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Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
66 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Experience
Substantial experience as a SLT.
- Experience
Substantial SLT experience post qualification with significant experience working in the neonates specialism.
- Experience
Experience working at advanced level in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of neonates
- Experience
Experience in teaching competencies to less experienced Speech and Language Therapists.
- Experience
Experience in the provision of second opinions and advice to internal and external professional colleagues.
- Experience
Experience in delivering Communication and Swallowing training to SLT colleagues and other members of the MDT
- Experience
Experience of conducting clinical audit.
- Experience
Experience in student clinical supervision
- Experience
Experience of working in Specialist MDT's and acting as a specialist SLT resource.
- Experience
Experience in research/audit
- Experience
Ability to formulate independent clinical decisions following assessment.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Awareness of current SLT issues
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Specialist Knowledge of relevant client groups: In-depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and evidence of highly specialist clinical expertise relevant to the specialism.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Well established knowledge of RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines/ policies both locally and nationally in the specialism as well as relevant national strategy and drivers.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of neonates and older children presenting with communication and/or feeding difficulties.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including audit cycle, continuous quality improvement and user involvement.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Ability to perform specialised SLT assessments, interpret and plan relevant SLT care programmes for patients with highly complex communication and swallowing needs and multiple medical conditions.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Advanced knowledge of communication and swallowing problems related to the specialism and associated surgery/treatments.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Demonstrate advanced knowledge in interpretation of complex clinical information to develop, monitor and perform highly specialist swallowing and communication care plans.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Responsible for liaison at local and regional level to secure safe transfer of care for these complex client groups.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Demonstrate the ability to evaluate practice using evidence based practice and critical appraisal.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Ability to advise and suggest suitable dietary and fluid modifications to facilitate safe swallowing.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Knowledge of clinical governance, quality of care and evidence based practice in specialist areas.
- Knowledge and Clinical Understanding
Awareness of national guidance and driving factors in specialist areas.
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Able to work within a team, demonstrate initiative, confidence and excellent time management and organisational skills.
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Good written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Good presentation skills in delivering training to large multidisciplinary groups of staff or members of the public (this may involve groups of more than 50 people).
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Ability to use a range of specialist equipment with precision and accuracy during communication and swallowing assessments.
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills. Active and empathetic listening/ counselling skills
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Able to negotiate with client / carer and medical / AHP teams around individual case management
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Able to communicate complex, sensitive condition-related information from assessment to patients and carers
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Ability to give clear advice, instruction and training to patients, carers and other professionals relating to complex communication/ swallowing disorders
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Good time management, organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Well developed analytical, reflective, negotiation and problem solving skills.
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Excellent organizational and prioritisation skills
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Highly developed Negotiation and Problem solving skills
- Clinical, Technical and Communication Skills
Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
BSc (Hons) Clinical Language Sciences or equivalent degree accredited by RCSLT.
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
HPC Registered to practice as a SLT.
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Post Graduate Qualification in Dysphagia.
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree accredited by RCSLT.
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Health Professions Council license to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist.
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Advanced level dysphagia training
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Comply with professional codes of practice, professional guidelines and departmental policies and procedures.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with Trust policies and HPC standards.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Be compassionate and ethical in the provision of SLT care.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional development.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Be a pro-active team member of the SLT department at LTHT by participating in departmental development projects, attending and participating in departmental meetings and clinical updates.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Demonstrate the ability to communicate highly complex, specialised and sensitive information with empathy and understanding.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Demonstrate the ability to provide highly complex Communication and Swallowing counselling to patients requiring cognitive behavioural therapy skills and use of advanced reassurance, motivational and negotiation skills to overcome barriers to change.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Demonstrate the ability to analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form accurate therapy care plans in specialised areas.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Demonstrate analytical skills in prioritising the best course of SLT treatment in patients with highly complex clinical conditions, where therapeutic goals may conflict with other ongoing physical, emotional, psychological and medical problems.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Sensitive to the needs of others and has an awareness and responsiveness to other peoples feelings and needs
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Values differences; regards people as individuals and appreciates value of diversity in the workplace
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Able to work as part of a team, co-operating to work together and in conjunction with others and willing to help and assist wherever possible and appropriate.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Able to develop, establish and maintain positive relationships with others both internal and external to the organisation.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Able to work under pressure, dealing with peaks and troughs in workload.
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Positive attitude to dealing with change; flexible and adaptable, willing to change and accept change and to explore new ways of doing things and approaches
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Highly motivated and reliable
- Core Behaviours, Values and Personal Qualities
Has a strong degree of personal integrity; able to adhere to standards of conduct based on a sense of right and wrong and be dependable and reliable
- Training and Continuing Professional Development
Willing to undergo training as required in this post.
- Training and Continuing Professional Development
Must be willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills required to carry out duties
- Training and Continuing Professional Development
The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority.
- Training and Continuing Professional Development
The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
Desirable
15 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Line Management experience
- Experience
Experience in conducting appraisals
- Experience
Competence and experience in conducting, interpreting and analysing VFSS to support diagnosis and management of patients presenting with complex paediatric dysphagia.
- Experience
Assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of communication and feeding disorders associated with tracheostomy including ventilator assisted patients in a paediatric setting
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Post Graduate training in: Neonatal feeding difficulties
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
EKSF / Appraisal training
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Advanced communication skills
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Post graduate training in VFSS
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Evidence of successful completion of specialist post graduate short courses related to the specialism eg: Neonatal; Tracheostomy; Videofluoroscopy; Palliative Care
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Post Graduate training in and maintenance of: RCSLT Level C / proficient paediatric Dysphagia Training & Competency Framework
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Post Graduate experience in neonatal feeding difficulties, working within Level C RCSLT neonatal competencies
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Evidence of successful completion of specialist post graduate short courses related to the specialism e.g.: Neonatal and / or Paediatric Dysphagia; Complex feeding difficulties
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
FINE Courses (Family and Infant Neurodevelopmental Education) SOFFI (Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants) Wolf and Glass
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Evidence of successful completion of specialist post graduate short courses related to: - Infant Feeding - Breast feeding
- Qualifications and Professional Registration
Post Graduate experience in neonatal feeding difficulties, working within Level D RCSLT neonatal competencies
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. As a core member of the Neonatal Multidisciplinary Team, you will work alongside our Clinical Lead and specialist colleagues to further develop and embed Speech and Language Therapy provision across our Level 1 to 3 neonatal units.
Main duties of the job
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 Leeds Childrens 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, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, respiratory and long-term ventilation, critical care, surgical, oncology and haematology. Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.
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: 01 September 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 7
- Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
- Reference number: 001993
- Job locations: Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
For questions about this job, contact:
Victoria Watson
Clinical SLT Manager
vickywatson@nhs.net Shortlisting Date: 15th September Interview Date: 22nd September
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 James’s University Hospital, making a meaningful difference to the lives of babies born across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region. As a core member of the Neonatal Multidisciplinary Team, you will work alongside our 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 Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), High Dependency, Transitional Care, Surgical and providing an outreach service. This role offers an excellent opportunity to enhance and develop 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 high quality, evidence based 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, family centred 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. Applicants with relevant experience as a Band 6 Paediatric SLT who have the desire to develop their skills and knowledge in an acute neonatal setting, and who demonstrate strong family-focussed values would also be considered. Please state in your application if an up-skilling Band 6 role would be your preference.
Why you should join our Team
Leeds Children’s Hospital provides care across the region and is a well-established teaching hospital. Leeds Teaching Hospital it is one of the largest acute health providers in the UK. Our hospitals provide a diverse and exciting range of specialist services, including Neurology, Neurorehabilitation, Neonatal Care, Cardio-Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, Long-Term Ventilation, Critical Care, Surgery, Oncology and Haematology. Based in Leeds, one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant cities in the North, the Trust benefits from excellent transport links and a thriving city-centre location. Joining our team offers a unique opportunity to develop your clinical expertise within a highly skilled and supportive Speech and Language Therapy service. You will be part of a well-established SLT team with access to a broad range of acute specialties, including Neonates, Tracheostomy, Long-Term Ventilation, Cardiology, Critical Care and Videofluoroscopy.
We are committed to supporting your professional growth through a structured induction programme, robust supervision framework and extensive opportunities for joint working, shadowing and multidisciplinary collaboration. Continuous professional development is at the heart of our service. Alongside regular individual and group supervision, we host a monthly Clinical Hour, providing protected time for staff to share learning, discuss current evidence and research, and develop best practice together. You will be based in a modern, purpose-designed workspace that supports a variety of working styles, with excellent facilities and personal lockers. Staff wellbeing is a key priority within the Trust. We foster a positive and inclusive team culture, with access to staff wellbeing initiatives, internal support networks, wellbeing champions and Mental Health First Aiders within the SLT team. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance, offering flexible working opportunities and a vibrant social programme throughout the year. The successful candidate will join an innovative and forward-thinking Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Service that values collaboration, learning and excellence in patient care. Alongside comprehensive supervision and a well-established Continuing Professional Development programme, you will benefit from regular team meetings and the opportunity to contribute to ongoing service development and innovation.
What you will bring to the role
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 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, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, respiratory and long-term ventilation, critical care, surgical, oncology and haematology.
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.
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This advert is for Specialist Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in Leeds, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 to £56,515 a year. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 15 Sep 2026.
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