Senior Speech and Language Therapist - Stroke services and ESD

NHS; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Tees Valley seeks a Senior Speech and Language Therapist for stroke services. This role is ideal for those ready to develop their skills in a dynamic team environment. Responsibilities include providing a high-quality service, supporting stroke units, and mentoring junior staff. Commitment to quality improvement and ongoing training programs are key aspects of this position.

Benefits

Leadership and improvement training

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Significant post-graduate experience with adults with communication and swallowing disorders.
• Experience working in an NHS environment and within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Skills in videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the delivery of a high-quality service within the specialist area of stroke.
• Participate in a rota to deliver a 6-day service to the acute stroke unit.
• Mentor Band 5 staff and support rehabilitation support workers.

Skills

Highly developed communication and listening skills

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Completed post-graduate dysphagia training

Basic IT skills

Education

Degree and licence to practice as a Speech & Language Therapist

Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council

Registered member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Tools

Healthcare digital systems

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Senior Speech and Language Therapist - Stroke services and ESD

The closing date is 19 October 2025

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated speech and language therapist to join our team based in the South Tees locality, working across the stroke pathway. This post is ideal for someone already working as a Band 6 therapist to develop their skills and experience across stroke services or for a Band 5 with recent clinical experience, ready to take the next steps in their career journey. This is an exciting time to join as we work together with MDT colleagues across University Hospital Tees to develop the vision for future stroke service delivery.

You will be a team player, able to demonstrate commitment to learning and confident of working in a busy multidisciplinary team.

Depending on previous experience, you will be supported with training and competency development in dysphagia management including developing competencies within videofluoroscopy.

We are committed to quality improvement, and you will be encouraged to join our team project development working groups.

You will be supported by our friendly, experienced team of therapists, support workers and admin support.

Main duties of the job

Your main role will be to contribute to the delivery of a high-quality service within the specialist area of stroke. You will work predominantly within the ESD Stroke pathway, with 'in-reach' to the community stroke rehab inpatient unit.

There may be opportunity, through a rotational programme, to work across other areas within the stroke pathway, if desirable.

Our speech therapy stroke services team covers the hyper-acute stage at The James Cook University Hospital, through to in-patient rehabilitation at the Redcar Primary Care Hospital and into the ESD team or in outpatient clinics.

As part of this role, you will also participate in a rota to deliver a 6-day service to the acute stroke unit.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to further develop your dysphagia skills and clinical experience across a range of inpatient acute wards.

With time you will also be able to broaden your skills and experience within aspects of neurology to enable delivery of an integrated service across the neurology and acute stroke unit (NASU).

You will support and mentor speech therapy and rehabilitation support workers and students and, as you progress into your Band 6 role, will provide support and mentorship to our Band 5 staff. You will have the opportunity to be involved with attracting future candidates into the profession through participation in careers events and workshops and works experience placements.

About us

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions:

• Your Leadership Impact
• Leading your Team to Success
• Leading Into the Future
• Service Improvement for Beginners
• Developing your Service Improvement Skills
• Lean Practitioner

The leadership and improvement programme aims to:

• Explore leadership within the NHS
• Promote Trust values and behaviour
• Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
• Equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.

After you complete these six and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house and externally provided courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant post-graduate experience of working with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders including after stroke and with other medical disorders
• Experience of working within an NHS environment
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of carrying out videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing

Qualifications and Training

• Degree and licence to practice as a Speech & Language Therapist as approved by the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
• Registration as a qualified Speech & Language Therapist with the Health & Care Professions Council.
• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Knowledge and skills

• Highly developed communication and listening skills
• Completed post-graduate dysphagia training and competencies
• Basic IT skills and competence (ability to use Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, e-mail and internet)
• Experience of using healthcare digital systems and electronic patient records (e.g. systmone)
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to make judgements about managing complex clients.

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 Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust