Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

Team

CDDFT Speech and language Therapy are pleased to advertise an exciting Specialist Speech and Language Therapy post which includes a number of development oppourtunities based at University Hospital. The Band 6 post will be supported by senior staff to ensure that the successful applicant continues to develop a broad range of specialist dysphagia competencies that meet the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy standards.

We will provide professional development oppourtunities to enable career development with a varied acute and community caseload in a number of different settings. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of around 600,000 people. For informal enquiries please contact

We are looking for a well-organised therapist who has completed their post-basic dysphagia training and has experience of working with both communication and swallowing impaired community caseloads. The successful candidate will hold a degree in Speech and Language Therapy, be registered with the Health Professionals Council and be committed to continuing professional development as well as holding an accredited post-basic dysphagia qualification or equivalent.

The post will offer opportunities to develop further specialist skills in progressive neurological disease caseload and acquired neurology.

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Description s can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

The Speech and Language Therapy Service offers a supportive team of experienced colleagues allowing ready-access to support second opinions and ongoing peer supervision to deliver evidence-based practise assessment and therapy to patients across all settings.

You will help supervise speech and language therapy students, as well as contribute to the delivery of teaching programmes to a wide range of community professionals enhancing patient care.

We can offer you a challenging and rewarding post that includes:

• Clinical supervision
• Monthly staff meetings, regular management supervision and peer support groups
• Annual Appraisal
• In-Service Training
• Well-resourced department with up-to-date technology
• Good access to communication aids/ ipads and apps
• Mobile-working laptop and mobile phone
• Professional Lead in Speech and Language Therapy and Clinical Leads in all specialist areas
• Weekly SLT-led VFSS/ FEES
• Good IT access

If successful you will be required to undertake a CRB check. A copy of the Code of Practice is available on request.

Please note this position requires a Disclosure Barring Service check (DBS) formerly

IN LINE WITH NHS EMPLOYMENT CHECK STANDARDS, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN REFERENCES COVERING A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT AND/OR TRAINING.

The Trust has core values of Quality, Care, Respect, Leadership and Achievement which it expects all employees to demonstrate. Full details of these are available on the Trust website:

We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community and actively promote equal opportunities.

Unfortunately we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within 6 weeks should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

• Health Professionals Council Licence to Practice

• Ability to travel independently county wide and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis. Ability to meet physical demands of the post
• Commitment, motivation and ability to work flexibly within a multidisciplinary service

• Experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Relevant experience post registration

• Speech & Language Therapy Degree or equivalent as recognised by RCSLT.
• Evidence of successful completion of non-specialist short courses including post-basic dysphagia or…