Job summary
- Main area
- Speech And Language Therapy
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Flexible working and part time hours will be considered.)
- Job ref
- 263-SS25-073-AB
- Employer
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St Nicholas Hospital
- Town
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Band 6
Hello!
We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.
Opportunities for you
Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.
We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.
- Cultural diversity staff network
- Disabled staff network
- LGBT+ staff network
We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:
- Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Association
- Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
- Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group
We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.
Always improving
CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?
Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay
Job overview
An opportunity has arisen for a full time band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the Speech and Language Therapy service in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
We are seeking applications from registered Speech and Language Therapists with experience of working with children and young people who have a learning disability, challenging behaviour and/or mental health needs.
You will split your working week between the Intensive Positive Behavioural Service (IPBS) Community Team and the Community Team for Children with Learning Disabilities.
The Intensive Positive Behavioural Service work with children and young people between the ages of 4 and 18 with a learning disability and/or autism spectrum disorder where their behaviour that challenges occurs as a result of the young person having limited abilities to communicate distress, and get their needs met in other more adaptive ways. This service is based at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Community Team for Children with Learning Disabilities provide assessment, intervention and an MDT approach to children who have a learning disability and require specialist speech and language therapy input for communication and/or dysphagia needs. This service is based at Benton House in Sandyford, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Main duties of the job
You will have a particular interest and enthusiasm to work in this area. You should have qualifications and experience relevant in this clinical field and work well as part of a close team and be able to work independently. You will liaise closely with fellow professionals to address communication difficulties as part of a holistic, service user centred service. You will contribute to, write and review care plans and provide high quality service user centred care.
You will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to contribute to the existing multi-disciplinary team. You will be able to demonstrate the ability to engage and work collaboratively with others and understand complex systems in order to support effective pathways.
Working for our organisation
The Speech and Language Therapy Service in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is continuing to develop and grow to meet the needs of our patients and local communities.
You will join a large, dynamic team of Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in established, multi-disciplinary teams who are committed to providing the best quality service to our patients. We actively encourage professional development and provide opportunities for all in the Speech and Language Therapy team to contribute to the development of the service.
We will provide you with a comprehensive induction period and you will have access to ongoing clinical supervision and appraisal with development reviews that will provide you with support and the specialist skills required to meet the holistic needs of the patients in your care. You will be expected to actively engage in the Trusts supervision and continuing professional development process.
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the separate job description, person specification and the service and role descriptor for more information.
Advertising date : 9th September 2025
Closing date : 23rd September 2025
We welcome your application.
You may be required to travel across the Trust area as part of the role.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Recognised SALT degree qualification
- Registration with HCPC
- Evidence of completion of a short course relevant to the area of specialism
- A dysphagia qualification or commitment to attain this qualification and practice in this clinical area
Desirable criteria
- Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Log of supervised hours/completion of dysphagia competencies
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of delivering appropriate specialist assessments and evidence based interventions to service users with communication and/or swallowing disorders
- Specialist communication skills, considering a variety of strategies to support children with complex communication/cognitive needs
- Experience of developing therapeutic partnerships with service users and carers
- Working knowledge of statutory issues which impact on service users eg safeguarding, MHA, MCA
- Experience of working within a mult-disciplinary environment
- Experience of supervising others eg assistant practitioners, students
- Experience of contributing to audit and/or service evaluation
- Experience of working at post graduate level as a Speech and Language Therapist with children who have a learning disability, complex behaviours that challenge and/or mental health needs
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of assessment and management of behaviours that challenge
- Experience of delivering training relevant to SALT
Skills and Competencies
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to carry out and provide comprehensive written assessments of children with complex mental health needs
- Risk assessment, risk/safety management planning skills
- Demonstrate an understanding of effective and appropriate treatment options including a range of evidence based clinical approaches as identified in the NICE guidance
- Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and good conflict resolution skills
- Evidence of a high level of professional, organisational and leadership skills (self and others)
- Ability to adapt within a changing environment and work under pressure
- Ability to work effectively with other professionals using a multi-agency approach. Ability to work autonomously and within a team
- Excellent time and case management skills and the ability to use electronic recording and relevant IT equipment
- Proven track record of acting as an effective advocate for service users and their carers
Desirable criteria
- Clinical leadership skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Fiona Johnstone
- Job title
- Professional Lead - Speech and Language Therapy
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07976 791399
- Additional information
Applicants are also encouraged to contact the team prior to application to find out more about the post.
For further information about the opportunity and an informal discussion, please contact:
Dominique Hill, Pathway Manager for IPBS at [email protected] or on 01661 838466
Ruth Symes, SALT Clinical Lead for Community Team for Children with Learning Disabilities at [email protected] or on 07813 396390 or 0191 210 6868
Fiona Johnstone, Professional Lead and Manager for Speech and Language Therapy at [email protected] or on 07976 791399 or 0191 210 6868
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