Highly Specialised Speech and Language Therapist

NHS Jobs; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust seeks a Highly Specialised Speech and Language Therapist to lead adult SLT services in acute inpatient pathways. You will provide operational and clinical leadership, supervise a skilled SLT team and drive quality improvement initiatives across sites.

The role requires extensive experience in dysphagia and complex communication assessment, plus a passion for service development, teaching and multidisciplinary collaboration within LTHT.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading SLT services for adults in acute settings.
• Advanced dysphagia and complex communication assessment/management.
• Passion for leadership, service improvement and developing others.

Responsibilities

• Lead SLT services across acute inpatient pathways.
• Provide operational leadership, mentorship and clinical supervision within the SLT team.
• Drive quality improvement, governance, audits and CPD within LTHT.

Skills

Leadership

Dysphagia expertise

Complex communication assessment

AAC

Clinical supervision

Audit/Quality improvement

Research engagement

Tools

FEES

Videofluoroscopy

Job description

Highly Specialised Speech and Language Therapist

Are you an experienced Adult Speech and Language Therapist ready to take the next step in your clinical leadership journey?This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape SLT provision for adults within acute inpatient services at one of the largest and most dynamic NHS Trusts in the UK. You will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care to patients with complex communication and swallowing needs in fast-paced hospital environments.

Main duties of the job

This is more than a Band 7 post its an opportunity to:

• Lead and develop SLT services across acute inpatient pathways
• Influence multidisciplinary practice and service development
• Provide operational leadership, mentorship and clinical supervision within a skilled and motivated SLT team
• Drive innovation and quality improvement in a service that values new ideas

You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking team who are passionate about high standards of care, professional development and collaborative working. We actively encourage service development projects, audit, research engagement and CPD and we will support you to pursue specialist interests aligned with service need.

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time.Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care.We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page.Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Job responsibilities

Interview Date: 15/10/2026

About You

Job description

We’re looking for a confident and enthusiastic SLT with:

• Significant experience working with adults in acute hospital settings
• Advanced skills in dysphagia and complex communication assessment and management
• A passion for leadership, service improvement and developing others
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic clinical environment

Why you should join our Team

The post holder will join a highly supportive and innovative Speech and Language Therapy Service comprising 34wte SLTs serving ENT/Maxillofacial/Head and Neck, Neurosciences, Acute Medicine including complex airways and Outpatients. The Department offers comprehensive supervision in conjunction with a well-established Continuing Professional Development program and access to regular staff meetings.

You will be working with one of the most forward-thinking, pioneering and well-respected Trusts in the UK. With St James's University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary being two of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe, our reputation for excellence has seen us train thousands of medical specialists who now practice all over the world.

When you’re working with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, you’ll enjoy a strong performance management culture where everyone is clear about their responsibilities, works to the values of the organisation and is empowered to embrace continuous personal and professional improvement. We’ve created a culture where people take a real pride in their work, respect each other and all work together to deliver the most exceptional standards of patient care. We have a happy, productive work environment where everyone in every role plays their own important part in our success.

What you will bring to the role

You will have significant experience in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of communication and dysphagia in the adult inpatient setting and as part of a multidisciplinary team. You will be able to demonstrate highly developed skills in the assessment, treatment and management of complex communication and swallowing breakdown. Advanced developed skills in both high and low tech AAC would be desirable.

Established leadership skills are essential for this role, joining our dynamic team of Band 7 leaders across our adult SLT service. You will be expected to operationally and clinically lead the acute inpatient team working cross sites (Leeds General Infirmary and St. James University Hospital). You will work alongside B7 peers and support the clinical development of the team.

There is an established instrumental service within LTHT with weekly clinics for both Videofluoroscopy and FEES (fibre optic evaluation of swallowing) assessments. We have recently purchased new FEES equipment which shows our investment in providing a quality service for our patients.

Governance is a key component of this role with the post holder expected to undertake regular audit, collate clinical outcomes, and participate in quality forums within your assigned clinical support units and Speech & Language Therapy with a view to continually improving quality, safety and productivity. It is desirable to have previous experience in completion of quality improvement projects.

Patient safety is a key focus area within the NHS, LTHT and our department. We are keen to continue to support and work collaboratively with staff in LTHT to minimise patient swallow related safety incidents, and drive improvements in safety and quality.

Teaching will be a significant part of your role, both SLT and MDT teaching. You will have experience in providing teaching and supporting competency development with Speech & Language Therapy colleagues. You will have evidence of experience in mentoring and clinical supervision.

Planned Interview date: Thursday 15th October.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Our Trust values

The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.

We are….

Responsible Open and Honest One Team Kind

Our Trust priorities

Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time

Our priorities: People Improvement and Innovation Partnerships Outcomes

Sponsorship Eligibility

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

Person Specification

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.