Job overview
Do you want to lead meaningful change?
We’re a passionate, friendly, award-winning team of Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists who’ve already made great strides supporting kids with speech, language, and communication needs. Now, we’re looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Clinical Lead to help us take things to the next level.
You’ll be the go-to person driving forward our universal, targeted, and specialist offers, building on the solid foundation already laid. This means great communication and working closely with parents, carers, schools, and our wider community to raise awareness and create communication-friendly spaces where kids can truly thrive.
This role covers the City of York and North Yorkshire local authorities, so you’ll need a good understanding of the respective infrastructure to best implement effective change and improvement.
In addition to the main duties outlined below and in the Job Description, your key priorities over the next year will be to:
1. Understand the team, local populations, and areas for development
2. Continue building strong cross-sector relationships
3. Lead and maintain momentum in ongoing Speech & Language Therapy service development work
Main duties of the job
The Band 7 Clinical Lead Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist (Universal and Targeted) provides visible clinical leadership across universal, targeted and specialist provision. 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.
A core focus of the role is to lead the universal and targeted offer, supporting parents, carers, educational settings and professionals to create communication-friendly environments, promote self-care and wellbeing, and enable timely, appropriate referrals in line with the service’s impact-focused ethos.
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:
4. Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
5. 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
6. A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
7. Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
8. NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
9. An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
10. 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
11. Substantial post-qualification experience within paediatric speech and language therapy, including work at specialist level
12. Advanced knowledge of speech, language and communication development, difference and disorder in children and young people
13. Experience leading or significantly contributing to universal and targeted SLT provision
14. Proven ability to manage and provide clinical leadership for complex and highly complex cases
15. Experience of supervision, mentoring and supporting the development of less experienced staff and students.
16. Strong understanding of evidence-based practice, outcome measurement and service evaluation
17. Knowledge of current national policies, professional standards and guidance relevant to paediatric SLT (e.g. RCSLT, NICE, SEND)
18. Experience of multi-agency working, including education and local authority partners.
Desirable criteria
19. Experience of leading service development, audit or quality improvement projects
20. Experience of developing and delivering training programmes for parents and professionals
21. Advanced skills in the selection and use of outcome measures
22. Experience of workforce development, skill-mix review or service modelling
23. Experience contributing to regional or national clinical networks
24. Evidence of influencing practice or policy beyond own team or service
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
25. Highly Degree or recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
26. Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
27. Evidence of ongoing and relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
28. Postgraduate training relevant to paediatric speech and language therapy practice
Desirable criteria
29. Master’s level study or equivalent experience in a relevant clinical, leadership or research field
30. Practice Placement Educator / Supervisor qualification
31. Training in leadership, coaching or facilitation
32. Research, audit or quality improvement training