Speech & Language Therapy; Adult Team Lead (Band 8b)

Job details

• Branch: Western Health & Social Care Trust
• Location: Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex
• Directorate: Primary Care & Older People
• Salary: Band 8b (£64,455 - £74,896 )
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 26/08/26
• Closes: Wed, 09 September 2026 @ 3:30 PM
• Interview Dates: TBC

Notes

If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

SLT Adult Team Lead (34.5 hpw)

BAND

Band 8B

DIRECTORATE

Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Health Professionals (NMAHPs)

LOCATION

Base TBC

REPORTS TO

SLT Head of Service

ACCOUNTABLE TO

JOB SUMMARY

The post-holder will be responsible for all Adult SLT service provision and development within acute hospitals, community services and learning disability settings to achieve well-being outcomes using a collaborative framework.

The post-holder will work strategically in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders to reform, modernise and develop services.

The post-holder will be required to provide professional governance for SLT staff line managed by other agencies and across organisational boundaries (e.g. Palliative Care and Community Stroke). The post-holder will provide professional supervision for Band 8a SLTs in Trust.

The post-holder will have operational responsibility for the Trust area encompassing a wide range of specialisms. The post-holder will provide teaching across the service area to qualified SLTs and other professionals inside and outside the Trust, as required.

The post-holder will provide expert opinion/second opinions to Senior SLTs and those from other professions and service leads from other professions on highly complex clinical cases.

The post-holder will provide professional leadership and consultancy across specialisms for service area. The post-holder will also be required to co-ordinate and undertake research, development and audit activities.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will

Provide expert professional opinion on clinical issues for designated service area on behalf of the Trust

Interpret national and regional policies for new/developing areas

Propose policy changes which impact beyond own area and contribute to policy development across specialisms for service area

Contribute to the development of organisational and professional body responses to emerging health policy at regional/national level

Set challenging goals for service improvement and monitor achievement across specialisms for designated service area

Build and maintain relationships and collaborate with others in developing projects across agencies and clinical specialisms within designated service area

Lead in implementing change programmes across specialisms in the designated service area

Communicate the reasons for change to colleagues and addresses concerns and risks

Seek opportunities to influence local/national policy to improve local healthcare delivery for designated service area

Identify, compare and prioritise current/future service need across specialisms in designated service area, incorporating them into departmental development plans

Extrapolate information and take responsibility for ensuring appropriate and effective decision making processes are in place across specialism for designated service area

Review the effectiveness of alternative treatment options and therapeutic approaches for a highly specialist area/supervisees caseload

Balance clinical priorities for the specialist caseload with those of the designated service area and wider SLT Team and across multi-professional boundaries

Be responsible for implementation of systems and analysis of data to manage resources effectively

Highlight priorities and collaborate with Head of Service to develop business plans across specialisms for designated service area

Deputise for Head of Service

Analyse current and future service needs to inform workforce planning across specialisms for designated service area

Review current provision across specialisms in designated service area; identify opportunities for minimizing inefficiency and implements change

Be responsible for financial planning and management of budget within designated service area ensuring most efficient use of resources

Interpret and implement HR processes for designated service e.g. recruitment and selection, re-deployment, occupational health referrals

Ensure that management structures and practice across the team support a culture of effective team working, continuous improvement and innovation

Ensure efficient use of resources through implementation of Trust policies on Managing Attendance

Identify incompetent or suboptimal practice, investigates and take corrective action within designated service area

Manage inter and intra-disciplinary conflict in designated service area to achieve resolution in line with HR Employee Relations guidance

Facilitate investigation of complaints within designated service area

Clinical Governance

Develop systems to measure risk, and practice to diagnose and quantify risk across specialisms for designated service area

Participate in clinical supervision/appraisal and/or other governance processes related to safety within the organisation

Responsible for appraisal of Band 4/5/6/7/8a SLT Staff

Communicate progress against targets and service plans across designated service area ensuring outcomes are achieved

Monitor and evaluate service delivery against national/local targets and service plans across specialisms for designated service area

Inform the dialogue around the introduction or amendment of locally set performance targets in the context of service area and specialism

Ensure protocols and policies are established and implemented consistently

Advise and inform Head of Service regarding decision making for specialist area using extensive evidence base for service implementation and development

Training/Teaching

Undertake CPD to maintain and further develop specialist clinical knowledge and skills

Deliver training for more junior SLT staff to develop and maintain clinical competency for specialism

Support, guide and supervise Band 7/8a SLTs

Provide specialist clinical placements for undergraduate SLT students, as required

Research

Monitor and evaluate the outcomes of clinical practice across specialisms for designated service area

Contribute to the evaluation of services and change options in terms of their impact on service users across specialisms in designated service area

Lead service improvement initiatives across specialisms for designated service area supporting project development and delivery

Develop and promote culture of PPI to drive service development/improvement in designated service area

Implement changes into practice, based on audit outcomes; develops audit tools for managing risk across specialisms in designated service area

Promote a safety culture within the designated service area through audit and research

Evaluate the impact of Research and Audit outside the profession that impacts upon own specialist area

Administration

Meet clear standards of record keeping in line with Data Protection Act (1998) and Trust policies and procedures and reviews and audits standards

Contribute to service policy on the confidentiality, use, security and disclosure of information

Co-ordinate Freedom of Information/Access to Health record requests within designated service area

Contribute to management and response to complaints in line with the Trust Complaints Procedure

Professional Development

The post holder will be expected to

Be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Maintain clinical knowledge and skill through a programme of continuous professional development

Maintain up to date records of all annual leave, sick leave and study leave, reporting absence in line with Trust and Departmental policy

General Management Responsibilities

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openess and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with ‘Your right to raise a concern (Whistleblowing)’ policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

General Requirements

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the Western Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Western Health & Social Care Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the [org name] policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

The HSC Code of conduct sets out the standards of conduct expected of all staff in the Western Health & Social Care Trust and presents standards of conduct and behaviours required during and after employment with the Trust. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

Employees must at all times abide by Trust policies and procedures and the terms of their contract of employment. They must conduct themselves with impartiality, integrity, objectivity and honesty and maintain high standards of personal and professional accountability.

Employees are expected to demonstrate commitment to the Trust by ensuring regular attendance at work and efficient completion of duties.

Employees must ensure that they comply with any risk management responsibilities specific to their post, and as set out in the Trust’s Risk Management Strategy.

The Trust is committed to the development and implementation of systems under Integrated Governance to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services provided. Employees will be expected to co-operate and work with such systems.

All information concerning patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and may not be divulged to any unauthorized person.

Employees must ensure that equality and human rights issues are addressed within the post holder’s area of responsibility in accordance with the Trust’s Equality Scheme.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND

SLT Adult Team Lead - Band 8B – 34.5 hpw

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE

Nursing, Midwifery & AHPs (NMAHPs)

Ref No

Notes to applicants

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

2. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

3. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Ideally no more than 6-8 criteria in this section

Method of Assessment

Experience

Have a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience as an SLT to include a minimum of 3 years working with an adult caseload at a senior level (Band 7 or above)

Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in staff supervisory and/or management role at a senior level (Band 7 or above)

Have post graduate qualification/training in management/leadership

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications/ Registration

Degree/diploma in Speech and Language Therapy recognised by the Royal College of Speech and language Therapists or equivalent

Registered/eligible for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (successful applicants must be registered at the time of taking up post)

Registered/eligible for membership of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists(successful applicants must be members at the time of taking up post)

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities & Knowledge

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required qualities to be effective in this leadership role. The qualities concerned are outlined in the Healthcare Leadership Model

Healthcare Leadership Model – Leadership Academy

Particular attention will be given to the following dimensions

Leading with Care

Engaging the Team

Developing Capability

Holding to Account

Connecting our service

Interview / Test

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

If this post is being sought on secondment then the individual MUST have the permission of their line manager IN ADVANCE of making application.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

HSC Value

What does this mean?

What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.

I work with others and value everyone’s contribution

I treat people with respect and dignity

I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams

I actively engage people on issues that affect them

I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.

I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness

I learn from others by listening carefully to them

I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.

I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference

I take responsibility for my decisions and actions

I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing

I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships

I ask someone for help when needed

I speak up if I have concerns

I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times