Adult Speech & Language Therapy Service Manager

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a proactive and influential Head of Adult Speech & Language Therapy to lead the service and deliver Trust objectives. You will work with the Therapies Clinical Leads and Head of Therapies to ensure high quality, safe and effective patient care and to develop a workforce including students and support staff.

You will champion service improvement, lead governance and KPI monitoring, manage budgets and recruitment, and build countywide

Qualifications

• SLT degree qualification or equivalent.
• HCPC registration as a Speech Therapist.
• MSc in clinical discipline or leadership or equivalent.
• Significant experience managing people and performance.
• Experience working within adult SLT services in the acute setting.

Responsibilities

• Professionally lead and operationally manage the Adult Speech and Language Therapy service.
• Line manage the clinical team leads and support staff.
• Oversee the overall service delivery for Acute Adult SLT.
• Ensure governance programmes with regular monitoring and KPI data.
• Collaborate with Trusts and agencies to develop countywide pathways.

Skills

Speech and Language Therapy Degree

HCPC registration

Leadership experience

People management

Acute SLT experience

Education

MSc in clinical discipline or leadership

Job description

The Adult Speech and Language Therapy service is an integral part of the Therapies Clinical Service Unit. The post holder will work in partnership with the Therapies Clinical Leads and be accountable to the Head of Therapies to lead the service and deliver departmental and Trust objectives. We are looking for someone to continue the good leadership over the 12 months that the current service manager is on maternity leave. To continue to grow and develop the service to: - -

• Improve the access, responsiveness and quality of speech and language therapy services across all clinical areas
• Advance the level of innovation and quality within tertiary service specialty areas, such as neuroscience, head and neck, and major trauma services
• Build a comprehensive training and career progression programme for students, support workers and qualified staff to become the employer of choice for speech and language therapists

The successful candidate will be responsible for the service management and performance of adult Speech & Language Therapy Services within Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust., The post holder will be responsible for the service management of the Acute Adult Speech & Language Therapy Service at Oxford University Hospitals Trust. They will work in partnership with the head of therapies and therapies clinical leads and be accountable for the delivery of high quality, safe and effective speech and language therapy services. They will be required to work collaboratively with the community S< Clinical Leads to ensure a seamless and integrated pathway across the county of Oxfordshire and beyond. The post holder will hold a key responsibility for budget management, quality assurance, governance, people management and development, and ensuring that S< is critical in contributing to the CSU and Trusts objectives. In addition, the post holder will deliver direct clinical care working in an area which supports their clinical competencies and the service need, offering enhanced skill and knowledge to those within that specialist area.

· Professionally lead and operationally manage the Adult Speech and Language Therapy service. This includes line management of the clinical team leads and the staff who support them. Work in partnership with the Head of Therapies and other professional leads across the OUHFT Trust. · Be responsible for the overall service delivery for Acute Adult Speech and Language Therapy. · Ensure that the service to patients is effective and efficiently managed through the implementation of clinical governance programmes with regular monitoring and evaluation, and clearly demonstrated through agreed KPI and Data platforms. · Ensure effective partnership working across Trusts and agencies supporting the development of a countywide vision for Speech and Language therapy services. · Work within a delegated budget as dictated by the Head of Therapies. · Have a specialist advisory role for the Trust in this clinical area, attending forums as appropriate ensuring that the voice of Acute ASLT is recognised within the Trust. · Ensure that a good standard of undergraduate education for student Speech and Language Therapists is offered within the service. · Contribute to the development and implementation of Trust wide policies and practice, ensuring that best Speech and Language therapy practice supports integrated clinical care. · Ensure that there are clear lines of responsibility and accountability through the service, supporting the Trust business reputation at all times. · Responsible for recruitment and selection for staff that report within the service in accordance with the policy and guidance from Human Resources. · Work within the professional scope and guidance as dictated by the Royal College of Speech and Language therapists and to support the service to do the same. · Use highly specialist clinical skills to manage a specialist caseload of adults to identify, assess and manage communication/swallowing impairments and select appropriate patients and type of therapy for effective treatment

• Speech & Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
• HCPC registration as a Speech Therapist
• MSc in relevant clinical discipline or leadership or equivalent experience
• Has advance knowledge and skill in delivering evidence-based, person-centred therapeutic S< interventions.
• Considerable experience managing people and performance
• Evidence of significant experience of working within adult speech & language therapy services in the acute setting.

Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and most respected NHS teaching trusts, providing world-class healthcare across four hospitals: the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Horton General Hospital and over one hundred satellite sites. Find out more information here OUH at a Glance 2026/27 You'll become part of an organisation at the forefront of patient care, research, education and innovation. You'll have access to excellent learning and development opportunities, work alongside highly skilled multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to services that make a real difference. Our commitment to Delivering Compassionate Excellence is at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence, we strive to create an environment where staff feel supported, valued and empowered to thrive. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel and the OneTeamOneOUH - LIVING OUR VALUES video. We are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful and safe workplace for everyone. As signatories to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, we have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour and are dedicated to fostering a culture where all colleagues feel welcomed, respected and able to be themselves. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles.

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.