Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job summary

Thanks to significant new NHS England funding, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join our expanding neonatal workforce as a Band 7 Specialist Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist (1.94 WTE) within Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. We are seeking dynamic, enthusiastic and highly motivated Speech and Language Therapists to deliver expert care to infants and their families across our neonatal services. Working within a Family Integrated Care (FiCare) model, you will provide specialist support across our two neonatal sites at Leeds General Infirmary and St Jamess University Hospital, making a meaningful difference to the lives of babies born across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region.

Main duties of the job

To assess differentially diagnose and manage complex communication and swallowing breakdown relating to a wide range of conditions. Utilise highly specialist knowledge in line with local policies/protocols and professional guidelines. Provide specialist second opinions on request to other health and social care professionals. Build links with allied agencies across primary and secondary care improving local and regional care pathways across in/outpatient settings. Diagnose, assess, treat and manage complex communication, swallowing, cognitive and emotional impairments. Ensure all patients have opportunities to improve their swallowing/communication function and decrease reliance on enteral feeds and communication aids. Develop a rehabilitation care pathway focussing on education, enablement and empowerment of service users and their carers Please see Job Description for further information

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Details

• Date posted: 10 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 001548
• Job locations: Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For questions about this job, contact:

Name: Victoria Watson Position: Clinical Service Manager Email: vickywatson@nhs.net Phone number: 0113 3920620

Job Summary

As a core member of the Neonatal Multidisciplinary Team, you will work alongside our established Clinical Lead and specialist colleagues to further develop and embed Speech and Language Therapy provision across our Level 1 to 3 neonatal units. This will include our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), High Dependency, Transitional Care and providing an outreach service. This role offers an excellent opportunity to enhance your specialist neonatal skills while contributing to the ongoing development of a progressive and innovative service.

We are a dedicated and cohesive neonatal AHP team delivering highquality, evidencebased developmental care for babies and their families. Recent investment offers an exciting opportunity to expand our workforce and strengthen AHP provision within neonatal services across St James's University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. As we progress through a period of transformation, we are enhancing developmental pathways, improving outcomes and embedding collaborative, familycentred practice. This is an exciting time to join our fantastic team and be part of meaningful service improvement.

We are committed to supporting professional growth and offer excellent opportunities to become involved in service development, quality improvement initiatives and research activities, helping shape the future of neonatal care both locally and regionally.

If you are passionate about neonatal care, thrive within multidisciplinary teams and are looking to be part of an ambitious and forward-thinking neonatal SLT service, we would love to hear from you.

Why you should join our Team

Leeds Children’s Hospital provides care across the region and is a well established teaching hospital. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute health providers in the UK. The hospitals provide tertiary care across a range of specialities including Neurology, Neuro Rehab, Neonates, Cardio-Respiratory & Gastroenterology, respiratory and long term ventilation, critical care, surgical, oncology and haematology. The Hospital is based within one of the fastest growing cities in the North, in the thriving city centre of Leeds which has excellent transport links.

You will be supported by a well-established and highly skilled SLT team with opportunities to explore and learn from other clinical areas. other areas. Within the team there is a structured induction programme and a well embedded supervision structure. This is offered via regular individual / group supervision as well as ample opportunities for joint working and shadowing both within the SLT team and across other disciplines. We are passionate about continuous professional development and hold a monthly “clinical hour” to allow dedicated time for team members to come together, share learning and discuss research and current practice.

You will be based at a modern and well-equipped office space with areas to suit a range of working preferences. There is also secure bike storage, access to showers, a drying room and lockers.

Staff wellbeing is a top priority within the Trust with access to internal support groups as well as staff wellbeing champions and mental health first aiders within the SLT team itself. Work-life balance is also highly regarded with flexible working options and regular team socials planned across the year!

The post holder will join a highly supportive and innovative Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Service. The department offers comprehensive supervision in conjunction with a well-established Continuing Professional Development program and access to regular staff meetings.

What you will bring to the role

To fulfil the role of a Highly Specialist Neonatal SLT, you will have experience of working at an advanced level in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of feeding and swallowing difficulties in Neonates as part of a multidisciplinary team (working within/towards the RCSLT Neonatal competency Level C-D). You will be able to demonstrate highly developed skills in the assessment, treatment and management of complex dysphagia. This may include tracheostomy management and use of instrumental assessment. The candidate will have excellent inter-personal communication, organisational and teamwork skills and be able to show evidence of continued professional development.

You will carry a complex clinical caseload, delivering pre and post-operative assessments/treatments and transfer of care to local and regional level. You will coordinate service development, training and contribute to improving the quality of care. You will be working closely with the Neonatal MDT, patients, families and relevant Health and Social Care teams ensuring compliance against clinical drivers and standards

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Our Trust values

The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.

We are….

Responsible Open and Honest One Team Kind

Our Trust priorities

Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time

Our priorities:

People Improvement and Innovation Partnerships Outcomes

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.