Job summary
Are you a Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop your skills within a supportive and experienced Learning Disability team? We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Band 5 Speech & Language Therapist to join our Community Learning Disability Team on a 12-month fixed-term basis (27 hours per week).

This role offers an excellent opportunity to further develop your clinical skills while working with adults with learning disabilities across a range of communication & dysphagia needs. You will be supported by experienced Speech & Language Therapists & work closely within a multidisciplinary team including Community Nurses, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dietitians, Support Workers & Psychiatrists.

The successful candidate will:

• Hold a recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy and be registered with the HCPC.
• Have successfully completed their RCSLT Newly Qualified Practitioner (NQP) competencies (or equivalent preceptorship requirements).
• Have experience of working with adults with learning disabilities, either through employment, placements or relevant clinical experience.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with service users, families and partner agencies.
• Be committed to delivering compassionate, person-centred care and evidence-based practice.
• Be keen to further develop specialist knowledge and skills in learning disability and dysphagia practice.

Main duties of the job
Experience in dysphagia assessment and management is desirable but not essential. The successful applicant will be supported to develop competencies relevant to the role through clinical supervision, mentoring and continuing professional development opportunities.

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is committed to supporting staff development through comprehensive clinical supervision, appraisal, personal development planning and access to a wide range of learning opportunities. The successful candidate will join a welcoming and innovative team with strong professional links across Leeds, providing excellent opportunities for ongoing professional and career development.

Please note: This is a community-based role and the postholder must hold a UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work purposes. Please reference this in your application.

About us
The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.

There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.

We also have a bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.

Applicants should be aware that individuals requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust only provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles (this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Job responsibilities
Our service provides specialist assessment and intervention for adults with learning disabilities in Leeds who present with communication and/or swallowing difficulties that cannot be met by mainstream services. As a Speech and Language Therapist within the Community Learning Disability Team, you will manage a designated caseload and work collaboratively with service users, families, carers and professionals to deliver person-centred, evidence-based care.

You will join a highly supportive team of Speech and Language Therapists and be supported to further develop your clinical skills in communication and dysphagia assessment and intervention, working closely alongside experienced colleagues within the wider multidisciplinary team. Regular opportunities are available for clinical supervision, peer support, practice development and shared learning.

The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of specialist speech and language therapy interventions, participate in multidisciplinary working, and support service developments that enhance outcomes for people with learning disabilities. You will have opportunities to contribute to training, quality improvement projects and the ongoing development of the service.

We are looking for a therapist who is passionate about supporting adults with learning disabilities, advocates for person-centred care, and enjoys working creatively to meet individual communication and swallowing needs. The role involves close partnership working with health, social care and voluntary sector organisations, as well as delivering advice, support and training to carers and support providers.

The service operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Staff are equipped with mobile and remote working technology to support flexible and efficient ways of working across community settings. As part of a welcoming and experienced multidisciplinary team, you will have access to a wide range of professional development opportunities, including speech and language therapy practice development meetings, MDT working and wider AHP networks.

We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.

All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.net

Attached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree or Masters qualification in Speech and Language Therapy and current HCPC registration. Evidence of completion of NQP competencies.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and working within a multidisciplinary team.

Understanding
Essential

• Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and how it is applied.

Skills
Essential

• Skills in adapting communication to communicate complex information to service users and their support network.
• Skills in reflective practice and being able to adapt to the demands of the role.

Values
Desirable

• Tell us about a time when you spotted something small going wrong and did something to stop it becoming a bigger issue.
• Tell us about a time when you realised a colleague or someone you know needed a bit of support and you offered to help.
• Tell us about a time when you showed someone kindness or understanding.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: St Mary’s Hospital, Leeds, LS12 3QE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/

Details
Date posted: 20 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year Per Annum Pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 173-53126-LDS-A
Job locations: St Mary’s Hospital, Leeds, LS12 3QE, United Kingdom

For questions about the job, contact:
Leigh Boustead
Leigh.boustead@nhs.net
01138555345