SLT Operational Lead

UHS; Southampton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is offering a fantastic maternity cover opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to lead the acute SLT service at Southampton General Hospital.

The post holder will provide clinical and operational leadership for both adult and paediatric SLT services, manage staff allocation, recruitment and development, and drive service improvements while supporting a dynamic MDT in a large teaching trust.

Qualifications

• Qualified speech and language therapist registered with HCPC.
• Evidence of management/leadership experience at senior level.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and change-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the SLT service on a day-to-day basis within a supportive leadership team.
• Allocate staff, manage staff absence and supervise recruitment, training and appraisal.
• Develop service delivery, skill mix and service improvement activities.
• Provide supervision for specialist SLTs and liaise with clinical services to shape the service.
• Potentially manage a designated caseload at a specialist level.

Skills

HCPC registered

Leadership experience

Advanced clinical skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Closing: 16/11/2026

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us

Job Title: SLT Operational Lead

Contract Type: Fixed term 12 months - Covering Maternity Leave until March 2028

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a forward-thinking and inspirational Speech and Language Therapist with significant clinical and leadership experience to provide maternity leave cover for the leadership of our acute adult and paediatric SLT service based at Southampton General Hospital.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Responsibilities:

You will work within a supportive leadership team, liaising closely with other managers within the department and providing cover for other members of the team when required. You will provide clinical as well as operational leadership to the SLT teams, managing the SLT service on a day-to-day basis, including allocation of staff, managing absence, service delivery and development, skill mix, recruitment, training/development and appraisal/supervision. You will provide supervision for specialist speech and language therapists and liaise with clinical services to develop the service. You may have the opportunity to manage a designated caseload at a specialist level.

What experience/skills are needed:

The post holder will be a qualified speech and language therapist, currently registered with the HCPC, with existing management and leadership experience, holding personal responsibility for defined programmes of work at a senior level as well as advanced clinical skills. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and must be able to communicate and negotiate in order to effect change and to evidence an ability to support, motivate and bring staff with you throughout the process.

Flexibility and the ability to prioritise and manage a busy and varied workload are essential. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to work within an MDT as a specialist speech and language therapist and have the confidence to present and discuss your professional opinion with colleagues. This post requires a dynamic, assertive person, able to demonstrate breadth of knowledge and good rapport building skills who is an excellent collaborator.

We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds and are willing to consider flexible working arrangements.