Speech & Language Therapy Highly Specialist Band 7 - Acute & Community

NHS; Whitehaven; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Speech and Language Therapist to lead and develop services within West Cumberland Hospital and the North Cumbria community. The role involves providing high-quality therapy across different settings, managing a community team, and ensuring service improvement. Candidates should have a degree in Speech and Language Therapy, necessary registrations, and specialist experience. This position offers flexible working, a competitive pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive NHS pension scheme

Flexible working scheme

Access to NHS discounts

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy required.
• Registration with HCPC is necessary.
• Evidence of specialist experience at Masters Level is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality Speech and Language Therapy across various settings.
• Lead and develop the service, managing the community team.
• Conduct assessments, treatments, and discharge planning for all patient groups.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Strong organisational and time-management skills

Proficient IT skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Registration with HCPC

Ongoing membership with RCSLT

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to lead and develop the service within West Cumberland Hospital and the North Cumbria community. The role is primarily based at Whitehaven but will involve travel across North Cumbria to deliver community services, manage the wider community team and develop new services. Telemedicine is well established as a mode of therapy delivery in this semi‑rural region.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality Speech and Language Therapy across acute and community settings, including dysphagia and communication disorders at specialist level.
• Lead and develop the service, manage the community team, drive service improvement and change.
• Conduct assessment, treatment, review and discharge planning for all patient groups.
• Deliver interprofessional teams, service evaluation and redesign, and provide training to other professionals.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Registration with HCPC.
• Ongoing membership with RCSLT.
• Evidence of specialist experience to Masters Level – tracheostomy care, videofluoroscopy and dysphagia management.

Desirable

• Leadership training or experience.
• Experience in critical care including tracheostomy management.

Skills and Aptitudes

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organisational, time‑management and administration skills.
• Ability to prioritise caseloads and provide training to other professionals.
• Proficient IT skills – word processing, presentation, software packages.

Other Requirements

• Car driver or ability to travel independently across sites.
• Ability to meet the physical demands the post.
• Promote equality and value diversity (Level 3).

Benefits

• Competitive NHS pension scheme.
• Flexibility working scheme and 27‑day holiday rising to 33 after 10 years.
• Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – free, confidential counselling and information service.

We are committed to an inclusive and compassionate place to work, reflecting the local community and supporting a diverse workforce.