Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Urgent Care

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust; Coventry; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A large NHS trust in Coventry is seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for a part-time role in urgent care. This position involves assessment and management of communication and swallowing difficulties, requiring a proactive clinician with experience in adult acute care. Join a forward-thinking team committed to high-quality patient care and make a meaningful impact in a newly developed service model.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in adult acute care settings.

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely assessment and intervention for patients presenting with communication and swallowing needs.
• Collaborate closely with medical, nursing, and allied health colleagues to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
• Support service development and evaluation of the pilot model.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Clinical reasoning skills

Flexible and responsive service delivery

Passion for innovation and service improvement

Job description

Overview

Go back University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Position

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Urgent Care

Important dates

The closing date is 09 October 2025

Are you ready to lead and shape an innovative pilot service within urgent care at UHCW?

We are excited to offer a unique opportunity for a confident and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our team in a newly developed pilot role within Urgent care. This post will play a pivotal role in enhancing patient care and supporting service transformation in urgent care.

The successful candidate will work at the heart of a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment, providing early identification and management of communication and swallowing difficulties. You will contribute to clinical decision-making, support patient flow, and promote admission avoidance strategies.

This is a dynamic and highly visible role, ideal for a clinician who thrives in varied settings and is passionate about integrated working. You will be instrumental in building strong relationships across the MDT and advocating for the role of Speech and Language Therapy in urgent care.

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates - If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver timely assessment and intervention for patients presenting with communication and swallowing needs.
• Collaborate closely with medical, nursing, and allied health colleagues to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
• Support service development and evaluation of the pilot model.
• Contribute to training and awareness-raising across the urgent care team.

About You: We are looking for a proactive, skilled clinician with:

• Significant experience in adult acute care settings.
• Excellent communication and clinical reasoning skills.
• A flexible and responsive approach to service delivery.
• A passion for innovation and service improvement.

Why Join Us?

At UHCW, you'll be part of a forward-thinking team committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. This pilot post offers a rare opportunity to shape a new service model and make a meaningful impact in urgent care.

About us

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

• Undertake complex assessment of patients with dysphagia and/or communication difficulties. Investigate & analyse skills & formulate individualised management & treatment plans and specialised programmes of care.
• Use expert clinical reasoning skills to interpret & analyse clinical & non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis & prognosis on wide range of highly complex conditions to recommend the best course of intervention, evaluate outcomes, reassess & to develop comprehensive discharge plans.
• To carry out instrumental assessment of dysphagia, depending upon experience and competence.
• Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment plans as required
• Accept clinical responsibility for the caseload and organise this effectively and efficiently. This will include prioritising and allocating patients appropriately for more junior staff.
• Communicate complex SLT information in an understandable form to staff, patients and carers.
• Be professionally & legally responsible & accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
• Take a lead on department audit and service development work, translating findings into practice as required.
• Provide specialist advice, teaching & instruction to relatives, carers & other members of the MDT regarding SLT issues.
• Plan and support with the clinical supervision of student SLTs on clinical placement.
• Engage in department and own CPD activities and lead on supporting the learning and development of others, particularly more junior members of the team.
• Participate in health promotion activities of the department
• Cover the work of colleagues and deputise for senior colleagues during periods of absence or peak workloads
• Participate in other duties as required such as maintaining a clean safe environment always ensuring adherence to Trust standards of cleanliness hygiene & infection control.
• To take on designated roles or responsibilities that support the overarching needs of the department.
• To provide SLT provision across sites of UHCW and Rugby St Cross as needed.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• See supporting documents
• See supporting documents

Experience

• See supporting documents
• See supporting documents

Knowledge

• See supporting documents
• See supporting documents

Skills

• See supporting documents

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• See supporting documents

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.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

218-AHP-B7-7498808

Job locations

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire