Job requirements
Essential
47 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Experience
1.Completed RCSLT Professional Competencies Framework.
- Experience
2.A period of post-qualification experience in communication, swallowing and voice disorders
- Experience
3.Good working knowledge of a wide range of developmental and acquired speech, language, communication and voice difficulties and their treatments.
- Experience
4.Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience
5.Experience liaising with other health, education and social professionals.
- Experience
6.Experience of planning and delivery of training for other professionals and parents/carers.
- Experience
7.Experience of working alongside highly specialised therapists for highly complex cases
- Experience
8.Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups
- Experience
9.Evidence of CPD and attendance at a range of short courses e.g. Dementia, Sentence Processing, Social Models of Therapy, Videofluoroscopy, Ethical issues, Dyspraxia
- Qualifications
1.Membership of Health and Care Professions Council
- Qualifications
2.Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification.
- Qualifications
3.Fulfilment of RCSLT competency criteria completion of external courses in specialist area.
- Qualifications
4.Basic counselling skills
- Qualifications
5.Successful completion of specialist post-graduate training e.g. Dysphagia Management Course
- Qualifications
6.Evidence of CPD including attendance of a wide range of short courses in specialist clinical area e.g. Aphasia, Dysphagia, Motor Speech Disorders, Voice
- Qualifications
7.Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups
- Qualifications
8.Well-established knowledge of a range of specialist assessment tools relevant to a wide range of adult communication disorders
- Physical Skills
1.To have due regard for own personal safety and that of clients/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others.
- Physical Skills
2.Lifting and carrying equipment for assessment and treatment on a regular basis.
- Physical Skills
3.To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of client management for prolonged periods, in particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.
- Physical Skills
4.To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
- Physical Skills
5.To employ counselling skills with carers and clients (including clients with complex needs)
- Physical Skills
6.To demonstrate the ability to manage clients with challenging behaviours, including the application of appropriate management strategies
- Physical Skills
7.To be adaptable to the demands of a variety of working conditions and/or a wide range of clients
- Physical Skills
8.To work within infection control and Health & Safety guidelines in order to deal with unpleasant conditions relating to client contact as they arise, for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis
- Physical Skills
9.To employ appropriate strategies to manage verbally aggressive behaviour within the workplace
- Physical Skills
10.Competent computer skills
- Skills and Knowledge
1.Knowledge of current national policies and procedures.
- Skills and Knowledge
2.Knowledge of trends/best practice across the clinical specialisms
- Skills and Knowledge
3.In-depth knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to the client groups and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits of each
- Skills and Knowledge
4.Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
- Skills and Knowledge
5.Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group
- Skills and Knowledge
6.Knowledge of standards of record-keeping
- Skills and Knowledge
7.Working knowledge of safeguarding
- Skills and Knowledge
8.Working knowledge of structure, policies and functioning of the NHS and Local Authority
- Skills and Knowledge
9.Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills.
- Skills and Knowledge
10.Ability to communicate effectively with Health, Education and Social Services professionals, as well as parents/families/carers.
- Skills and Knowledge
11.Influencing and problem-solving skills
- Skills and Knowledge
12.Demonstrate excellent analytical, assessment, deduction and reflection skills
- Skills and Knowledge
13.Well-developed concentration skills
- Skills and Knowledge
14.Excellent presentation skills - written and oral
- Skills and Knowledge
15.Excellent organisational and time-management skills
- Skills and Knowledge
16.Prioritisation skills
- Skills and Knowledge
17.Innovative thinking skills
- Skills and Knowledge
18.Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume supervisory responsibilities of assistants and mentoring responsibilities of less experienced therapists
- Skills and Knowledge
19.Independent and autonomous working
- Skills and Knowledge
20.Highly-developed discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
Desirable
6 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Significant specialist
- Experience
experience post-qualification across range of clinical areas
- Experience
Completion of Level 1 Counselling Skills or equivalent
- Qualifications
Developing skills in instrumental swallowing assessment e.g. VF, FEES
- Qualifications
Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Physical Skills
Car driver/owner
Job summary
We have an opportunity for one fixed-term Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to cover existing maternity leave within the department.
The Post is 36 hours per week, in our Adult Speech and Language Therapy Team.
We would like you to join us and depending on your skills, we have available sessions into our in-patient, stroke and ENT/voice services, across South Tyneside and Sunderland.
You will join our well-established Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service and will work mainly in acute and / or out-patient settings. You will be a key part of our service and will have opportunity to develop your skills in working with people with a wide range of voice, speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. As a team we work together to provide the best service we can whilst striving to develop staff who are our key asset to improve patient outcomes. You will have excellent support and will be encouraged to develop your clinical skills and may also be involved in instrumental assessment clinics. You will be keen to drive services forward as we change and develop. You will align to our vision and values which include using research and innovation to improve patient care.
Main duties of the job
The Adult team provides SALT across South Tyneside and Sunderland.
You will:
- demonstrate proven clinical expertise and experience in working with adults with a range of speech, language, voice, communication and swallowing difficulties
- have excellent prioritisation, communication and team working skills
- have excellent training and presentation skills
- be keen to work within a large, forward-thinking department which is embedded in a successful Therapy Services Directorate
- have a proactive and flexible approach to problem solving and caseload management to ensure we take the service forward to support care across acute and community settings
- be able to meet the travel requirements of this post.
We are a patient-focussed service and continually strive to improve what we do for the benefit of the people who live in our area. Our team has a strong research background and you will be encouraged to translate innovation, audit and research outcomes into practice for improved patient care and outcomes.
To find out more, contact -
Sarah Talbot or Sam Taylor on 0191 569 9009
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Details
- Date posted: 09 September 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 6
- Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year pro-rata for part-time
- Contract: Fixed term
- Duration: 12 months
- Working pattern: Part-time
- Reference number: C9155-CSAHP-0926-13
- Job locations: Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, SR4 7TP, United Kingdom, South Tyneside District Hospital, Harton Lane, SOUTH SHIELDS, Tyne And Wear, NE34 0PL, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist service (assessment, diagnosis and implementation of specialist SALT treatment) to adults in the Adult Service who present with a range of speech, language, voice, communication and swallowing disorders including those who have complex and/or severe difficulties.
To supervise the work of more junior SALTs, SALT Assistants/Technical Instructors and students.
To participate in research in specialist area as required.
To work in close collaboration with other professionals to provide an integrated approach to each clients specific difficulties.
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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 the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
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 Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist roles in Sunderland
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Adults) with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS FT in Sunderland, England; South Shields, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £39,959 to £48,117 a year. The contract type is Fixed-Term. The application deadline is 23 Sep 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (09 Sep 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.