Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS trust in North East England seeks a dedicated Adult Speech and Language Therapist to join their multi-disciplinary team. The successful candidate will manage a diverse caseload focusing on adults with communication and swallowing disorders. Responsibilities include clinical assessments, supervision, and liaison with a broad range of healthcare professionals. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to quality patient care and staff development.

Qualifications

• Experience working with adults in a clinical setting.
• Valid driving license and ability to travel as required.
• Skills in assessment and management of complex cases.

Responsibilities

• Oversee patient waiting lists for timely SLT service access.
• Lead on caseload management and allocation of cases.
• Provide clinical assessment and interventions for a varied caseload.
• Collaborate with teams to deliver patient-centred care.
• Supervise and mentor junior colleagues and students.

Skills

Multidisciplinary team collaboration

Communication skills

Assessment and management of aphasia

Swallowing disorders treatment

Education

Relevant degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

A Vacancy at Northumbria Healthcare - NHCT Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.


We are looking for an enthusiastic and collaborative multi-disciplinary team player with excellent communication skills to join our Adult SLT service in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will have experience of working with adults and have skills in the assessment and management of aphasia, apraxia and dysarthria and swallowing disorders.

Our SLT team delivers high quality services to adults with acquired communication and swallowing problems across Northumberland and North Tyneside. We have well established videofluoroscopy and FEES, VLE and cough clinics in a number of settings. We pride ourselves in providing a joined-up service for patients which involves team-working at all levels of service delivery.

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.

This post will include Locality Co-ordinator responsibilities for the West North Tyneside locality involving:
• overseeing and managing the patient waiting list to ensure timely and equitable access to SLT services
• lead on caseload management, ensuring effective allocation of cases and prioritisation according to clinical need
• provide advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis and interventions for a varied caseload, including complex cases
• work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, patients and families to delivery high-quality patient-centred care
• offer clinical supervision and mentorship to junior colleagues and students

The successful candidate will be part of a Adult Community SLT leadership team and will be supported to develop high level clinical competencies in the areas of dysphagia and communication assessment and management. The postholder will have access to videofluoroscopy clinic and a developing community FEES clinic with the support of senior colleagues. Structured support and supervision is provided.

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! Please read ‘applicant guidance notes’ before submitting your application.

The main responsibilities of the post include:
• Independently assess, diagnose and treat own highly specialised caseload of patients and maintain associated records.
• Participate in research in own specialist area.
• Take a leadership role in stroke offering advice, support and supervision to the SLT team, integrating goals for the team into the wider service area objectives.
• To improve and maximise the communication and/or feeding skills of patients through liaison and joint working with staff.
• Supervise the work of junior staff/assistants/volunteers and others working with the postholder.
• Contribute to the induction, mentoring and support of other more junior staff and may be required to 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 postholder has a valid driving licence and can meet the travel requirements of the post.


This advert closes on Wednesday 23 Jul 2025