About the Organisation:
As Scotland’s smallest health board, NHS Orkney is driven by a bold vision: looking after our community and providing excellent care. Whether you’re starting your NHS journey or bringing expertise from another NHS employer, your skills will make a real difference to the health and lives of Orkney’s 22,000 residents.
Our state-of-the-art healthcare facility, The Balfour, opened in 2019 and is home to modern inpatient wards, an emergency department, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices, and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Collaboration thrives here, ensuring exceptional care for every patient. Beyond our main facility, we’re investing in our outer isles, enhancing services, and transforming patient care across our islands.
About Orkney:
Orkney itself is nothing short of magical. With over 70 islands (20 inhabited), this breathtaking destination offers stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and vibrant cultural and sporting activities. Recognised as one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney promises a lifestyle like no other.
The Post:
This post is the Lead 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 post holder will be Team Lead for the adult SLT service.
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.
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, voice and learning disabilities
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 as is the need for the post holder to hold a full driving licence. The post requires frequent travel within mainland Orkney as well as travel to the smaller isles.
Experience of working with Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:
This post will be based at The Balfour
The successful candidate will work: Full Time 37 hours per week
This post is on a Permanent Basis (Fixed-term or secondment will 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 on a Band 7 £48,788 - £56,747 and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,587 pro rata per year, 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!
To find out more about this opportunity please contact Emma McLeod, Interim Lead Speech and Language Therapist on emma.mcleod6@nhs.scot