Senior Speech and Language Therapist

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a Senior Speech and Language Therapist to join their team in Barnsley. This role involves providing clinical expertise for communication and swallowing disorders, maintaining high clinical standards, and mentoring staff. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree, experience in adult therapy, and be able to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team. Benefits include flexible working arrangements and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience working as a speech and language therapist with adults and dysphagia.
• Ability to develop and deliver training packages.
• Demonstrated coordination abilities in a team setting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and provision of the Speech and Language Therapy Service.
• Maintain high standards of clinical work and accurate records.
• Provide clinical expertise and assessment for clients.

Skills

Clinical expertise in speech and language therapy

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Mentoring and supervision skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Therapy

RCSLT Certificate to Practice

Current registration with the Health Professions Council

Job description

Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Closing date: 28 January 2026

Hi, I’m Jackie, Manager and Clinical Lead of the Adult Community Speech & Language Therapy service in Barnsley and I’m pleased that you are looking at this opportunity to work within our team.

We are a small team that encourages collaboration, innovation and positive engagement.

We work with a range of communication and swallowing disorders with specialist support from colleagues readily available. Your new ideas will be welcomed in our service.

We have an exceptional administration team and supportive leadership.

There is embedded clinical, professional and management supervision with excellent opportunities for CPD and cross‑service development.

We also offer a flexible and hybrid way of working.

You will be based in a friendly and dynamic multi‑disciplinary Allied Health Professionals Hub.

Barnsley has a thriving town centre, beautiful countryside and excellent transport networks in easy reach of other towns and cities including Sheffield, Leeds, Wakefield and Huddersfield.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact me by email [e-mail]

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Main duties of the job

In your role you will:

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to develop the Speech and Language Therapy Service.
• Maintain a high standard of clinical work and accurate records.
• Provide reports and statistical information to facilitate future business planning of the service.
• Be part of reviews and case conferences for clients.
• Offer clinical advice, assessment, diagnosis and treatments for adults who access the service.
• Provide clinical expertise to carers, non‑clinical staff and external professionals and work as a wider MDT.
• Work within Trust policies and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy Guidelines.
• Develop, write, deliver and evaluate specialized training packages with access to specialist support as required to carers, other professional groups and speech and language therapists.
• Provide mentoring, clinical supervision, peer support and joint visits in the team.
• Support and assist in the training and supervision of SALT assistants, students from other professions and be involved in the provision of full student placements in accordance with Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy guidelines.
• Assist with the collection of data and feedback as part of quality assurance and improvement for the service.
• Support the planning and implementation of the operational requirements for the service.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

• To participate in the organisation, coordination, development and provision of the Speech and Language Therapy Service to ensure the provision of an efficient, high‑quality service.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the post-holder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

• Provide clinical expertise and advice on assessment, diagnosis and management of children with developmental language disorder.
• Provide clinical expertise to the multi‑disciplinary team to inform their decision making and support carers, non‑clinical staff or members of other professions, maintaining professional relationships and working as part of the wider team.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of the day‑to‑day operation of the Speech and Language Therapy Service to this client group.
• Prepare, implement and evaluate therapy programmes and advice for clients to ensure the delivery of designated standards of care consistent with departmental policies and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy Guidelines.
• Develop, write, deliver and evaluate specialised training packages with access to specialist support as required to parents, carers, other professional groups and speech and language therapists. This also includes supporting generalists in developing training packages.
• Provide mentoring, clinical supervision, peer support and joint visits for advice to Speech and Language Therapists, generalists and assistants relevant to this clinical area.
• Assist in the training and supervision of Speech and Language Therapy assistants, students from other professions and be involved in the provision of full student placements in accordance with Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy guidelines.
• Participate in the development of innovations in the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service and related service delivery issues, risk management, quality standard setting and clinical effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate and concise clinical records, providing appropriate reports, attending case conferences and reviews, and providing statistical information to facilitate future business planning in line with Trust guidelines.
• Reflect on practice, both individually and with peers to identify own strengths and needs, demonstrate Continuing Professional Development and maintain a portfolio or equivalent in line with professional and Trust guidelines.
• Work within the confines of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Trust Values:

• Honest, open, transparent
• Respectful
• Person first and in the centre
• Improve and be outstanding
• Relevant today, ready for tomorrow
• Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

• Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults, service users, members of their families etc., in accordance with Trust Policy.
• Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

• All staff employed by the Trust must comply with policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to the Whistleblowing, Confidentiality, Data Protection, Health and Safety, Supervision, Appraisal, Equal Opportunities, Equality, Diversity, Care, Governance and environmental responsibilities.
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation while adhering to a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People Standards.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Training

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Demonstrable knowledge working as a speech and language therapist in contemporary issues in the Health and Social Care Community relevant to the client group.
• Demonstrable knowledge working as a speech and language therapist of the functions of related professions with this client group.
• Demonstrable ability and experience as a speech and language therapist in developing, writing, delivering and evaluating training packages.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience working as a Speech and language Therapist with adults who have communication difficulties and dysphagia (community).
• Proven clinical competence in assessment, diagnosis and management of communication difficulties and dysphagia in adults (community).
• Demonstrable experience working as a speech and language therapist in coordinating the work of others.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years.
• Use of an insured car for business use during work hours.
• Appointment subject to Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau.
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Pathology and Therapy, or equivalent.
• RCSLT Certificate to Practice as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Current registration with the Health Professions Council.

Personal Attributes

• Written and verbal communication skills which allow professional information to be conveyed in an accurate and organised manner, taking account of the communication setting.
• Effective communicator in a variety of settings with a variety of different people.
• Demonstrable ability to work autonomously and use initiative.
• Proven organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work within a team.

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust