Speech and Language Therapist- Clinical Specialist

The closing date is 23 July 2026

We have an exciting opportunity for a band 7 Speech and Language Therapist (Clinical Specialist) to join our Health and Justice Team. The post would cover two prisons in the North East of England: HMP Holme House in Stockton on Tees and HMP Deerbolt in Barnard Castle, County Durham. Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust manages the mental health service into these sites, and you will work as an integral part of the multi disciplinary teams.

The successful postholder will join an innovative and supportive team of SLTs who work across prison and community justice settings and a wider SLT department with excellent CPD opportunities. You will have a positive and compassion focused attitude towards service users within the prison environment and an awareness of the clinical difficulties that arise for individuals with mental health conditions and neurodiversity in secure environments. The role requires the highest standards of professional practice, and exceptional communication and relationship skills.

This post will be subject to prison vetting.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit

We are looking for an experienced SLT who will thrive within the multi disciplinary team of professionals to assess, plan and provide patient care. You will work within a team of Registered Mental Health and Learning Disability Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Primary Care Mental Health Practitioners, and wider partner agencies including primary care services, social care, and prison colleagues.

We offer robust supervision arrangements and a comprehensive induction and workforce development plan with a vast array of personal, professional and academic training opportunities enabling you to expand your skill set and evidence based practices.

The postholder must be innovative, flexible and able to engage clients with complex needs.

In addition, we require the postholder to be committed to equal opportunities and non discriminatory practices and reflect the Trust values of Responsibility, Respect and Compassion.

We would encourage candidates to contact us for an informal discussion.

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care - our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

This role is subject to Prison Vetting, and the successful candidate must pass this before commencing employment. This includes a thorough review of personal information, including a criminal record check (both spent and unspent), a review of financial standing, and social media checks. Please note that vetting checks may also extend to family members and associates. You must also have resided in the UK for 3 years at the point of application. This will be considered as part of the shortlisting criteria, and your application may be rejected if you do not meet these criteria.

Please refer to the attached job description for further detailed information regarding the role and main responsibilities.

All staff who join TEWV will be provided with a comprehensive induction programme.

Continuous professional development is important to TEWV. Once you are comfortable in your new role, you and your manager will work collaboratively to form a Personal Development Plan (PDP), your personal career aspirations are taken into account, and the Trust will provide you with the resources you need to develop.

We invest in your training and development.

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.

• Pre registration qualification in speech and language therapy as recognised by HCPC
• Registration with HCPC.
• Evidence of post registration Masters level learning
• Or, in the absence of masters level learning, have equivalent experience in a relevant area (e.g., relevant level 7 courses, researcher role, quality improvement activity, leading service development, project management, strategic leadership, NICE involvement, service evaluation).
• Substantial clinical experience of complex speech and language therapy delivery in a relevant specialist area in collaboration with service users, families and relevant others.
• Experience of working in a Multidisciplinary Team (shared working essential criteria)
• Complex clinical risk assessment and application in practice

• Significant experience of supporting people with mental health conditions, learning disability or autism
• Significant understanding of the needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities or autism
• Substantial knowledge of evidence based practice in the designated specialist area
• Comprehensive awareness of professional standards and their application to practice
• Experience of participating in quality improvement activities, service development, and/or project management
• Experience of participating in clinical governance activities including clinical audit, quality assurance of practice
• Participation in research and development (e.g., critical appraisal of research papers, service evaluation, small scale or large scale research)
• Highly competent in clinical supervision of staff and/or students
• Substantial experience in the design and delivery of high quality and effective training
• Substantial experience of application of relevant legislation (i.e., Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act) in practice

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust