Contact information
Clare Garner Children's Speech and Language Therapy Team Lead
Clare.Garner@nhs.net
01977465417
About the role
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a motivated Speech and Language Therapist to be part of a forward-thinking Children's Therapy Team. We are keen to hear from you if you are a looking for a Paediatric Band 6 Speech & Language Therapy role or opportunity to have a Band 5 to 6 development role working with young children with complex communication needs.
The role is working with young children, their families and settings to develop the children's communication skills. There will be opportunities to work within a multidisciplinary team and local authority staff as part of this role. Our Speech & Language Therapists are committed to supporting individuals, education staff and families to promote speech, language and communication skills. We also support children and young people to promote their safe eating and drinking. This post can provide funded opportunities for postgraduate Dysphagia Training and ADOS Training if relevant and of interest to the successful candidate.
The post is based in the Wakefield and Pontefract area and you will be part of a team of over 30 therapists and therapy assistants. There is an expectation to work across the patch, therefore the candidate must have a full and valid driving license and access to a vehicle for work purposes.
Main Duties
We are looking for a keen and enthusiastic therapist to join our Speech and Language Therapy Team, if you are looking for a permanent Band 6 or Band 5/6 development post we would like to hear from you. We can consider part time work or job share for this role.
The main duties are to provide Speech & Language Therapy, including assessment, treatment, management and training for a caseload of children of pre-school age with a range of language and communication needs, including but not limited to social interaction differences, developmental delay and genetic conditions. The team works in the community in the patients' homes, in educational settings across the district, and based in our Child Development Centres in Pontefract and Pinderfields Hospitals.
There is a robust system for peer support, managerial, clinical and safeguarding supervision. Continued professional development is encouraged and supported through yearly appraisals and protected time for CPD, clinical and safeguarding supervision.
Key requirements
To provide high quality holistic assessments, that ensures the development of care plans and client goals and outcomes and lead to a safer discharge for all clients whilst delivering a service that meets those needs in a timely and appropriate manner.
To work clinically and be able to care for clients presenting with a wide range of conditions and treatment requirements, initiating and promoting excellence in clinical practice acting as a role model to junior staff.
To demonstrate clinical leadership, provide clinical experience to all members and carry out SLT activities in accordance to policies and procedures identified by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (MYHT).
To create an environment where staffs are aware and have regard for clients customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
To ensure clinical risk assessments are carried out in line with clients individual needs.
To maintain a safe environment conducive to the delivery of individual client care through Infection Control Monitoring, Health and Safety Audits and Risk Assessments, both for clinical and non-clinical, ensuring staff adherence to infection policies and procedures.
To work in partnership with families, schools and settings to ensure all interventions and goal plans are complied with.
To maintain a culture that recognises and works in partnership with clients and carers involving them in all decisions relating to care delivery.
To maintain effective communication links between SLT staff and other agencies, clients and carers where there may be barriers to understanding.
To attend designated meetings and ensure accurate feedback of any changes to clients communication difficulties is completed.
To encourage contributions and suggestions from staff to improve the delivery of high quality service within the department.
To employ the relevant and appropriate pathways for all clients based on clinical judgement by utilising existing skills, knowledge and experience.
To maintain and improve own professional knowledge and competence ensuring use of evidence based practice, benchmarking and development of skills.
To assist team members in developing their own professional competence and development according to their individual personal development plans, ensuring participation in clinical supervision. Providing a teaching/educational role for colleagues, students, clients and carers and encourage a culture of learning where students receive quality placements supported by mentorship and teaching.
Demonstrate the appropriate supervision skills with mentorship, achievement of learning competencies and ongoing training and development.
Clearly communicate timely, accurate and relevant information regarding client care with clients, their families and carers, other professionals and services to ensure seamless, appropriate timely care and empower clients to maintain/improve their independence.
Contribute to the development of strategies, guidance and protocols in accordance to MYHT clinical governance systems and objectives. To communicate collaborative partnership working within services e.g. education, primary care and social services. To take the lead in team developments as designated by the line manager.
To maintain standards in ongoing health information, both electronic and paper based, ensuring safe keeping and confidentiality, accurate record keeping of relevant data and profiling. To input clinical information onto Systm One as per MYHT policy.
To maintain confidentiality, privacy and dignity in relation to the clients and their treatments at all times.
To undertake all mandatory/essential training as required by MYHT.
Participate in clinical and safeguarding supervision ensuring that practice is maintained at high levels and is evaluated utilising appropriate mechanisms.
To demonstrate and maintain own knowledge and awareness of recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding the needs of vulnerable children.
To provide safe and effective clinical placements for SLT students.
Be part of MY team
We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.
We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.
If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.
Application guidance:
We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Our benefits
* Access to the NHS pension plan
* Generous holiday allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with 5 and 10 years of service
* Exceptional employee health and wellbeing services
* Extensive benefits and support, including:
* Onsite nurseries and childcare salary sacrifice scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* Home electronics scheme
* Car lease salary sacrifice scheme
* Working carers support and advice, carers network and carers passport
* Flexible working options and family and carer-friendly policies
* Established staff networks, including LGBTQ+ and Race Equality
* Career progression, training and support
Skilled worker sponsorship
You can find out more about skilled worker and health and care visas on our careers site .