Job summary
The Specialist Speech and Language Therapist will be based within the Northumberland footprint and will work integrated in the 0-19 service including Health Visitors and Child Development Practitioners. The post holder will support the service offer to families, and the promotion health, wellbeing and development of children. The post holder will develop training, interventions and pathways in order to promote evidence-based assessments and interventions which considers The Home Learning Environment to narrow the 'word gap' and promote school readiness.

Main duties of the job
To support Speech and Language Services to children in the Northumberland footprint of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

The role will include working closely with both the 0-19 service and multi-agency partners to contribute to the development of family hub innovations, to support a system approach to group developments. Evidence based practice will be promoted across the system.

The post holder will have extensive knowledge of SLCN in children between the ages of 0-19 and will share specialist knowledge around SLCN with colleagues and partners; the post holder will develop and deliver training to the service and partner agencies.

The Speech and Language Therapist will promote best practice interventions to support early language development via the delivery of training and supervision to the Northumberland Healthy Child team. The Northumberland 0-19 Healthy Child team will receive training in enhanced speech and language interventions and the Early Language Identification Measure assessments and interventions. The sharing of best practice and training will be extended to wider partners within the Northumberland footprint.

A key role of the post holder will be to promote an integrated approach within the Northumberland footprint through the collaborative development of a School Readiness Pathway and the development of interventions and group activities which are tailored to needs.

About us
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area, as well as across North Yorkshire, Leeds and parts of the North East.

At HDFT we provide outstanding care to both our patients and our staff and we value Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork and Equality. If you're looking for an interesting and rewarding career in the NHS, where you can make a real difference to patients' lives, HDFT could be the place for you!

We offer colleagues:

• A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work.
• Staff Recognition - as well as regular appraisals, we recognise achievements with our Making a Difference and Team of the Month Awards, along with annual Colleague Recognition Awards.
• Employee Support and wellbeing - we offer a wide range of staff benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast-track Physiotherapy service.

Please note:

• Due to high levels of interest, posts may close early if we reach a sufficient number of applications.
• Visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for a visa before submitting your application.
• Please also be aware that the Trust does not offer relocation packages for Agenda for Change roles.

Details
Closing date: 16 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 421-CYPD-4067R

Essential qualifications and experience

• Graduate with recognised qualification in speech and language therapy
• Membership of HCPC.
• Relevant experience at postgraduate level of working in schools, pre-school settings and local authority Children Centre's
• Relevant experience of working with children with a range of SLCN
• Knowledge and commitment to RCSLT codes or practice and RCSLT and local clinical guidelines
• Recent Post Graduate Paediatric SLT Training in a range of SLCN needs

Desirable

• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Experience of designing and delivering training around SLCN to parents and professionals
• Experience of teaching or coaching
• Experience of working collaboratively with key delivery partners
• Understanding of the Early Language Intervention Measure and ASQ assessment tool
• Awareness of the Healthy Child Programme

Employer contact
Locality Manager Lynn Bainbridge, lynn.bainbridge@nhs.net, 07812397764

Apply through our website
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. The post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.