Speech & Language Therapy Clinical Lead

Job overview

Do you want to lead meaningful change?

We are a passionate, friendly, award-winning team of Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists who have already made great strides in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and innovative clinician who is ready to combine advanced clinical expertise with strategic leadership. You will play a key role in shaping and delivering our key initiatives across York and North Yorkshire, building on a strong foundation of existing service development.

You will work closely with parents, carers, education settings and wider community partners to improve communication environments and ensure children can truly thrive. Strong collaborative working, system leadership and relationship-building will be central to success in this role.

You will provide clinical leadership across the Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Services, supporting high-quality, evidence based practice and driving forward service development and transformation.

You will be someone who:

• Demonstrates strong clinical leadership and advanced paediatric SLT expertise
• Is confident working across systems and influencing service development
• Has excellent communication and partnership-working skills
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families
• Can inspire, support and guide others within a developing and dynamic service

Interviews will take place on the 12th June.

Main duties of the job

The Band 7 Clinical Lead Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist provides visible clinical leadership across York and North Yorkshire leading on key initiatives for the service. The post holder is responsible for developing, embedding and evaluating evidence-based speech, language and communication (SLC) practice across the service, ensuring high-quality, outcome-focused care for children and young people.

The role combines highly specialist clinical practice with leadership in workforce development, service innovation, education and quality improvement. The post holder will work collaboratively with operational managers, professional leads and wider system partners to raise the profile of speech and language therapy, strengthen early identification and intervention, and ensure equitable, effective pathways into specialist care.

The ability to transport yourself and equipment across the locality during the course of a normal working day is required for this vacancy. Access to a vehicle that can be used for business purposes and hold a full and valid driving licence (role will involve travel to numerous addresses that cannot be easily accessed by public transport means) is required.

Working for our organisation

To find out more about what it is like to work for our Trust please visit the following link:

Our benefits

We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:

• Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
• A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
• Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
• NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
• An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
• Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers

For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.

Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Working for the Trust

Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.

Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: .

As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.

Armed Forces Friendly Employer

We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.

Person specification

Experience and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Substantial post-qualification experience within paediatric speech and language therapy, including work at specialist level
• Advanced knowledge of speech, language and communication development, difference and disorder in children and young people
• Proven ability to manage and provide clinical leadership for complex and highly complex cases
• Experience of supervision, mentoring and supporting the development of less experienced staff and students.
• Strong understanding of evidence-based practice, outcome measurement and service evaluation
• Knowledge of current national policies, professional standards and guidance relevant to paediatric SLT (e.g. RCSLT, NICE, SEND)
• Experience of multi-agency working, including education and local authority partners.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of leading service development, audit or quality improvement projects
• Experience of developing and delivering training programmes for parents and professionals
• Advanced skills in the selection and use of outcome measures
• Experience of workforce development, skill-mix review or service modelling
• Experience contributing to regional or national clinical networks
• Evidence of influencing practice or policy beyond own team or service

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

• Highly Degree or recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Evidence of ongoing and relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Postgraduate training relevant to paediatric speech and language therapy practice

Desirable criteria

• Master’s level study or equivalent experience in a relevant clinical, leadership or research field
• Practice Placement Educator / Supervisor qualification
• Training in leadership, coaching or facilitation
• Research, audit or quality improvement training