Title: Highly Specialist Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist
Advert location: Leeds
Postcode: LS1 3EX
Country: GB
Advertised salary: Band 7 - £49,387-£56,515
Contract: Permanent
Native advert metadata: Apply for job Job reference: 001993 Salary: Band 7 - £49,387-£56,515 Closing date: 15/09/2026 Department: Paediatric Acute Speech Therapy - LTH Location: Leeds General Infirmary Division: Childrens CSU Hours Per Week: 37.5

For questions about this job, contact:
Victoria Watson
Clinical SLT Manager
vickywatson@nhs.net

Shortlisting Date: 15th September
Interview Date: 22nd September

Job Summary
Thanks to significant new NHS England funding, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join our expanding neonatal workforce as a Band 7 Specialist Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist (1.94 WTE) within Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. We are seeking dynamic, enthusiastic and highly motivated Speech and Language Therapists to deliver expert care to infants and their families across our neonatal services. Working within a Family Integrated Care (FiCare) model, you will provide specialist support across our two neonatal sites at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital, making a meaningful difference to the lives of babies born across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region. As a core member of the Neonatal Multidisciplinary Team, you will work alongside our Clinical Lead and specialist colleagues to further develop and embed Speech and Language Therapy provision across our Level 1 to 3 neonatal units.

This will include Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), High Dependency, Transitional Care, Surgical and providing an outreach service. This role offers an excellent opportunity to enhance and develop your specialist neonatal skills while contributing to the ongoing development of a progressive and innovative service. We are a dedicated and cohesive neonatal AHP team delivering high quality, evidence based developmental care for babies and their families. Recent investment offers an exciting opportunity to expand our workforce and strengthen AHP provision within neonatal services across St James's University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. As we progress through a period of transformation, we are enhancing developmental pathways, improving outcomes and embedding collaborative, family centred practice. This is an exciting time to join our fantastic team and be part of meaningful service improvement. We are committed to supporting professional growth and offer excellent opportunities to become involved in-service development, quality improvement initiatives and research activities, helping shape the future of neonatal care both locally and regionally. If you are passionate about neonatal care, thrive within multidisciplinary teams and are looking to be part of an ambitious and forward-thinking neonatal SLT service, we would love to hear from you. Applicants with relevant experience as a Band 6 Paediatric SLT who have the desire to develop their skills and knowledge in an acute neonatal setting, and who demonstrate strong family-focussed values would also be considered. Please state in your application if an up-skilling Band 6 role would be your preference.

Why you should join our Team
Leeds Children’s Hospital provides care across the region and is a well-established teaching hospital. Leeds Teaching Hospital it is one of the largest acute health providers in the UK. Our hospitals provide a diverse and exciting range of specialist services, including Neurology, Neurorehabilitation, Neonatal Care, Cardio-Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, Long-Term Ventilation, Critical Care, Surgery, Oncology and Haematology. Based in Leeds, one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant cities in the North, the Trust benefits from excellent transport links and a thriving city-centre location. Joining our team offers a unique opportunity to develop your clinical expertise within a highly skilled and supportive Speech and Language Therapy service. You will be part of a well-established SLT team with access to a broad range of acute specialties, including Neonates, Tracheostomy, Long-Term Ventilation, Cardiology, Critical Care and Videofluoroscopy.

We are committed to supporting your professional growth through a structured induction programme, robust supervision framework and extensive opportunities for joint working, shadowing and multidisciplinary collaboration. Continuous professional development is at the heart of our service. Alongside regular individual and group supervision, we host a monthly Clinical Hour, providing protected time for staff to share learning, discuss current evidence and research, and develop best practice together. You will be based in a modern, purpose-designed workspace that supports a variety of working styles, with excellent facilities and personal lockers. Staff wellbeing is a key priority within the Trust. We foster a positive and inclusive team culture, with access to staff wellbeing initiatives, internal support networks, wellbeing champions and Mental Health First Aiders within the SLT team. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance, offering flexible working opportunities and a vibrant social programme throughout the year. The successful candidate will join an innovative and forward-thinking Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Service that values collaboration, learning and excellence in patient care. Alongside comprehensive supervision and a well-established Continuing Professional Development programme, you will benefit from regular team meetings and the opportunity to contribute to ongoing service development and innovation.

What you will bring to the role
The candidate will have excellent inter-personal communication, organisational and teamwork skills and be able to show evidence of continued professional development. You will carry a complex clinical caseload, delivering pre and post-operative assessments/treatments and transfer of care to local and regional level. You will coordinate service development, training and contribute to improving the quality of care. You will be working closely with the Neonatal MDT, patients, families and relevant Health and Social Care teams ensuring compliance against clinical drivers and standards Leeds Children’s Hospital provides care across the region and is a well-established teaching hospital. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute health providers in the UK. The hospitals provide tertiary care across a range of specialities including Neurology, Neuro Rehab, Neonates, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, respiratory and long-term ventilation, critical care, surgical, oncology and haematology.

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Our Trust values
The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.
We are….
Responsible
Open and Honest
One Team
Kind
Our Trust priorities
Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time
Our priorities:
People
Improvement and Innovation
Partnerships
Outcomes

Sponsorship Eligibility
To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.