Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A public healthcare organization in Tees Valley seeks a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. The role offers professional development to work with a diverse community caseload, including experience with dysphagia and opportunities to develop skills in progressive neurological conditions. The ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications and commitment to professional growth. Salary ranges from £38,682 to £46,580 per annum, pro rata.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Access to up-to-date technology and resources

Qualifications

• Experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Registered with the Health Professionals Council.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Supervise speech and language therapy students.
• Deliver evidence-based practice assessment and therapy.
• Work with a varied community caseload.

Skills

Post-basic dysphagia training

Experience with communication and swallowing impaired caseloads

Planning and organisational skills

Interpersonal and communication skills

Education

Speech and Language Therapy Degree

Health Professionals Council License to Practice

Job description

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 04 November 2025

TeamCDDFT speech and language therapy are pleased toadvertise an exciting Specialist Speech and Language Therapy post whichincludes a number of development opportunities based at Sedgefield CommunityHospital. The Band 6 post will be supported by senior staff to ensure that thesuccessful applicant continues to develop a broad range of specialist dysphagiacompetencies that meet the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapystandards. We will provide professional development opportunities to enable careerdevelopment with a varied and interesting community caseload in a number ofdifferent settings including out-patient, residential, nursing homes anddomicillary settings.

The successful County Durham and Darlington NHSFoundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England,serving a population of around 600,000 people.We are a high performing organisation with a track record of success.For informal enquiries please contact [e-mail].

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a well-organised therapist who hascompleted their post-basic dysphagia training and has experience of workingwith both communication and swallowing impaired acute caseloads. The successful candidate will holda degree in Speech and Language Therapy, be registered with the HealthProfessionals Council and be committed to continuing professional developmentas well as holding an accredited post-basic dysphagia qualification orequivalent. The post will offer oppourtunites to develop further specialistskills in progressive neurological disease caseload and aquired neurology.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Job responsibilities

The Speech and Language Therapy Service offers a supportiveteam of experienced colleagues allowing ready-access to support second opinionsand ongoing peer supervision to deliver evidence-based practice assessment andtherapy to patients across all settings.You will help supervise speech and language therapy students, as well ascontribute to the delivery of teaching programmes to a wide range of communityprofessionals enhancing patient care.

We can offer you a challenging and rewarding post thatincludes:

• Clinicalsupervision
• Monthlystaff meetings, regular management supervision and peer support groups
• In-ServiceTraining
• Well-resourced department with up to date technology
• Goodaccess to communication aids/ ipads and apps
• Mobile-workinglaptop and mobile phone
• ProfessionalLead in Speech and Language Therapy and Clinical Leads in all specialist areas
• WeeklySLT-led VFSS/ FEES
• Good ITaccess

If successful you will be required to undertake a CRBcheck. A copy of the Code of Practice isavailable on request.

Please note this position requires a Disclosure BarringService check (DBS

To apply please go to www.jobs.nhs.uk Quoting the jobreference number

IN LINE WITH NHS EMPLOYMENT CHECK STANDARDS, YOU MUST BEABLE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN REFERENCES COVERING A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS PREVIOUSEMPLOYMENT AND/OR TRAINING.

The Trust has core values of Quality, Care, Respect,Leadership and Achievement which it expects all employees to demonstrate. Fulldetails of these are available on the Trust website:

http://www.cddft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/our-core-values.aspx

We positively welcome applications from all sections of thecommunity and actively promote equal opportunities.

Unfortunately we are unable to respond to allapplicants and those who are not contacted within 6 weeks should assume thattheir application has been unsuccessful.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel independently county wide and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis. Ability to meet physical demands of the post
• Commitment, motivation and ability to work flexibly within a multidisciplinary service

Statutory Registration

• Health Professionals Council License to Practice

Qualifications

• Speech & Language Therapy Degree or equivalent as recognised by RCSLT.
• Evidence of successful completion of non-specialist short courses including post-basic dysphagia or equivalent.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of national and local Health/education/Social Care Policies and practices.
• Understanding of a range of work procedures and practices which requires expertise within a specialism or discipline, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience.
• Knowledge and understanding of a range of procedures and practices relating to the identification, definition diagnosis and remediation of disorders of human communication, some of which are non-routine.
• Ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations which require the analysis or comparison of a range of options.
• Planning and organisational skills applicable to handling a small number of complex activities that may require the formulation and adjustment of plans.
• High level interpersonal and communication skills persuasion, negotiation, training, empathy and re-assurance.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearper annum, pro rata