Deputy Head of Speech and Language Therapy

Go back North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 18 February 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen to support the Speech and language Therapy leadership team to lead and develop the Speech and Language Therapy Department to deliver Adult SLT services within Acute sites and community settings. The successful candidate will work alongside the Head of Service and other senior staff within the team.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a high level of interpersonal and organisational skills, alongside a good sense of humour and be team focussed.

The successful post holder will be joining a team with a good skill mix of specialist Therapists, assistants and admin staff and will be required to hold clinical responsibilities within the service as required across the system.

Our team values collaboration, professional growth and making a meaningful difference through our work. If you're looking for a role where your contributions are valued and your career can grow we would love to hear from you.

• To support the Head of Speech and Language therapy to lead the team clinically, managerially and professionally, delivering a service within the Adult acute and community Team.
• To be responsible for own continued professional development and facilitate a learning culture which includes audit and research to ensure high standards of care within the speciality teams.
• To support the Head of service in ensuring professional standards are set, implemented, monitored and maintained.
• To be a member of the AHP senior management team, working with the Head of Speech and Language therapy on operational and service development issues, with specific responsibility for own area of speciality.
• To have adequate time with other members of the team to ensure wellbeing.
• To be an active member of the appropriate Multi disciplinary teams.
• To have highly specialist clinical skills across the adult pathway.

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of ‘safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see ourPolicy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information(Please ask recruiting manager and delete if not appropriate) This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as followsif applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

NHS Discounts

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

Subject to eligibility

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

• Degree or equivalent diploma
• Registration with HCPC
• Evidence of CPD and relevant post graduate experiemnce and/or significant experience to masters level or equiavalent
• Specialist knowledge acrioss a number of clinical pathways.
• Member of RCSLT

• Extensive profession specific knowledge, application of theory , best practice and procedures
• Experience of working in leadership/management role
• Proven record of achieving service development, managing change and performance
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of business planning and other management processes in the NHS and their application in practice
• Knowledge and understanding of current NHS policy and their implications for professional practice
• oExperience of working across acute and community pathways including critical care and instrumental assessment

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, organisation, time management, problem solving and prioritisiation skills
• Appropriate clinical skills
• IT Skills
• Motivational and change management Skills
• Teaching and presentation skills

• Promote equality and diversity
• Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity
• Ability to use own initiative, make decisions and work under pressure to timescales when required
• confident
• Highly motivated
• Ability to manage conflict and difficult situations

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.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust