Highly Specialist Speech And Language Therapist

Northumbria Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the Adult SLT Voice and Respiratory Service in North Shields. The role focuses on assessment and management of complex voice and upper airway disorders, with MDT collaboration and opportunities for service development.

Based at North Tyneside General Hospital with outreach clinics, the post requires UK registration and driving licence; salary ranges from £49,387 to £56,515 per year,

Qualifications

• Recognised SLT degree or equivalent and HCPC license.
• Registered with RCOT/RSLS and current UK registration.
• Evidence of specialist short courses up to Master's level.
• Relevant specialist experience in voice and airway disorders.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess and treat highly specialised caseload.
• Lead voice and upper airway clinics and MDT collaborations.
• Triages referrals and manages waiting lists efficiently.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement.
• Supervise junior staff and students; provide induction/mentoring.
• Lead training and supervise SLTs, students and assistants.

Skills

Voice disorders

Supervision & mentoring

Clinical assessment

CPD & research

Education

SLT degree or equivalent

HPC - License to Practice

RCSLT registration

Specialist courses to Master's

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Voice and Respiratory Service at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. We are looking for a motivated SLT to join our experienced team, supporting people with complex voice and upper airway disorders. The successful candidate will have experience in the assessment and management of dysphonia, chronic cough and inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO). Experience in dysphagia is welcomed. Laryngoscopy expertise is desirable, but internal training is available. Our SLT's work closely with the respiratory multidisciplinary team, including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and lung physiologists. Our SLT's attend specialist clinics including Complex Breathlessness, Joint Cough and Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstructions clinics, with collaboration with regional Ear, Nose and Throat services. Our service is recognised as a leading UK service, with team members contributing to national clinical guidelines, research and teaching. We value ongoing learning through structured CPD, peer supervision and case discussion.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

This post is based at North Tyneside General Hospital, with outreach clinics in Hexham and/or Blyth. Locations and frequency can be negotiated. The role involves triaging voice referrals, waiting list management and advanced assessment and management of complex voice and upper airway disorders, both independently and within multidisciplinary clinics. Advanced competencies in psychotherapeutic approaches and laryngoscopy are desirable. There will be opportunities to lead and contribute to service development, innovation and quality improvement, and to supervise colleagues and students. This is an excellent opportunity to develop specialist expertise within a supportive, forward-thinking team while contributing to a nationally recognised service.

About us

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality - opening a state of the art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. Do you want to work in one of the best performing NHS organisations in England? Work in an organisation that supports its staff and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients? You can live and breathe in an area that has the cleanest air, cost effective living, great nightlife, some of the best schools with a wealth of history available on your doorstep. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn't, this is what you get when you work for Northumbria Healthcare, this is the Northumbria Way!

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the post include:

• Independently assess, diagnose and treat own highly specialised caseload of patients / clients and maintain associated records.
• Participate in research in your specialist area.
• Take a leadership role in voice and upper airways, offering advice to other SLT's / staff on SLT issues.
• Provide specialist voice and respiratory support and supervision to the SLT team, integrating goals for the team into wider service objectives.
• Support pathway development and multidisciplinary relationships internally, externally and across agencies to enable creation and maintenance of local flexible service provision.
• Supervise assistants/volunteers/junior staff and others working with the post holder.
• Contribute to induction, mentoring and support of junior staff and facilitate clinical case discussions as part of peer review.
• Take full SLT student placements, contributing to their assessment and examination.

Due to the nature of this role, it is essential that the post holder has a valid driving licence and can meet the travel requirements of the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications / Professional Registration

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
• Health Professions Council - License to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree or equivalent

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Relevant specialist experience within specified clinical area
• Experience of developing and delivering training packages
• Experience of supervising, mentoring and supporting less experienced SLTs, students and assistants

Other requirements

Essential

• It is an essential requirement of the role that the post holder has a valid driving licence and is either a car owner and able to use the car for work purposes, or has a Trust personal lease vehicle which may be used for the role. However, the Trust would consider making reasonable adjustments to the role, if necessary, to enable a disabled person to undertake the role

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address North Tyneside General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH, United Kingdom

Employer's website https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Lead SLT (Adult SLT service), Louise Kellett, [e-mail], 01670396434

Details

Date posted 11 September 2026

Pay scheme Agenda for change

Band Band 7

Salary £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum

Contract Permanent

Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number 319-8250632LH

Job locations North Tyneside General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH, United Kingdom

Supporting documents

Privacy notice Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

© Crown copyright

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist North Shields, United Kingdom