Job Summary
Do you want to lead meaningful change? We’re a passionate, friendly, award‑winning team of Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists who have 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.
Key Priorities for the First Year
* Understand the team, local populations and areas for development
* Continue building strong cross‑sector relationships
* 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.
About Us
To find out more about what it is like to work for our Trust please visit the following link: https://yorkhospitals.pagetiger.com/hdjgxd
Our Benefits
* 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.
Job Details
Date posted: 13 January 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number: 419-7687526-CLT-FH
Job location: York Hospital, York, YO31 8HE
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge – Essential
* 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
* Experience leading or significantly contributing to universal and targeted SLT provision
* 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
Experience and Knowledge – Desirable
* 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
* 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
Qualifications and Training – Desirable
* 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
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit https://www.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working-in-the-uk.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/criminal-record-checks-for-overseas-applicants.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see https://www.nhs.uk/working-at-nhs/.
Employer Details
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
York Hospital, York, YO31 8HE
Employer website: https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk
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