Speech & Language Therapist

NHS; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK seeks a Speech & Language Therapist to join their neurological rehabilitation unit. The successful candidate will assist with the assessment and management of complex speech and swallowing difficulties. This position offers the opportunity to develop clinical skills and contribute to a well-established multidisciplinary team. Competitive salary range of £31,049 to £46,580 pro rata, depending on experience. Applications from various backgrounds are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Must possess a degree in speech and language pathology or therapy.
• Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) is essential.
• Experience in working autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical advice on assessment and management of inpatients.
• Work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and manage your own caseload.
• Contribute to the development of departmental policies and guidelines.

Skills

Experience of working within a clinical setting

Previous experience as a speech and language therapist working in the NHS

Proven verbal and interpersonal skills

Knowledge of communication disorders

Education

Degree in speech and language pathology or therapy or equivalent

Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Speech & Language Therapist

The closing date is 22 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 5 speech and language therapist who is looking for an opportunity to develop their skills and experience in neurological rehabilitation. We are looking for a motivated band 5 practitioner who would like to develop over a period of 12 to 18 months by undertaking training relevant to the post which would include the management of dysphagia.

The NRU is a 12 bedded local specialist rehabilitation unit that provides a neurological rehabilitation service which enables patients with long term neurological conditions including patients with an acute injury or episode, to access rehabilitation that is coordinated, timely & responsive to patient needs.

The successful applicant will work as part of the multi‑disciplinary team assisting the lead SLT in the assessment and management of complex speech and swallowing problems.

We are committed to supporting the successful applicant to become part of a well‑established confident, high‑quality & caring team who are experts in their field.

This is a challenging and exciting opportunity to work within a level 2 accredited specialist neurological rehabilitation unit.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Main duties of the job

• Provide high‑quality clinical advice on the assessment, diagnosis and management of inpatients on the unit, who may have communication and/or swallowing difficulties, including those with complex needs and possible tracheostomies.
• Provide support, education and advice to more junior SLTs, nursing and AHP colleagues specifically in relation to inpatients with communication difficulties and to ensure adequate access to the service is maintained for this client group.
• Work closely with the MDT and manage your own caseload within the team.
• Contribute to the development of departmental policies/guidelines and participate in the development of innovations in service delivery taking account of Clinical Governance.
• All employees strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we are run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

For full details of the Band 5 and Band 6 roles, please see the attached job descriptions and person specifications in the supporting documents.

Experience

• Band 5
  • Experience of working within a clinical setting.
  • Previous experience as a speech and language therapist working in the NHS.
• Band 6
  • Proven postgraduate SLT experience providing assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults with swallowing and communication difficulties.
  • Proven awareness and experience of the requirement for excellence in clinical record keeping.
  • Experience in working autonomously and as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
  • Previous experience working with people who have had a traumatic or acquired brain injury.
  • Experience coordinating the work of others.

Qualifications

• Band 5
  • Degree in speech and language pathology or therapy or equivalent.
  • Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist Certificate to Practice.
  • Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Band 6
  • Degree in speech and language pathology or therapy or equivalent.
  • Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist Certificate to Practice as a Speech and Language Therapist.
  • Current registration with HCPC.
  • Current member of RCSLT.

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Band 5
  • A demonstrable range of core professional skills, including familiarity with a range of clinical protocols.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of communication disorders presenting in a range of clients with communication difficulties in order to provide assessment, diagnosis and intervention.
  • Flexible clinical skills which take account of the needs of the individual client.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of issues related to the delivery of training to a range of recipients.
  • Insight into issues of confidentiality in the context of health care.
  • Insight into the requirement for excellence in clinical record keeping.
  • An awareness of the functions of related professions, agencies and legislation relating to services to clients.
  • An awareness of screening procedure for swallowing difficulties.
• Band 6
  • Proven verbal and interpersonal skills which are able to adapt to the communication situation.
  • Awareness of alternative and augmentative communication.
  • Ability to use initiative.
  • Knowledge of the functions of related professions within this client group.
  • Experience of the management of communication and swallowing difficulties in patients with a tracheostomy.

Training

• Band 6
  • Proven postgraduate accredited (or equivalent) dysphagia training and experience.
  • Completion of postgraduate training relevant to client group (primarily traumatic and acquired brain injury).

Personal Attributes

• Band 5
  • Ability to work autonomously.
  • Organisational skills to plan own work time and caseload management.
  • Ability and commitment to work as part of a team.
  • Verbal and interpersonal skills which are able to adapt to the communication situation.
  • Written communication skills sufficient to ensure professional standards in record keeping and report writing.
• Band 6
  • Proven organisational and time management skills.
  • Flexible and adaptive skills.
  • A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

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 West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

£31,049 to £46,580 a year pro rata - Band 5 to Band 6 (salary dependent on experience)