Head of Speech and Language Therapy

North Cumbria Integrated Care; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in North Cumbria is seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to lead both acute and community services. This role involves providing strategic and clinical leadership, overseeing the delivery of evidence-based care, and managing the professional development of staff. Candidates should possess strong leadership skills and a relevant SLT qualification. The position offers a competitive salary along with great benefits including NHS discounts and flexible working options.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme

Flexible working scheme

NHS discounts

Salary sacrifice schemes

Excellent development opportunities

Competitive NHS pension scheme

Free confidential counselling service

Qualifications

• Dynamic and skilled SLT with leadership experience.
• Experience in acute and community services.
• Ability to implement evidence-based practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead acute and community SLT services across North Cumbria.
• Provide professional guidance and governance for SLTs.
• Manage recruitment and career development within SLT services.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical practice

Interdisciplinary cooperation

Evidence-based practice

Communication

Education

SLT qualification

Job description

Grade 8b - Will consider 8a progressing to 8b within 12-18 months:

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and highly skilled SLT to lead acute and community services across North Cumbria and act as Professional Lead across the whole organisation. This can be offered as a development position or for an experienced lead. With the Lake District, the coast and the historic city of Carlisle on your doorstep alongside a clinically‑led and diverse organisation spanning acute and community care, a work‑life balance is guaranteed.

This role requires a forward‑thinking SLT with the skills to utilise the specialist clinical practice that already exists within the team, with strategic and operational leadership, utilising innovation to evaluate, develop, implement and analyse working practices within the SLT service through the use of evidence‑based practice, audit, research and outcome measures to ensure effective and efficient pathways of care and service delivery for the population of North Cumbria.

As the Head of SLT you will provide strategic, operational, professional, clinical leadership and governance for SLTs. Alongside the Associate Director of AHPs and AHP leads you will play an integral role in the fulfilment of NCIC’s focus and vision of moving care closer to home. You will also lead on workforce development with an emphasis on recruitment, retention, role development and lead on developing research and education within the profession and with academic partners.

Key Responsibilities

• To provide leadership to the professional staff group within the System ensuring that professional standards are set, implemented, monitored and maintained.
• To manage the service specific staff within SLT Services to include recruitment, retention through career development and appraisal, management of poor performance and sickness absence.
• To represent The Profession within the System and externally participating in professional and multi‑agency forums across the region and nationally as required ensuring the wider contribution from the profession.
• To work closely with the ADAHP to develop an environment of flexibility and interdisciplinary co‑operation leading to the provision of a comprehensive and responsive professional service to patients and carers.
• To provide professional advice to Clinical care Groups and Partnership Organisations based upon evidence and good practice.
• To take a lead role in workforce planning and career structure design for the profession within the System to inform recruitment and retention within the service.
• To ensure that the service is provided within designated budget, identifying and delivering efficiency measures as appropriate.
• To oversee the education of the profession’s students, co‑ordinating practice placements and liaising with University and Colleges.
• To be responsible for own continued professional development.
• To hold a clinical commitment across adult acute and community care.

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 Key Principles

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information (Please ask recruiting manager and delete if not appropriate) This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

Disclosure and Barring Service

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The Cost Of The DBS Must Be Met By The Successful Candidate(s) Through Salary Deduction. DBS Charges Are As Follows If Applicable To The Post

• Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one‑off payment.
• Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one‑off payment.

NCIC Can Offer Successful Future Employees The Following Benefits

• 27‑day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• Flexible working Scheme
• NHS Discounts
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Excellent opportunities for development
• Competitive NHS Pension scheme
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work‑related problems

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.