Speech and Language Therapist- Clinical Specialist

NHS Jobs; North East; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a band 7 Speech and Language Therapist (Clinical Specialist) to support two prisons in the North East of England—Holme House (Stockton-on-Tees) and Deerbolt (Barnard Castle). You will work within a multi-disciplinary team, providing assessment, planning and patient care in secure environments.

The role offers supervision, induction, PDP development, and opportunities for professional development within mental health and learning

Qualifications

• Pre-registration qualification in speech and language therapy recognized by HCPC.
• Registration with HCPC required.
• Evidence of post-registration Masters level learning.
• If no masters, equivalent experience in relevant areas (leadership, service development, etc.).
• Substantial clinical experience in complex SLT delivery within a MDT.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan and provide patient care within a multi-disciplinary team in prison settings.
• Lead and participate in quality improvement, governance and service development activities.
• Provide high-quality training and clinical supervision to staff and students.
• Engage in induction and Personal Development Plans (PDP) with ongoing professional development.

Skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Complex clinical risk assessment

Clinical supervision

Quality improvement activities

Service development

Education

HCPC registration

Post-registration Masters level learning

Equivalent experience (level 7 courses / leadership / project management)

Job description

Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Speech and Language Therapist- Clinical Specialist

The closing date is 29 September 2026

We have an exciting opportunity for a band 7 Speech and Language Therapist (Clinical Specialist) to join our Health and Justice Team. The post would cover two prisons in the North East of England. HMP Holme House in Stockton on Tees and HMP Deerbolt in Barnard Castle Country Durham. Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust manage the mental health service into these sites, and you would work as integral part of the multi-disciplinary Teams.

The successful postholder will be joining an innovative and supportive team of SLTs who work across prison and community justice settings and a wider SLT department with excellent CPD opportunities. You will have a positive and compassion focused attitude towards service users within the prison environment. You will have an awareness of the clinical difficulties that arise for individuals with mental health conditions and neurodiversity within secure environments and be able to lead by example. The post requires the highest standards of professional practice, and exceptional communication and relationship skills.

This post will be subject to prison vetting

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an experienced SLT who will thrive amongst the multi-disciplinary team of professionals to assess, plan and provide patient care. You will work within a team of Registered Mental Health and Learning Disability Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Primary Care Mental Health Practitioners as well as wider partner agencies including primary care services, social care and prison colleagues.

We offer robust supervision arrangements and a comprehensive induction and workforce development plan with a vast array of personal, professional and academic training opportunities enabling you to expand your skill set and evidence-based practices.

The postholder will be required to be; innovative, flexible and able to engage clients with complex needs.

In addition to this we require the postholders to be committed to equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practices and reflect the trust values of Responsibility, Respect and Compassion.

We would encourage candidates to contact us for an informal discussion.

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

This role is subject to Prison Vetting, and the successful candidate must pass this before commencing employment. This includes a thorough review of personal information, including a criminal record check (both spent and unspent), a review of financial standing, and social media checks. Please note that vetting checks may also extend to family members and associates. You must also have resided in the UK for 3 years at the point of application. This will be considered as part of the shortlisting criteria, and your application may be rejected if you do not meet these criteria.

Please refer to the attached job description for further detailed information regarding the role and main responsibilities.

All staff who join TEWV will be provided with a comprehensive induction programme.

Continuous professional development is important to TEWV. Once you are comfortable in your new role, you and your manager will work collaboratively to form a Personal Development Plan (PDP), your personal career aspirations are taken into account, and the trust will provide you with the resources you need to develop.

We invest in your training and development.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Experience

• Pre-registration qualification in speech and language therapy as recognised by HCPC
• Registration with HCPC.
• Evidence of post-registration Masters level learning
• Or in the absence of masters level learning have equivalent experience in relevant area. E.g. relevant level 7 courses, researcher role, quality improvement activity, leading service development, project management, strategic leadership, NICE involvement, service evaluation.
• And the following - Substantial clinical experience of complex speech and language therapy delivery in relevant specialist area in collaboration with service users, families and relevant others.
• Experience of working in Multidisciplinary Team (SW essential criteria)
• Complex clinical risk assessment and application in practice

Knowledge

• Significant experience of supporting people with mental health conditions, learning disability or autism
• Significant understanding of the needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities or autism
• Substantial knowledge of evidence- based practice in designated specialist area
• Comprehensive awareness of professional standards and their application to practice
• Experience of participating in quality improvement activities, service development, and/or project management.
• Experience of participating in clinical governance activities including clinical audit, quality assurance of practice
• Participation in research and development e.g. critical appraisal of research papers, service evaluation, small scale or large scale research.
• Highly competent in clinical supervision of staff and/or students.
• Substantial experience in design and delivery of high quality and effective training
• Substantial experience of application of relevant legislation (i.e. Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act) in practice

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