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Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (RaCI)

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

DURHAM, DH1 5TWView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Not specified

Closing date

2 October 2026

1 day left

Job description

This is a rare and exciting opportunity in Adult Speech and Language Therapy to lead and develop new patient pathways in Rehabilitation after Critical...

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of

the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of

around 600,000 people. We are a high performing organization with a track

record of success.

We are looking for a highly skilled Speech and Language

Therapist with FEES competencies and experience of working in ITU with

tracheostomized patients. However, a skills escalation programme would be put

in place for a successful candidate who was able to demonstrate significant

previous acute dysphagia management experience. The successful candidate will

work alongside RaCI MDT colleagues to deliver personalised care in ITU but also

have the opportunity to work in hyper-acute stroke and medicine amongst a team

of motivated SLT colleagues.

The successful candidate will

hold a degree in Speech and Language Therapy and be registered with the Health

Professionals Council. You will have significant post-graduate experience of

working with complex dysphagia in an acute setting, preferably ITU, management

of tracheostomised patients and FEES with a passion for service development.

We will provide professional

development opportunities to enable career development with peer support and

clinical supervision from RaCI lead based at DMH. You will be committed to

multi-disciplinary working, continuing professional development of complex

dysphagia and communication disorders and be in possession of excellent

communication and prioritisation skills. Experience of FEES and working in an

ITU setting would be highly desirable.

Language Therapy service is comprised of a pro-active team of experienced

colleagues allowing ready-access to support, second opinions and on-going peer

supervision to deliver evidence-based practice assessment and therapy to

patients. You will help supervise more junior staff and speech and language

therapy students as well as contribute to the delivery of teaching programmes

to the RaCI MDT, medical students and a range of professionals enhancing

patient care

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on

AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of

success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Click here to enter text. Ability to make judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
  • Planning and organisational skills applicable to advising on the formulation of long-term strategic plans relating to the specialist area, which involve uncertainty.
  • Highly developed physical skills (precision, speed, hand/eye/sensory co-ordination) to perform real time phonemic and phonetic transcriptions.
  • High level interpersonal and communication skills persuasion, negotiation, training, empathy and re-assurance.
  • Ability to communicate highly complex
  • sensitive, contentious information where there
  • may be barriers to overcome.

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Commitment to developing own clinical and non-clinical expertise.
  • To keep up to date with current clinical and technical advances and relevant management practices; to be advised of same by peers and more senior clinicians within the Trust.
  • Able to travel independently within the Foundation Trust area/ Car Owner/ Car Driver
  • Able to travel independently countywide
  • Driving posts musty have valid Full UK driving licence

Qualifications

Essential

  • Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent as recognised by RCSLT
  • Health professions Council Licence to Practice
  • Evidence of successful completion of highly specialist courses up to Masters Degree Equivalent
  • Knowledge and understanding of national and local Health/Education/Social care policies and practices
  • Highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practices relating to the identification, definition, diagnosis, dysphagia disorders including a post basic dysphagia qualification or equivalent

Desirable: - FEES trained; - Experience of Joint SLT/ENT clinics

Experience

Essential

  • Highly specialist experience at post-graduate level in voice/ dysphagia specialist/lead area.
  • At least 2 years working as a Speech and Language Therapist in specialist area.

Statutory Registration

Essential: - HCPC registration; - RCSLT member

How to apply

Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.

Provenance

Source

NHS Jobs

First seen

18 September 2026

Last checked

22 September 2026

Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.

About the employer

CDD
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

NHS organisation

This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.

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