Highly Specialised Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Stroud; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a passionate Speech and Language Therapist to join their Specialist Stroke Unit. The successful candidate will have a pivotal role in managing complex communication and swallowing disorders and contribute to multi-disciplinary rehabilitation efforts. This position requires extensive experience, a strong clinical background, and a commitment to delivering high-quality care to patients recovering from strokes.

Qualifications

• Extensive postgraduate clinical experience required.
• Experience in managing communication/swallowing disorders related to Stroke is essential.
• Evidence of training SLT colleagues and managing complex cases.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings and discharge planning.
• Provide training and supervision to junior staff and students.

Skills

Communication

Swallowing Management

Patient Assessment

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Health Care Professions Council registration

Completed dysphagia training course

Job description

Job summary

We are inviting applications from Speech and Language Therapists with extensive experience in Stroke Rehabilitation with a passion for delivering the highest quality of specialist intervention.

Experience and skills in the assessment and management of swallowing disorders and a range of communicationimpairments following a Stroke are essential.

The community stroke unit provides Allied Health Professional (AHP) led specialist rehabilitation to people with difficulties following stroke. Therapy takes place on the community stroke unit (in-patients) and is supported by a team of experienced multi-disciplinary AHP's, nursing staff and rehabilitation assistants. The team works closely with the Acute Stroke Unit based in Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS foundation Trust and the Stroke Early Supported Discharge Team (ESDT), the Community Neurology Service (CNS) as well as AHP's based in the ICTs (Integrated Community Teams) and community hospitals.

The Speech and Language therapists contribute to the MDT rehabilitation of relevant patients and assist in the day to day running of the team, including training, referral management and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of self and others.

We are looking for an enthusiastic clinician to work in this collaborative multi-disciplinary team who shares a philosophy of empowering patients to be more independent and active in their recovery.

Main duties of the job

To act as Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) within the Specialist Stroke rehabilitation unit supporting service provision and embedding best practice in a community hospital setting

To independently manage a highly specialist and complex caseload of adults with acute, complex acquired disorders of swallowing, voice and communication following Stroke

To work closely with the Therapy Lead for Stroke and head of profession for SLT in the ongoing development of the SLT service in the inpatient Stroke rehabilitation setting

To be involved in and leading complex discharge planning for patients with language or swallow impairment

To be an integral member of the ward teamproviding professional support and advice and acting as a resource to others and to link with acute SLT colleagues

To ensure that evidence-based practice is inherent in all aspects of care and treatment

To undertake specific evaluation and quality initiatives in line with local and national drivers and contribute to the strategic development of the Stroke Service

The post holder has supervisory and teaching responsibility for multidisciplinary staff, more junior staff, apprentices, students and rehabilitation assistants

Day to day operational and supervisory responsibility for Rehabilitation Assistants and Band 6 SLT

To support self and service development through active participation in Continuing Professional Development and by undertaking audit or research within the service

About us

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.

Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was great to hear that:

• 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.
• 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.
• 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.

This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.

Details Date posted

03 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

327-25-455

Job locations

The Specialist Stroke Unit, Vale Community Hospital,

Lister Road

Dursley

GL11 4BA

Job description Job responsibilities

Clinical

To provide highly specialist differential diagnosis, clinical advice, as well as safe and effective care plans/therapy to clients with communication / swallowing difficulties; this includes analysis of facts and a comparison of a range of options for appropriate intervention, implementing specialist programmes where appropriate.

To be responsible and accountable for the management of own highly specialist clinical caseload of patients with complex communication and/or swallowing difficulties.

To manage clinical risk and to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands.

To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient.

To record and interpret personally generated clinical observations and provide feedback for clients/carers/professionals and relevant others at a highly specialist level.

To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained and realistic short term and long term goals are set, evaluated and reviewed at the appropriate timescale in accordance with Trust guidance and professionally agreed criteria

To provide advice and second opinions to SLT colleagues when necessary to support the clinical management of clients following a stroke.

To assess and analyse type, severity and impact of complex conditions of speech, language, communication and swallowing impairments in stroke patients, through specific formal, informal and instrumental assessments.

To demonstrate clear communication skills when presenting specialist clinical information in both verbal and written formats when dealing with sensitive situations such as end of life.

To participate in and where indicated, initiate multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care. This will include the review of patient progress and discharge planning and close working relationships with secondary care.

To assist the Therapy Lead in demonstrating flexibility where necessary to support and deliver service provision keeping them updated about staffing and service issues offering solutions and strategies as appropriate.

Professional

To contribute to multi-disciplinary/inter agency team building and policy development.

To assume responsibility for personal development, including identifying own development needs, and ensure other team members are supported for development and supervision.

To identify and initiate audit projects to review current clinical practice.

To monitor the quality of care provided by the team and ensure the promotion of a culture of evidence-based practice.

Contribute to local clinical guidelines using specialist experience from specific area of work.

To produce a competency framework in your specialist area.

To work with the departmental research champion for support to initiate research projects.

To monitor and evaluate clinical effectiveness using provided support, evidence-based practice and outcome measures.

To maintain up to date and accurate case notes, both paper and electronic records in line with RCSLT Professional Standards, GHC Trust Policy and departmental guidelines.

To adhere to and maintain the standards and guidelines as recommended by the RCSLT and the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) codes of conduct and practice.

To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working with a variety of patients and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration.

To prescribe augmentative and alternative methods of communication (e.g. communication aids) and provide support, advice and training to clients, carers and professionals.

To refer clients on to other services and agencies and to liaise with members of voluntary organisations concerned with the client group

To negotiate with carers/clients/others around individual case management, ensuring client involvement in their clinical outcomes.

To develop and comply with protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific.

End of.

Leadership / Management

To manage communication breakdown/conflict in complex cases and generates potential solutions.

To contribute to and take a lead in multidisciplinary projects/initiatives, when required.

To attend departmental development meetings, presenting and leading as necessary.

To provide clinical and line management supervision to colleagues including annual appraisal, training and support to less experienced Speech and Language Therapists, rehabilitation assistants and students.

To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate

To be involved in the management of issues relating to performance management.

The post holder has no budgetary responsibility but will contribute to effective stock control and use of resources to support budget management.

Job description Job responsibilities

Clinical

To provide highly specialist differential diagnosis, clinical advice, as well as safe and effective care plans/therapy to clients with communication / swallowing difficulties; this includes analysis of facts and a comparison of a range of options for appropriate intervention, implementing specialist programmes where appropriate.

To be responsible and accountable for the management of own highly specialist clinical caseload of patients with complex communication and/or swallowing difficulties.

To manage clinical risk and to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands.

To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient.

To record and interpret personally generated clinical observations and provide feedback for clients/carers/professionals and relevant others at a highly specialist level.

To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained and realistic short term and long term goals are set, evaluated and reviewed at the appropriate timescale in accordance with Trust guidance and professionally agreed criteria

To provide advice and second opinions to SLT colleagues when necessary to support the clinical management of clients following a stroke.

To assess and analyse type, severity and impact of complex conditions of speech, language, communication and swallowing impairments in stroke patients, through specific formal, informal and instrumental assessments.

To demonstrate clear communication skills when presenting specialist clinical information in both verbal and written formats when dealing with sensitive situations such as end of life.

To participate in and where indicated, initiate multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care. This will include the review of patient progress and discharge planning and close working relationships with secondary care.

To assist the Therapy Lead in demonstrating flexibility where necessary to support and deliver service provision keeping them updated about staffing and service issues offering solutions and strategies as appropriate.

Professional

To contribute to multi-disciplinary/inter agency team building and policy development.

To assume responsibility for personal development, including identifying own development needs, and ensure other team members are supported for development and supervision.

To identify and initiate audit projects to review current clinical practice.

To monitor the quality of care provided by the team and ensure the promotion of a culture of evidence-based practice.

Contribute to local clinical guidelines using specialist experience from specific area of work.

To produce a competency framework in your specialist area.

To work with the departmental research champion for support to initiate research projects.

To monitor and evaluate clinical effectiveness using provided support, evidence-based practice and outcome measures.

To maintain up to date and accurate case notes, both paper and electronic records in line with RCSLT Professional Standards, GHC Trust Policy and departmental guidelines.

To adhere to and maintain the standards and guidelines as recommended by the RCSLT and the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) codes of conduct and practice.

To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working with a variety of patients and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration.

To prescribe augmentative and alternative methods of communication (e.g. communication aids) and provide support, advice and training to clients, carers and professionals.

To refer clients on to other services and agencies and to liaise with members of voluntary organisations concerned with the client group

To negotiate with carers/clients/others around individual case management, ensuring client involvement in their clinical outcomes.

To develop and comply with protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific.

End of.

Leadership / Management

To manage communication breakdown/conflict in complex cases and generates potential solutions.

To contribute to and take a lead in multidisciplinary projects/initiatives, when required.

To attend departmental development meetings, presenting and leading as necessary.

To provide clinical and line management supervision to colleagues including annual appraisal, training and support to less experienced Speech and Language Therapists, rehabilitation assistants and students.

To provide full student placements, including assessment of the placements as appropriate

To be involved in the management of issues relating to performance management.

The post holder has no budgetary responsibility but will contribute to effective stock control and use of resources to support budget management.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy and registered with the RCSLT.
• Health Care Professions Council registration (HCPC)
• Completed dysphagia training course to Masters level or equivalent.
• Appropriate range of postgraduate clinical education relevant to the area of Stroke

Experience Essential

• Extensive postgraduate clinical experience
• Post graduate experience in management of communication/swallowing disorders relating to Stroke
• Evidence of having worked unsupervised
• Experience and evidence of training speech and language therapists and other professionals and delivering in-service training programmes
• Experience of being a supervisor e.g. therapists, students, support workers, assistants who are directly accountable to the post holder
• Evidence of working with multidisciplinary teams and across multi-agency boundaries
• Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients and management of a complex caseload independently

Desirable

• Experience of managing tracheostomy during swallowing assessments
• Experience of working with individuals with medium/high tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

Professional/managerial/specialist knowledge Essential

• Demonstrate experience in the assessment treatment and evaluation of swallowing and communication disorders of various aetiologies, including those with complex presentations.
• Able to demonstrate specialist knowledge in rehabilitation of patients with complex needs and multi pathologies, underpinned by current evidence-based practice.
• Able to deliver in service training programmes
• Commitment to teaching at an undergraduate and postgraduate level
• The ability to demonstrate critical appraisal skills
• Can demonstrate a proven track record of audit and/or research
• Knowledge of a broad range of specialist formal and informal communication and swallowing assessment methods and interpretation.
• Awareness of national policies and procedures relevant to health care and this specialist SLT caseload
• Commitment to ongoing training, education and mentoring to develop clinical skills

Desirable

• Experience of FEES/VF interpretation (Fibre-optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow/ Video Fluoroscopy)

Personal Skills and attributes Essential

• Approachable and flexible
• Be able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to assimilate new concepts and approaches to care
• Ability to engage positively with service users
• Ability to work effectively as a team member
• Proficient with Microsoft Office packages e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including skilled and professional recognition of communication barriers/ facilitation
• Be able to self-motivate and work autonomously
• Evidence of initiative and leadership
• Active and empathetic listening and counselling skills

Other Essential

• Able to attend and participate in all mandatory and statutory training events
• Ability to manage challenging situations where either patient's, their families or carer/s may be emotive with the potential to display aggression or violent behaviour
• The ability to move between sites within Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust as demanded by the job role
• The ability to manage stress when working under pressure with heavy caseloads and time/staffing level constraints

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy and registered with the RCSLT.
• Health Care Professions Council registration (HCPC)
• Completed dysphagia training course to Masters level or equivalent.
• Appropriate range of postgraduate clinical education relevant to the area of Stroke

Experience Essential

• Extensive postgraduate clinical experience
• Post graduate experience in management of communication/swallowing disorders relating to Stroke
• Evidence of having worked unsupervised
• Experience and evidence of training speech and language therapists and other professionals and delivering in-service training programmes
• Experience of being a supervisor e.g. therapists, students, support workers, assistants who are directly accountable to the post holder
• Evidence of working with multidisciplinary teams and across multi-agency boundaries
• Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients and management of a complex caseload independently

Desirable

• Experience of managing tracheostomy during swallowing assessments
• Experience of working with individuals with medium/high tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

Professional/managerial/specialist knowledge Essential

• Demonstrate experience in the assessment treatment and evaluation of swallowing and communication disorders of various aetiologies, including those with complex presentations.
• Able to demonstrate specialist knowledge in rehabilitation of patients with complex needs and multi pathologies, underpinned by current evidence-based practice.
• Able to deliver in service training programmes
• Commitment to teaching at an undergraduate and postgraduate level
• The ability to demonstrate critical appraisal skills
• Can demonstrate a proven track record of audit and/or research
• Knowledge of a broad range of specialist formal and informal communication and swallowing assessment methods and interpretation.
• Awareness of national policies and procedures relevant to health care and this specialist SLT caseload
• Commitment to ongoing training, education and mentoring to develop clinical skills

Desirable

• Experience of FEES/VF interpretation (Fibre-optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow/ Video Fluoroscopy)

Personal Skills and attributes Essential

• Approachable and flexible
• Be able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to assimilate new concepts and approaches to care
• Ability to engage positively with service users
• Ability to work effectively as a team member
• Proficient with Microsoft Office packages e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including skilled and professional recognition of communication barriers/ facilitation
• Be able to self-motivate and work autonomously
• Evidence of initiative and leadership
• Active and empathetic listening and counselling skills

Other Essential

• Able to attend and participate in all mandatory and statutory training events
• Ability to manage challenging situations where either patient's, their families or carer/s may be emotive with the potential to display aggression or violent behaviour
• The ability to move between sites within Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust as demanded by the job role
• The ability to manage stress when working under pressure with heavy caseloads and time/staffing level constraints

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Specialist Stroke Unit, Vale Community Hospital,

Lister Road

Dursley

GL11 4BA

Employer's website

https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Specialist Stroke Unit, Vale Community Hospital,

Lister Road

Dursley

GL11 4BA

Employer's website

https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)