Speech and Language Therapist

Tewv Brits; Darlington; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to serve adults with learning disabilities in Darlington. The role emphasizes collaborative, high-quality care and offers peer support with CPD opportunities. Candidates may be considered at Band 5 level if qualifications are pending.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy required.
• Experience with learning disabilities and mental health.
• Competent in dysphagia assessment and treatment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess and treat communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary health and social care teams.
• Delegate and supervise SLT associate practitioners.

Skills

Communication difficulties assessment

Team collaboration

Dysphagia treatment

Education

Degree in Speech & Language Therapy

Postgraduate training in relevant area

Job description

Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 09 July 2025

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust are looking to recruit a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to work with adults with learning disabilities (LD) in Darlington. Consideration will be given to making the post a Band 5 to 6 development opportunity for the right candidate. The successful post holder will be based in our Darlington team and primarily work with service users living in the Darlington area, however there may be a requirement to cover a wider locality depending on the service need (Durham and Teesside).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will assess and treat communication difficulties and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. The successful applicant will work alongside a team of health and social care professionals including other speech & language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, 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 part of a multi-disciplinary team, committed to collaborative working and focusing on the provision of a high quality, evidence based service.

The successful applicant with 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. They will preferably be competent in the assessment and treatment of eating, drinking & swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).

The post holder will be part of a dynamic SLT Learning Disability 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.

Consideration of B5-6 for the right candidate - including graduating students on condition they pass their qualifications

Job responsibilities

Please see job description and person specification attached for further details; additionally further information can be gained from the lead contact.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional qualification in speech and language therapy role 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