Speech and Language Therapy Professional Lead

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join the Professional Leadership team as the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Professional Lead. This pivotal role will provide strategic and visible leadership across the Trust, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective SLT services that enhance patient care and experience.

As the Speech and Language Therapy Professional Lead, you will:

• Drive forward the SLT agenda within the wider AHP strategy, aligning new ways of working with organisational goals.
• Lead on evidence-based practice, service improvement, and innovation to strengthen SLT’s contribution to patient care.
• Provide professional leadership and support to SLT teams, fostering a culture of compassion, creativity, and continuous learning.
• Represent the profession at operational and strategic levels, offering expert advice to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the Chief AHP and multidisciplinary teams to deliver national and local quality indicators.
• Contribute to workforce planning and professional development.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic leader passionate about advancing SLT practice and improving patient outcomes. If you are committed to excellence, innovation, and collaborative working, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Professional Lead is a senior role providing strategic, clinical and professional leadership to ensure safe, effective and high‑quality SLT services across the Trust.

Leadership & Workforce Development: Shape the vision for SLT services, advise on service design and workforce planning, support interdisciplinary working, and promote innovation and continuous improvement.

Performance & Quality Management: Ensure compliance with governance and regulatory standards, lead quality improvement initiatives, and respond to safety alerts, complaints and best practice developments.

Policy & Service Improvement: Interpret and implement national and local policy, lead service redesign and contribute to business cases and transformation programmes.

Communication & Collaboration: Build strong internal and external networks, work with HEIs and professional bodies, and provide expert advice and representation at strategic forums.

Resource Management: Support financial planning, oversee efficient use of resources and contribute to sustainable service delivery.

Clinical Contribution: Maintain specialist clinical expertise, act as a role model, and provide advanced clinical advice, supervision and training.

Professional Development: Promote lifelong learning, research engagement and a culture that supports staff development.

This influential role drives excellence in SLT practice, improves patient outcomes and shapes future service direction.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.

Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Working for the Trust

Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.

Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities.  We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds.  If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: yhs-tr.[email protected].

As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment.  It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can.  We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.

Armed Forces Friendly Employer

We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers.  This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.