside leadership duties, you’ll carry a clinical caseload and oversee workload balance, ensuring staff are supported and targets are met.

Our clients typically present with acquired communication or swallowing difficulties and are seen at home, in care homes, or local clinics. You’ll provide highly specialist input and collaborate with acute and learning disability teams to ensure integrated, person-centred care. This role is embedded within a multi-disciplinary community and primary care team, requiring strong collaborative skills.

You should have a keen interest in service development and quality improvement. Working closely with the operational manager, AHP leads, and SALT leads, you'll help shape service direction and raise the profession’s profile. A valid driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

This is an excellent opportunity to grow your leadership within a supportive team culture that values CPD, supervision, and access to Trust-led leadership programmes.

Contact Louise Peart on 07920 244 928 to learn more or arrange a visit.

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible for the efficient management of referrals and monitoring of clinical caseloads in accordance with service objectives and targets and in conjunction with the clinical lead, AHP lead and operational manager.
• To ensure a responsive, high quality patient focused service is delivered initiating developments which demonstrate continuous improvement.
• Collaboration with clinical lead and operational manager to ensure efficient running of team and delegation of tasks to the appropriate person.
• To ensure the efficient and effective clinical management of the team, taking appropriate action to ensure the achievement of Key Performance Indicators.
• To support the recruitment of staff.

Working for our organisation

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:“Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are:“Caring, safe and excellent”

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We have a strong emphasis on team working and continuing professional development and we will welcome your involvement in projects, audit, staff training and contributions to service development including ongoing use of telehealth. You will be well supported and encouraged to fulfil your potential through regular supervision, attendance at relevant training courses and ongoing review of self-led yearly objectives. You will have opportunity to network with speech and language therapists across the whole stroke pathway of care in Oxfordshire.

You will have regular access to:

• Clinical supervision
• Line management
• Clinical excellence groups
• Departmental meetings
• Peer support
• Specialist clinics such as video-fluoroscopy and voice clinics

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• HCPC Registered
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
• Evidence of training as clinical supervisor

Desirable criteria

• Registered member of RCLST
• MSc or other recognised long post graduate course linked to specialism
• Leadership Qualification
• Evidence of successful completion of significant specialist post graduate training, equivalent to Master’s level
• Post-grad dysphagia training
• Level C dysphagia competencies

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience in neurological rehabilitation
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of stroke specialist experience
• Use of alternative and augmentative communication aids

Skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence of high level of specialist knowledge/assessment, management and intervention skills as a result of experience/ CPD
• Demonstrates excellent written presentation skills
• Demonstrates well established knowledge of specialist SLT assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
• Demonstrates well established knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to specialist client group.
• Demonstrates excellent Interpersonal Skills
• Evidence of MDT Working

Desirable criteria

• Experience of developing and delivering group therapy
• Experience of developing and delivering training to carers
• Experience of developing and delivering in-service training to MDT