Senior Speech & Language Therapist - Stroke services & neuro-oncology

NHS; Middlesbrough; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Middlesbrough is seeking a Senior Speech & Language Therapist to enhance stroke and neuro-oncology services. The ideal candidate will have post-graduate experience with communication disorders and NHS background. This role offers opportunities for training and mentorship, as well as involvement in service improvement projects.

Benefits

Leadership and improvement training

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Significant experience working with adults with communication and swallowing disorders.
• Experience in NHS environments and videofluoroscopic evaluation.
• Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to high-quality service in stroke and neuro-oncology.
• Participate in a rota for acute stroke unit service.
• Mentor and support junior staff and students.

Skills

Communication and swallowing disorders

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Leadership and mentorship

Dysphagia management

Education

Degree in Speech & Language Therapy

Registration with Health & Care Professions Council

Tools

SystmOne

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Go back South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Speech & Language Therapist - Stroke services & Neuro-oncology

The closing date is 28 September 2025

BAND6 SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST Stroke services and neuro-oncology

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.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to develop skills within the neuro-oncology service, walking alongside our speech and language specialist.

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, with the opportunity, through a rotational programme, to work across the stroke pathway from 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 broaden your skills and clinical experience in neurological services, working alongside the specialist speech therapist for the neuro-oncology service.

Regular support will be provided both from your line manager and through group clinical supervision. You will be encouraged to take an active role in service improvement, clinical governance and continuing professional development of self and others in leadership and mentorship.

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.

Successful candidate must have access to a vehicle for work purposes to meet the requirements of the role.

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 or neurological disorders
• Experience of working within an NHS environment
• 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

• Basic IT skills and competence (ability to use Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, e-mail and internet)
• Completed post-graduate dysphagia training and competencies
• Experience of using healthcare digital systems and electronic patient records (e.g. SystmOne)

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