About the Organisation:
NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.
Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.
We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.
About Orkney:
With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.
The Position:
This post is the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for the adult population in Orkney. The post holder is responsible for leading, developing, and delivering a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapy service. There are established links with Grampian SLT and other services for management of specific conditions and clinical pathways.
The post holder is required to work across a number of different settings including The Balfour, care homes, patient homes, and other community settings. Developing and delivering training is expected in both acute and community settings.
The Speech and Language Therapy Team in Orkney has 5.35 WTE SLT staff for adults and children. The post holder works collaboratively with the Lead Children and Young People’s Speech and Language Therapist, to lead and manage the Speech and Language Therapy department. You will be supported in your role by the Lead AHP for Adults.
The Candidate:
The role requires highly specialist knowledge of complex dysphagia and communication difficulties across a variety of conditions including stroke, progressive neurological conditions, dementia and voice disorders.
The successful candidate will have a degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy/Pathology, master’s level post registration training and/or qualifications in dysphagia management and a minimum of three years’ experience working at a senior level.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work autonomously and flexibly are essential for this post. The post requires frequent travel within mainland Orkney as well as travel to the smaller isles.
It is essential that the post holder has access to transport and if driving themselves, should hold a full driving licence. If by virtue of a disablement, an applicant has the qualifications to perform the post but cannot drive, then the possibility of adjustments to arrange transport will be considered.
Experience of working with Augmentative and Alternative Communication is also desirable.
Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:
This post will be based at The Balfour
The successful candidate will work: Full Time 36 hours per week
This post is Permanent (Fixed Term, Secondment or hybrid working arrangements may be considered)
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.
Benefits and Salary:
Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
The salary for this post is Band 7 and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,719 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.
NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.
Further Information:
If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact ork.recruitment@nhs.scot
For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.
To find out more about this opportunity please contact Fay Morrice, Lead Adult Speech and Language Therapist on (01856) 888329 or email: fay.morrice@nhs.scot
This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check.
NHS Orkney is an equal opportunities employer committed to advancing equality and particularly welcomes applications from groups of people currently underrepresented within the workforce. We are a committed participant in the Disability Confident Leader Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for our vacancies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies.
Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.
Please note this advert may close early if sufficient applications are received.
This post is eligible for relocation assistance.
