Head of Profession Adult Speech and Language Therapy

Employer South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site The James Cook University Hospital Town Middlesbrough Salary £66,582 - £77,368 Salary period Yearly Closing 21/10/2026 23:59

Head of Profession Adult Speech and Language Therapy

Band 8b

Job overview

University Hospitals Tees are looking for an exceptional Adult Speech and Language Therapist to lead our services across the organisation. We welcome applications from senior leaders who are passionate and innovative in their approach to delivering the highest quality patient care through the profession.

As a key leader the Head of Profession of Adult Speech and Language Therapy will provide leadership, facilitation, and direction to all Adult SALT staff across the UHT Group model. Through professional leadership they are responsible for providing high quality patient focused therapy services.This role will work with CSU Management teams and the Group Chief and Deputy Chief AHP to support the development of the longer-term strategic direction for all Allied Healthcare Professionals across the Trust Clinical Service Units.

The Head of Profession Adult Speech and Language Therapy has responsibility for the development and clinical supervision for all the Adult Speech and Language therapists and support workforce. Working with the Chief AHP to provide expert advice and guidance to staff. The role will support delivery of the Integrated Speech and Language therapy service strategic plan, objectives, target, and measures ensuring performance objectives relating to Adult Speech and Language Therapy staff and services are achieved. The role will lead of national strategic direction for the professional standards set by RCSALT and the national AHP team.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Profession Adult Speech and Language Therapy will:

work collaboratively with CSU 10, and other CSU’s where Adult Speech and Language Therapy services are delivered, with the therapy leads and teams, providing strategic direction and professional expertise to ensure high quality clinical care within those services.

develop and foster effective relationships with other Clinical Service Units where Adult Speech and Language Therapy services are delivered, corporate functions, and support services.

build productive partnerships with corporate colleagues, local ICB commissioners, Local Authority partners, Higher Education Institutes, Primary Care Teams, professional bodies and the Independent and Voluntary Sectors, to support the corporate development of the delivery model and partner organisations

Compliance with annual appraisal, job plans and essential training across all staff groups, including self (as appropriate).

Governance for the Adult Speech and Language Therapy services

Strategic Clinical lead for Adult Speech and Language Therapy services,

Working for our organisation

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, including those who first language is not English.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in SALT
• Leadership Qualification
• Experience of staff management
• Experience of change management

Experience

• Experience of senior clinical practice
• Experience of team leadership
• Experience of service redesign

Important

Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS) It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.

Qualifications Please note the essential qualifications required for the post are outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to provide original evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted.You will also be required to provide original copies as part of the pre-employment check screening.

For any new employees commencing employment with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

Employment References As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested to ensure e‑mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full‑time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.

At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.

We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.

We are here to supportyou throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Supporting disabled people and people with long‑term conditions

We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.

This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.

If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at Stees.Recruitment1@nhs.net or call us on 01642 854610

Right to Work in the UK

The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self‑assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship hereWork in the UK - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

Further Important Information

Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.

Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Please note that this vacancy will close when we receive sufficient completed applications.

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