Advanced Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Adult Critical Care

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Band 7 Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for the Adult Critical Care SLT service. The role focuses on adults with complex dysphagia and communication disorders in the general ICU, including leadership, training, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

The post is permanent and part-time (15 hours/week) with flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate experience in specialist communication and swallowing in the acute setting.
• Independent assessment and management of complex dysphagia and communication disorders in critical care.
• Experience with FEES examinations and tracheostomy management.
• Experience supervising students and supporting less experienced SLTs.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage adults with highly complex dysphagia and communication disorders in ICU.
• Provide clinical leadership through supervision and education activities.
• Contribute to audit, research and quality improvement initiatives.
• Cover for Senior Specialist SLT in service coordination and representation.

Skills

Clinical leadership

FEES interpretation

Tracheostomy management

Supervising students

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent

HCPC registration

RCST membership

Advanced specialist courses in critical care swallowing

Specialist Interest Groups

Job description

Advanced Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Adult Critical Care

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours 15 hours per week (Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered.) Job ref 180-B-263168-RE

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B Town Cambridge Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join the Critical Care Speech and Language Therapy team at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

We are pleased to advertise a permanent, part-time band 7 Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist position to support the provision of specialist SLT services in a general intensive care unit.We are seeking a highly motivated clinician with expertise in the assessment and management of adults with complex dysphagia and communication disorders within a critical care setting.Experience in instrumental swallowing assessment and tracheostomy management is highly desirable. The target start date for this position is April 2027.

Main duties of the job

You will independently assess and manage adults with highly complex dysphagia and communication disorders within general ICU, providing advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based management recommendations.

You will provide clinical leadership through supervision and support of students, contribute to education and training, participate in audit, research and quality improvement initiatives, and play an active role in the ongoing development of Adult Acute SLT services.

You will provide cover for the Senior Specialist SLT in service and team co-ordination, operational management and representation at relevant forums as required.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

This vacancy will close at midnight on the 18th October 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on the 26th October 2026.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent
• Health professions Council Registration
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Evidence of successful completion of advanced specialist short courses in communication and swallowing disorders in critical care, including tracheostomy management, to masters level equivalent
• Member of Specialist Interest Groups

Experience

• In depth post graduate experience in specialist area of communication and swallowing in the acute setting
• Proven competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of complex communication and swallowing disorders associated with a critical care caseload
• Independent use and interpretation of FEES examinations
• Proven experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies, including ventilator dependent patients
• Experience in the selection, use and programming of augmentative communication systems
• Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals
• Experience of supervising students and supporting less experienced SLTs
• Involvement in multidisciplinary working
• NHS Experience

Knowledge

• Well established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication and dysphagia relevant to critical care.
• In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group.
• In depth understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit to monitor and improve service
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.
• Highly developed auditory and perceptual discriminatory skills for analysis of speech, including phonetic transcription
• Advanced clinical skills in analysis and interpretation of FEES examinations, including ability to pass the nasendoscope
• Excellent presentation skills, both verbal and written
• Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member and assume leadership responsibilities
• Excellent negotiation and problem solving skills for management of complex cases
• Excellent analytical and reflection skills
• Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills
• Computer skills for the preparation of reports, presentations and therapy materials
• Counselling Skills

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Siofra Mulkerrin Job title Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01223 216200