Advanced Practice Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading heart and lung specialist hospital in Cambridge is seeking an Advanced Practice Speech and Language Therapist to join their team for an eight-month fixed-term contract. This role involves working with patients requiring complex speech and swallowing assessments, delivering training, and contributing to service development within a multi-disciplinary team. Applicants should hold a relevant degree and HCPC registration, with experience in cardiothoracic settings preferred.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage complex dysphagia caseloads.
• Experience working in a cardiothoracic setting.
• Competent in FEES and VFSS.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive specialist Speech and Language Therapy services.
• Work independently as an Advanced Practitioner.
• Deliver training to staff and other professionals.

Skills

Good presentation skills

Excellent communication skills

Organizational skills

Ability to work as part of a team

Education

BSc/Pre-Reg MSc/PgDip in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC registration

Tools

Electronic Patient Records

Job description

Go back Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Advanced Practice Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 16 November 2025

Are you looking to work in a world leading specialist cardiothoracic hospital?

Have you got a strong desire to further establish your tracheostomy and instrumental swallow knowledge and competencies?

If so, consider applying for this exciting eight month fixed term opportunity - secondments welcomed.

The role is a Band 7 Advanced Practice Speech and Language Therapist working for Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a national centre of excellence for cardio-thoracic medicine and surgical care. It is also a national centre for cardio-thoracic transplantation. You will be working within a supportive multi-disciplinary team to help implement the highest quality of care provision. Instrumental assessments are a key part of care provision and are carried on patients with complex needs within the Intensive Care and ward environment.

Within the team, we encourage innovative thinking toward service development from all members of the team. You will have the opportunity to gain leadership skills and be encouraged to present at a national and international conferences. You will be supported in publication and research that builds on the excellent speech and language therapy provision at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Main duties of the job

To provide comprehensive specialist Speech and Language Therapy Services to Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Trust as part of the Speech and Language Therapy Team. The post holder will have responsibility for:

Working independently as an Advanced Practitioner in Speech and language Therapy (SaLT) ensuring the continued service of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients with specialist speech, communication and swallowing difficulties.

Working as part of the specialist multi-disciplinary teams across cardiothoracic services, contributing professional expertise in the management of patients with complex communication and swallowing difficulties.

Be experienced in Instrumental assessments including Fibreoptic Endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and Videofluroscopy alongside completion of tracheostomy competencies.

Delivering training to relevant staff, carers and other professionals as required.

Identifying and accessing appropriate CPD to a level that meets RCSLT, HCPC and service requirements.

To ensure the service continues to develop to meet the needs of the patients, the Trust and the Health Professional Council using education, audit and research tools.

Actively participating in service improvement and audit.

Line management of staff and support with student placements.

Deputise for the Speech and Language Therapy team leader.

About us

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital, delivering care to more than 50,000 patients a year in its new state-of-the-art hospital in Cambridge. We perform the most heart and/or lung transplants in the UK and carried out the UK's first successful heart transplant in 1979. It also offers emergency heart attack treatment, sleep centre care and is one of just five centres nationally for those in severe respiratory failure.

Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe the Trust is at the heart of treatments of the future. Royal Papworth became the first hospital trust in the country to be rated outstanding in all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission - a rating it still holds today. The Trust holds its values of compassion, excellence & collaboration at its core, and all colleagues joining the team are expected to uphold these in their day-to-day roles & interactions. Royal Papworth is proud of its diverse workforce and encourages people to embrace their individuality.

The Trust values difference and welcomes all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex and sexual orientation. Providing they meet the minimum post criteria, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview.

For a street view tour: https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/virtual-tour

Job responsibilities

On this page you will find a Role Profile which provides information about the hospital and full details about the role. We recommend that you review this and refer to it as you complete your application. Please include how you will meet the Trust Values Compassion, Excellence and Collaboration. If you would like more information about the role or working at Royal Papworth Hospital, please get in touch with the contact for this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc/ Pre- Reg MSc/ PgDip in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registration

Experience

• Good presentation skills in both verbal and written form.
• Good organisational skills including prioritisation.
• Excellent communication skills, level of interpersonal communication skills including observation, listening, empathy and sensitivity, with ability to liaison with professionals at all levels eg discuss complex patient cases
• Ability to analyse issues and problem solve.
• Ability to negotiate with and influence people.
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team
• Knowledge of professional standards including record keeping.
• Experience of working in a cardiothoracic setting
• FEES competent to a level 3
• VFSS competent
• Management of a complex dysphagia caseload.
• Knowledge of relevant swallowing and communication assessment tools and therapy approaches
• An understanding of the roles of other professionals in acute, rehabilitation and community settings.
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to adults.
• Knowledge of research and audit systems.
• An understanding of the principles of clinical governance.
• Ability to manage the emotional consequences of working with patients with distressing conditions.
• Ability to analyse, reflect on and develop own performance.
• Experience of using Electronic Patient records

Additional Criteria

• Please provide evidence of your commitment to uphold the Trust's values: Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration

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.

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust