Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join their dedicated Children's Speech and Language Therapy team. This role focuses on providing high-quality therapy to children with severe communication difficulties, emphasizing teamwork, continual professional development, and innovative care approaches.

Benefits

Access to CPD and supervision

Flexible working policy

Access to fitness centre

Support for childcare arrangements

Qualifications

• Ability to assess, plan and provide intervention.
• Knowledge of therapeutic interventions for communication disorders.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in specialist areas.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist therapy to children with speech difficulties.
• Mentor less experienced therapists and students.
• Develop training programs for parents and professionals.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification

Job description

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 11 June 2025

Specialist Speechand Language Therapist: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHSFT

1x Band 6permanent 37.5 hours Post. Part-time considered. Childrens Speech andLanguage Therapy - Intensive Support Team.

Interested inproviding intensive therapy to children with DLD/severe speech and languagedifficulties? Is so ..read on..

We are seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapistto join our Childrens Speech and Language Therapy Service. You will work predominantly with children withsevere and persistent speech and language difficulties who need intensivesupport. You will be keen to develop your specialist clinical skills andknowledge and be driven to provide evidence-based interventions.

You will be keen to develop your skills in working with theteam around the child to support achieving the best outcomes for children aswell as providing direct assessment and therapy.

Our Childrens Speech and Language Therapy Teamcovers South Tyneside and Sunderland localities. There are excellent linksacross the Childrens Therapy staff. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)is supported and encouraged and all staff access individual supervision andregular team meetings. Our team has admin and SLT Assistant support.

Main duties of the job

You will have experience of working with children with arange of speech, language and communication difficulties, and be able toassess, plan and provide intervention and therapy within a range of settings.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills and becommitted to working in a multi-disciplinary way to facilitate the bestoutcomes for children. You will be well-supported by our dynamic Speech andLanguage Therapy team.

You will be part of a forward-thinking department thatprovides a range of specialist services and is always striving to be innovativeand put research into practice to improve patient outcomes. Developing our teammembers in their career path is the cornerstone of this. This will be an idealopportunity for a therapist looking to develop their skills who also has valuesthat align with those of our organisation and is passionate about making adifference to children and young people.

We want to see if you can be part of our vision to improvethe outcomes for children in our area through you being part of our highly-regarded team. Come and talk to us and our team to find out more!

About us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,300 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Job responsibilities

To provide a specialist speech, language and communication service to patients with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties across a range of community settings including Health Centres, schools and early years settings.

To work with children with severe speech and language difficulties who require intensive speech and language therapy intervention.

To provide clinical support and mentoring for less experienced Speech and Language Therapists and supervision for students and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants.

To develop and deliver specialist training and education programmes re. speech and language disorders to parents, carers and other professionals.

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Fulfilment of RCSLT competency criteria.
• Evidence of attendance at a wide range of short courses in specialist area e.g. Motor Speech Disorders, Specific Language Disorders.
• Evidence of CPD including successful completion of specialist post-graduate training e.g. RCSLT-accredited Dysphagia Management Course (Paediatrics), Hanen Certificate, Makaton Signing System.
• Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups.
• Well-established knowledge of a range of specialist assessment tools relevant to a wide range of paediatric communication disorders.
• Knowledge of current national policies and procedures e.g. Education, Health and Care Planning process ( Children and Families Act 2014).
• Knowledge of trends/best practice across the clinical specialisms.
• In-depth knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to the client groups and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits of each.
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit.
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group.
• Knowledge of standards of record-keeping.
• Working knowledge of child protection and vulnerable adult policies.
• Working knowledge of structure, policies and functioning of the NHS and Local Educational Authorities.
• Good working knowledge of structure, policies and functioning of STSFT and Local Educational Authorities.
• Good working knowledge of speech and language therapy service provision and examples of care pathways.
• To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of client and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties, prognosis and implications of the same.
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude towards team working.
• Enthusiasm for the Post and client group.
• To promote the speech and language therapy profession within the wider community, e.g. health, education and social communities.

Experience

• Significant knowledge and experience of a wide range of developmental speech, language and communication difficulties and their treatments.
• Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience liaising with other health, education and social professionals.
• Experience of planning and delivery of training for other professionals and parents/carers.
• Relevant experience at post-graduate level e.g. assessment and intervention with more complex communication disorders and writing reports on outcomes.
• Experience of working alongside highly-specialised therapists for highly-complex cases.
• Relevant specialist experience post-qualification e.g. Dysfluency key-worker, Developmental language Disorder, Complex Language and Learning, ASD.

Physical / Mental Abilities

• To have due regard for own personal safety and that of clients/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations and ensure the safe positioning of self and others.
• Lifting and carrying equipment for assessment and treatment on a regular basis.
• To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of client management for prolonged periods, in particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.
• To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
• To employ counselling skills with carers and clients (including clients with highly complex needs).
• To demonstrate the ability to manage clients with challenging behaviours, including the application of appropriate management strategies.
• To be adaptable to the demands of a variety of working conditions and/or a wide range of clients.
• To work within infection control and Health & Safety guidelines in order to deal with unpleasant conditions relating to client contact as they arise, for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis.
• To employ appropriate strategies to manage verbally aggressive behaviour within the workplace.
• Valid Driving Licence.

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification.
• Membership of Health Care Professions Council.
• Member of RCSLT.

Other

• Please provide a contact telephone number.

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 Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

£37,338 to £44,962 a yearpro-rata for part-time