Lead Speech and Language Therapist - Adults

NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.

Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.

We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.

With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.

This post is the Lead Adult Speech and Language Therapist post. The post holder is responsible for leading, developing, and delivering the Speech and Language Therapy service for adults. The postholder line manages and works with the Speech and Language Therapist for Adults with Learning Disabilities for service delivery to the adult population of Orkney. There are established links with Grampian SLT and other services for management of specific conditions and clinical pathways.

The postholder is required to work across a number of different settings including The Balfour, care homes, patient homes, and other community settings. Developing and delivering training is expected in both acute and community settings.

The Speech and Language Therapy Team in Orkney has 1.7 WTE aligned to Adults and 3.65 WTE aligned to Children and Young People. The post holder works collaboratively with the Lead Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist to lead the Speech and Language Therapy department. You will be supported by the Lead Allied Health Professional for Adults.

The role requires highly specialist knowledge of complex dysphagia and communication difficulties across the full range of conditions including stroke, progressive neurological, dementia, voice disorders, and neurodevelopmental.

The successful candidate will have a degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy/Pathology, master’s level post registration training and/or qualifications in dysphagia management and a minimum of three years’ experience working at a senior level.

Excellent communication skills and the ability to work autonomously and flexibly are essential for this post, as is the need for the post holder to hold a full driving licence. The post requires frequent travel within mainland Orkney as well as travel to the smaller isles.

We welcome applications from candidates who bring strong core clinical and leadership skills and experience, and are motivated to further develop within a service leadership role.

This post will be based at The Balfour

The successful candidate will work:
Full Time 36 hours per week

This post is Permanent (Fixed Term and Secondment may be considered)

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.

Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?

The salary for this post is Band 7 and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands…