Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist – Neuroscience Inpatients

NHS; Oxford; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Oxford seeks a motivated Speech & Language Therapist for a part-time, permanent role. You will lead on care for complex dysphagia patients, providing clinical supervision and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Candidates must have a Speech & Language Therapy degree, HCPC registration, and formal dysphagia training. The role offers a competitive salary and an opportunity to make a significant impact in patient care.

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent.
• HCPC Licence to Practice.
• Formal post-graduate dysphagia training.

Responsibilities

• Lead on high-quality, person-centred care for patients with complex dysphagia.
• Provide direct clinical supervision and professional development for SLT colleagues.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the Integrated Care System.

Skills

Dysphagia management

Clinical supervision

Advanced communication

Evidence-based practice

Education

Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification

HCPC Licence to Practice

Formal post-graduate dysphagia training

Job description

Overview

Dear candidate,

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated, highly skilled, creative, and leadership oriented SLT to join the Inpatient Adult Team at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The post is a Band 7 grade, on a permanent part time (0.8 WTE, 30 hours per week) contract. The successful candidate will be directly responsible for supporting and managing the Neurosciences Inpatient Speech and Language Therapy workstream which currently provides clinical cover for Neuroscience inpatient wards, the 15 bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, and Specialist Surgery Inpatient Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital. In addition, they will support development of the FEES, VGS, and tracheostomy services alongside peer Clinical Lead SLTs, and supervise and support professional development of their SLT colleagues. They will receive routine support from the SLT Service Manager and work with Band 7 Clinical Lead SLTs for peer support across inpatient and outpatient SLT services.

If you are a proactive, skilled professional looking for a new challenge, please get in touch to discuss the role further. Best wishes, Charlie, Service Manager for Adult Speech & Language Therapy

Main duties

The post holder will be the Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist for the Neuroscience Inpatients SLT workstream based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. They will lead on high-quality, person-centred care for patients with complex dysphagia and communication needs, provide direct clinical supervision, coordination, and professional development for SLT colleagues. They will work as part of the OUH Adult SLT Department and collaborate with other specialist workstreams and across the Integrated Care System.

They will lead service developments and innovation in collaboration with the SLT Service Manager and peer Band 7 Clinical Leads, particularly on developments to the OUH VFS, FEES, and tracheostomy inpatient services.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals: John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the Horton General Hospital. OurValues define the quality of clinical care we offer and our professional relationships. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, focusing on compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

We are committed to safe, respectful hiring and upholding the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Details

Date posted: 29 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year p.a.

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Location: John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU

Job responsibilities

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Patient/client care

• Assess, develop and implement highly specialist speech and language therapy treatment with appropriate clinical decisions following assessments.
• Develop specialist care plans based on best practice and expert knowledge; generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge.
• Provide specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes; manage complex caseloads.
• Advise on management of patients with communication, feeding and swallowing difficulties or tracheostomies; provide specialist advice for relevant care groups.
• Collaborate with a wide range of professions across locations and agencies; demonstrate clinical effectiveness using evidence-based practice and outcome measures.
• Maintain concentration in patient management; monitor communication modalities and adapt to client needs.

Policy/service development/implementation

• Lead on team objectives/projects in liaison with peers; develop care protocols for specific clinical issues.
• Advise line manager on service delivery issues; participate in working groups and policy development.
• Develop care protocols/packages to improve patient care; contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
• Ensure adherence to Trust, Service and team plans and policies; inform policy with specialist knowledge; lead on Service/Trust Clinical Governance Plan.

Financial and physical resources

• Monitor stock levels and request new equipment as appropriate; maintain security and safety of equipment and infection control standards.

Human resources

• Provide specialist training and support to junior staff; supervise unregistered staff and volunteers; participate in recruitment, assessments and inductions; provide second opinions and expert input as needed.
• Oversee the clinical service delivered by staff in the specialty to ensure coordinated, equitable and high-quality service.

Information resources

• Maintain up-to-date case notes in line with standards; share information observing data protection guidelines; gather and update activity data.

Research and development

• Participate in and develop innovations in risk management, quality standards and clinical effectiveness; undertake research, governance/audit projects; contribute to clinical governance within the Trust; collect and provide research data as required; participate in National trials as required.

Freedom to act

• Provide leadership within specialist area; manage a complex caseload independently; monitor and evaluate service delivery; remain accountable for professional actions and adhere to protocols; work independently within appraisal intervals.

Knowledge and Skills

Communication and relationship skills

• Contribute to clinical teams; present complex information to motivate and inform patients, carers and teams; use advanced communication to support distressed patients and carers; negotiate and manage conflict; handle initial complaints sensitively; form productive relationships under stress; maintain sensitivity to emotional needs of patients with communication impairments.

Knowledge, training and experience

• Demonstrate highly specialist knowledge with evidence-based practice; make complex clinical decisions; identify development needs; contribute to local clinical guidelines; participate in appraisal; maintain HCPC and (where applicable) RCSLT registration; develop and deliver specialist training; provide advice to non-specialists; stay compliant with legal frameworks including Working with Vulnerable Adults.

Analytical and judgmental skills

• Recognise potential breakdown and resolve conflicts; analyse complex cases to inform judgments; interpret information to plan care and service development; participate in reflective supervision; tailor training to participants’ needs.

Planning and organisational skills

• Manage and prioritise own caseload and workload independently.

Qualifications and Skills

Essential

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• HCPC Licence to Practice
• Formal post-graduate dysphagia training

Desirable

• RCSLT membership
• Evidence of specialist short courses and clinical supervision training

Disclosure and sponsorship

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a DBS disclosure will be required.

Applications from job seekers requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered. For further information see the UK Visas and Immigration website. Guidance for overseas criminal records checks is available.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU

Website: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/