Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist-Adult Team

The closing date is 15 April 2026

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: Band 7, 0.8 WTE, 30 hrs per week, permanent position.

As a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will be vital to the delivery of our out patient and community service across South Tyneside and Sunderland. Based predominantly at Sunderland Royal Hospital, you will work within a team that covers both South Tyneside and Sunderland, providing clinical leadership and a high skill level clinical service.

You will bring significant experience working in out patient/community settings, supporting instrumental assessment clinics and managing complex patients. We encourage you to develop your skills with us as we cover all aspects of adult speech and language therapy: acute, out patients, community, head and neck, voice, upper airways, laryngectomy, stammering and more - all within a patient focused, safe, effective and innovative care model.

As a Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will join a well established innovative team that delivers a service across community and out patient settings. You will take part in instrumental assessments (VF/FEES clinics), support patients across the length of their care pathway and ensure safe transfer between our acute and community/service. You will manage a complex, large caseload, prioritise workload, and deliver assessment, diagnostics and rehabilitation for a full spectrum of communication and swallowing disorders. You will also teach and train others, supervise less experienced therapists, and support further scope extension within the team.

Lead the development of the out patient therapy service for adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders, including planning interventions, maximizing capacity to meet demand, and expanding service delivery models to give patients greater access. Provide highly specialist assessments and interventions across inpatients, outpatients, and community home visits, including instrumental assessments (FEES, VF).

• Excellent time management, administrative, and organisational skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and within a team, adhering to professional codes of practice.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills to facilitate professional relationships with clients, carers, multidisciplinary teams, and others.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, able to convey complex information clearly.
• Ability to conduct highly specialised assessment and develop differential diagnosis, prognosis and management plans.
• Well developed teaching, training and presentation skills, identifying training needs and delivering education.
• Proficient report writing, policy and guidance creation.
• Strong observational, investigative and analytical skills to interpret verbal and non verbal cues.
• Capacity for sustained concentration with patients with severe and complex needs.
• Counselling skills, including empathy, conveying sensitive information and managing emotional circumstances.
• Competences in FEES, leadership and relevant qualifications.

• Degree in Speech and Language Pathology / Therapy or equivalent.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).
• Significant post graduate training equivalent to Master's level, with experience as a qualified SALT in adult speech, language and swallowing disorders.
• Advanced training (e.g., Advanced Dysphagia, Counselling Skills, Neuro rehabilitation, Stroke, Dysphagia, Voice, Lee Silverman, FEES interpretation).
• Extensive knowledge of best practice in specialist speech and language therapy, with evidence of post graduate training and integration into clinical practice.
• Knowledge of care pathways for acquired neurological communication and swallowing disorders, and relevant health, social and voluntary agencies.
• Understanding of legal responsibilities, code of ethics, data protection legislation, safeguarding procedures, and equality, diversity and inclusion issues.
• Working knowledge of NHS structure, policies and priorities.
• Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy (RCSLT).

• Significant adult experience with acquired speech, language and swallowing disorders in a specialist role.
• Proficiency in clinical procedures and therapy techniques across various service delivery styles.
• Experience in group therapy, individual therapy and consultancy, including collaborative practice with SALT and other professionals.
• Experience across acute, intermediate care and community settings.
• Planning, delivering and evaluating training within the SALT department and to external agencies.
• Active participation in clinical governance, complex care plans and CPD records in line with HCPC recommendations.

• Auditory and visual perceptual skills for assessment of communication and swallowing disorders (videofluoroscopy, FEES).
• Accredited dysphagia assessment and management skills.
• Manual handling and safe eating skills for clients with complex disabilities.
• Computer skills for information systems, report generation and teaching material creation.
• Use of communication equipment and software, including programming for individual use.
• Multi tasking ability in various environments.
• Reflection on auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic client cues to facilitate communication strategies.
• Ability to manage frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions and to deal with distressed clients and families.
• Capability to work as a lone worker and to travel as required.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required to confirm there are no disqualifying convictions.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata for part time (2026/27 Pay award pending)

Contact Sarah Talbot:

We welcome all applications irrespective of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity. We are committed to respect, fairness and inclusivity for all staff and applicants.