Speech & Language Therapy Clinical Lead - Universal & Targeted

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Speech & Language Therapy Clinical Lead - Universal & Targeted

The closing date is 27 January 2026

We're a passionate, friendly, award-winning team of Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists who've already made great strides supporting kids with speech, language, and communication needs. Now, we're looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Clinical Lead to help us take things to the next level.

You’ll be the go‑to person driving forward our universal, targeted, and specialist offers, building on the solid foundation already laid. This means great communication and working closely with parents, carers, schools, and our wider community to raise awareness and create communication‑friendly spaces where kids can truly thrive.

This role covers the City of York and North Yorkshire local authorities, so you’ll need a good understanding of the respective infrastructure to best implement effective change and improvement.

In addition to the main duties outlined below and in the Job Description, your key priorities over the next year will be to:

- Understand the team, local populations, and areas for development

- Continue building strong cross‑sector relationships

- Lead and maintain momentum in ongoing Speech & Language Therapy service development work

Main duties of the job

The Band 7 Clinical Lead Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist (Universal and Targeted) provides visible clinical leadership across universal, targeted and specialist provision. The post holder is responsible for developing, embedding and evaluating evidence‑based speech, language and communication (SLC) practice across the service, ensuring high‑quality, outcome‑focused care for children and young people.

The role combines highly specialist clinical practice with leadership in workforce development, service innovation, education and quality improvement. The post holder will work collaboratively with operational managers, professional leads and wider system partners to raise the profile of speech and language therapy, strengthen early identification and intervention, and ensure equitable, effective pathways into specialist care.

A core focus of the role is to lead the universal and targeted offer, supporting parents, carers, educational settings and professionals to create communication‑friendly environments, promote self‑care and wellbeing, and enable timely, appropriate referrals in line with the service’s impact‑focused ethos.

About us

To find out more about what it is like to work for our Trust please visit the following link:

We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:

- Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants

- 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)

- A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave

- Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme

- NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme

- An extensive range of learning and development opportunities

- Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers

For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust’s dedicated Staff Benefits pages.

Job 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.recruitment@nhs.net.

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.

Person Specification

Experience and Knowledge

- Substantial post‑qualification experience within paediatric speech and language therapy, including work at specialist level

- Advanced knowledge of speech, language and communication development, difference and disorder in children and young people

- Experience leading or significantly contributing to universal and targeted SLT provision

- Proven ability to manage and provide clinical leadership for complex and highly complex cases

- Experience of supervision, mentoring and supporting the development of less experienced staff and students.

- Strong understanding of evidence‑based practice, outcome measurement and service evaluation

- Knowledge of current national policies, professional standards and guidance relevant to paediatric SLT (e.g. RCSLT, NICE, SEND)

- Experience of multi‑agency working, including education and local authority partners.

- Experience of leading service development, audit or quality improvement projects

- Experience of developing and delivering training programmes for parents and professionals

- Advanced skills in the selection and use of outcome measures

- Experience of workforce development, skill‑mix review or service modelling

- Experience contributing to regional or national clinical networks

- Evidence of influencing practice or policy beyond own team or service

Qualifications and Training

- Highly Degree or recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy

- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

- Evidence of ongoing and relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

- Postgraduate training relevant to paediatric speech and language therapy practice

- Master’s level study or equivalent experience in a relevant clinical, leadership or research field

- Training in leadership, coaching or facilitation

- Research, audit or quality improvement training

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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