clinician

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A large NHS teaching hospital in Norwich is seeking an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to join their inpatient team. This role involves comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients with complex communication, feeding, and swallowing disorders. You will work with a supportive team focused on evidence-based practice and have opportunities for professional development. Candidates must have relevant qualifications and experience managing complex cases, with potential for leadership responsibilities based on experience.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Discounted gym memberships

Excellent pension scheme

Free Park & Ride service

Support in career development

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified Speech and Language Therapist registered in the UK.
• Experience in managing complex patients with communication, feeding, and swallowing disorders.
• Competency in videofluoroscopy and FEES preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessments and treatment for patients with communication disorders.
• Conduct specialist assessments like videofluoroscopy independently.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team for inter-professional patient care.
• Lead and support junior team members.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Clinical assessment

Team collaboration

Education

Relevant professional registration

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Due to internal promotion, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced clinician to join our team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, a large state of the art teaching hospital. The post holder will work as part of our inpatient adult team, predominantly seeing complex acute patients including those on our Critical Care unit and supporting our post operative Head and Neck Cancer patients. Ideally you will be competent in managing patients with tracheostomy, as well as videofluoroscopy and/or FEES, with the opportunity to take on a Clinical Lead role dependent on experience.

You will be joining a well-supported, strong team of speech and language therapists, who are passionate about our Trust's PRIDE values and have a fantastic reputation throughout the hospital. The team is enthusiastic and innovative and committed to evidence-based practice. You will receive regular supervision, be involved in service development and research projects, attend regular team meetings and have access to continuing professional development opportunities both with the Trust and externally. In addition, the team also has strong links with the University of East Anglia including the undergraduate SLT degree course.

So, if you are a versatile, enthusiastic, and motivated speech and language therapist who would like the opportunity to join our friendly team, we would love to hear from you!

Interview date: 23rd December 2025

Responsibilities

• To provide highly specialist Speech & Language Therapy assessment, differential diagnosis, and treatment for patients with communication, feeding and swallowing disorders.
• To conduct and interpret results of specialist instrumental-assessment independently, including Videofluoroscopy (VFS) and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) and Endoscopic Evaluation of the Larynx (EEL). To be aware of Health and Safety issues in relation to potential exposure to radiation and bodily fluids.
• To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure inter-professional patient care for patients with communication, feeding and swallowing disorders.
• To identify and address the professional development and training needs for junior colleagues within the SLT service in negotiation with the Service Manager, and to conduct/contribute to their annual Professional Development Reviews.
• To participate in Clinical Governance, audit activities and in research initiatives within the SLT Department and with the UEA.
• To provide leadership/leadership support to the SLT team.
• To hold and manage a caseload of patients with communication, feeding and swallowing disorders independently and to be legally accountable for all clinical decisions and professional actions.
• To delegate a caseload to junior colleagues within the Speech and Language Therapy team.
• To provide highly specialist assessment, differential diagnosis and appropriate and clearly planned Speech and Language Therapy intervention and discharge planning for patients with a wide range of communication, feeding and swallowing disorders within the SLT team, in line with RCSLT Clinical Guidelines, and standards set by the SLT Service Manager.
• To independently manage feeding, swallowing and communication difficulties in patients with altered airways including the management of patients with voice prosthesis, once competency has been achieved.
• To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in the area of communication, feeding and swallowing disorders underpinned by current evidence based practice.
• To adapt assessment and intervention techniques to the needs of individual patients on an ongoing basis including the provision of augmentative and alternative communication systems as appropriate.
• To provide second opinions for local SLT colleagues in the areas of communication, feeding and swallowing disorders.
• To conduct and interpret results of specialist instrumental-assessment independently, including Videofluoroscopy (VFS) and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES), videolaryngoendoscopy with stroboscopy. To be aware of Health and Safety issues in relation to potential exposure to radiation and bodily fluids.
• To independently carry out oral and deep suctioning on patients as required, once competency has been achieved.
• To independently carry out voice prosthesis changes and advise on laryngectomy/voice prosthesis products as required once competency has been achieved.

Visa and Immigration

If you are wishing to apply for this role and would require sponsorship (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer), you can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this post by assessing your circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.

Travelling to work

Staff parking is available onsite; however, this is limited during core working hours. We have more capacity in the evening and at weekends and can usually provide spaces during those hours. We look to allocate these spaces fairly. Our Travel Office have a set of criteria that staff must meet in order to qualify. If you qualify for a space, you may be placed on a waiting list if we are at full capacity. The NNUH is served by a number of public buses, and we offer generously discounted monthly passes with First Bus & Konect. The Costessey Park and Ride runs regularly each day from 06:30 (from P&R) to 20:45 (from NNUH) and this service is free for NHS staff. There is also a regular Thickthorn P&R service which is free. Applications to the Travel Office are required for this service. We also have a discounted service from the airport P&R if you purchase a bundle. Please see Konect website for further details. The NNUH host multiple bicycle racks and a salary sacrifice scheme. We also benefit from a Beryl station onsite. If you work at another Trust site, please discuss travel and parking arrangements at interview.

DBS

If this post involves working with children or adults the application form will ask for information regarding previous convictions as you will be required to undertake a Criminal Record and Barring Check known as a DBS check. If you are a new employee or registering with the Staff Bank you will need to meet the cost of this unless your salary is less than point 9 of Afc.

NHS Service

Should you be appointed to the post we will need to establish any previous NHS service via the ESR IAT and we will accept the submission of your application as your agreement to this.

UK Registration

You will need to have current UK professional registration where this is a requirement of the role.

Application

Following candidate feedback and to reduce our dependency on paper, all our communication with you regarding your application will be by email so could you please check your e‑mails (and Spam) regularly.

Equality & Diversity

We value equality in our team and recruit from all sections of the community. We recognise there is a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and if you meet the minimum criteria detailed in the person specification and have a disability, you may wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme by indicating this in the relevant section on your application.

Flexibility

Whilst every effort will be made to recruit to the post as it is advertised, there may be occasions where we consider alternative working patterns, such as part time working, or contract types, such as secondments, depending on circumstances. Should you wish to work in a different working pattern to that stated in our advertisement, please indicate this in the supporting statement to your application.

Values

• People-focused – We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.
• Respect – We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others' diverse needs.
• Integrity – We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.
• Dedication – We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.
• Excellence – We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital.

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff! The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world. We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream – access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
• Free 24‑hours confidential counselling support
• On‑site Nursery
• On‑site cafés offering staff discounts
• Support in career development
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes, including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics