Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Chester-le-Street; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Speech and Language Therapist to work with adults with learning disabilities in North Durham. The successful candidate will assess and treat communication issues while collaborating with other professionals in a multi-disciplinary setting. A degree in Speech & Language Therapy and relevant experience are required, with opportunities for career progression and a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Flexible working

Home or remote working

Compressed hours

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy required, with current HCPC registration preferred.
• Experience in multidisciplinary teams and supporting individuals with mental health issues.
• Knowledge of clinical risk assessment and evidence-based practice.

Responsibilities

• Assess and treat communication difficulties in adults with learning disabilities.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to provide high-quality service.
• Supervise SLT associate practitioners while managing a varied caseload.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Clinical risk assessment

Education

Degree in Speech & Language Therapy

Current HCPC registration or pending

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 8

Post graduate training in relevant specialist area

Job description

Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 06 July 2025

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust are looking to recruit a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to work with adults with learning disabilities (LD) in North Durham. The successful post holder will be based in North Durham and primarily work with service users living in the North Durham area, however there may be a requirement to cover a wider locality depending on the service need (other Durham localities, Darlington and Teesside).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will assess and treat communication difficulties and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. You will work alongside a team of health and social care professionals including other SLTs, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, support workers and associate practitioners. The post holder will also work with SLT associate practitioners and be expected to delegate and supervise their work. The caseload is varied and intervention is completed as a multi-disciplinary team, committed to collaborative working and focusing on the provision of a high quality, evidence based service.

The successful applicant will have a degree in Speech & Language Therapy and experience working with adults with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties and/or complex needs. They will have knowledge of related issues and influencing national and local directives.

We would invite applications from students due to qualify this year but prioritisation would be given to those SLTs already holding registration, especially those competent in the assessment and treatment of eating, drinking & swallowing difficulties.

The post holder will be part of a dynamic SLT LD and Mental Health service, with well defined peer support, supervision systems and CPD opportunities. There may be an occasional requirement to provide assessment, advice and intervention to other Trust areas, including inpatient units.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis. In the event that permanent funding is secured for this post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional qualification in Speech and Language Therapy or pending
• Current relevant registration with HCPC or pending
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 8 for international recruits
• Post graduate training in relevant specialist area

Experience

• Experience of working in a variety of practice areas whilst on student placements or postgraduate
• Experience of supporting people with mental health issues, learning disability or autism
• Experience of working in Multidisciplinary Team

Knowledge

• Awareness of professional standards and their application to practice
• Understanding of the needs of service users with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities
• Clinical risk assessment and application in practice
• Knowledge of evidencebased practice in designated specialist area

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Full-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working,Compressed hours