About this role
Job summary
Would you like to work in a team who were finalists for clinical team of the year 2026 who were recognised for their compassion and creativity?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our service. This is a permanent post, working full time (37.5 hours per week), providing input to inpatient wards predominantly in Newcastle upon Tyne. Consideration would be given to part-time hours.
The inpatient wards provide assessment, intervention and an MDT approach to support adults who are experiencing mental illness and require specialist speech and language therapy input for communication and/or dysphagia needs.
This post is part of the Speech and Language Therapy Inpatient Team, which supports both working-age adult and older people's mental health wards across North Cumbria, Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, and Sunderland. The team works with individuals presenting with complex cognitive and functional mental health needs.
We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic individual to join our team. The successful candidate will be confident in delivering high-quality, evidence-based assessments and interventions. They will possess excellent communication and organisational skills, alongside the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Main duties of the job
You will work to support patients to achieve their therapeutic goals by supporting their language and communication skills. In practice, you will assess and provide a range of communication interventions with the individual both directly and indirectly with support and guidance from senior clinicians. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate excellent awareness of communication difficulties.
You will liaise closely with fellow professionals to support communication needs and differences, and eating/drinking difficulties as part of a holistic, service user centred service and will contribute to, write and review care plans and provide high quality service user centred care.
You will have a varied caseload with opportunities to contribute to a range of wider projects within a variety of wards within inpatient settings. You will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to contribute to the existing multi-disciplinary team.
A qualification in dysphagia is desirable, a commitment to developing dysphagia skills is essential and a core part of the role.
About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
The Speech and Language Therapy Service in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is continuing to develop and grow to meet the needs of our patients and local communities.
You will become part of a large, dynamic team of Speech and Language Therapists working within well-established multidisciplinary teams, all committed to delivering high-quality care. We actively support professional development and offer opportunities for all team members to contribute to service development and innovation.
We will provide you with a comprehensive induction period and you will have access to ongoing clinical supervision and appraisal with development reviews that will provide you with support and the specialist skills required to meet the holistic needs of the patients in your care. The post holder will be expected to actively engage in the Trusts supervision and continuing professional development process.
Job description Job responsibilities
The base for this post will be St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne however you will be expected to provide cover into inpatients settings across the Trust geographical area.
Please see the separate job description, person specification and the service and role descriptor for more information.
Advertising date : 10th September 2026
Closing date : 24th September 2026
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification Essential
Recognised SALT degree qualification and completion of NQP competencies Registration with HCPC Evidence of completion of a short course relevant to the area of specialism
Desirable
Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Log of supervised hours/completion of dysphagia competencies
Knowledge and Experience Essential
Experience of delivering appropriate specialist assessments and evidence based interventions to service users with communication and/or swallowing disorders Specialist communication skills, considering a variety of strategies to support adults with complex communication/cognitive needs Experience of developing therapeutic partnerships with service users and carers Experience of communicating interventions to service users and Experience of working with service users with complex needs and their carers in successful delivery of treatment plans Working knowledge of statutory issues which impact on service users eg safeguarding Experience of working within a mult-disciplinary environment Experience of supervising others eg assistant practitioners, students Experience of contributing to audit and/or service evaluation Knowledge and an understanding of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Experience of working at post graduate level as a Speech and Language Therapist with adults who have a learning disability, complex and challenging behaviours and/or mental health needs
Desirable
Knowledge of assessment and management of challenging behaviours Experience of delivering training relevant to SALT
Skills and Competencies Essential
Proven ability to carry out and provide comprehensive written assessments of individuals with complex mental health needs Risk assessment, risk/safety management planning skills Demonstrate an understanding of effective and appropriate treatment options including a range of evidence based clinical approaches as identified in the NICE guidance Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and good conflict resolution skills Evidence of a high level of professional, organisational and leadership skills (self and others) Ability to adapt within a changing environment and work under pressure Ability to use electronic recording and relevant IT equipment Ability to work effectively with other professionals using a multi-agency approach. Ability to work autonomously and within a team Excellent time and case management skills Proven track record of acting as an effective advocate for service users and their carers
Desirable
Clinical leadership skills Teaching and presentation skills Clinical supervision skills
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
Address St Nicholas Hospital
Jubilee Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)