Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Urgent Care

UHCW NHS Trust; Coventry; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Coventry is seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join a newly developed pilot role in urgent care. This dynamic position involves enhancing patient care and working closely with a multidisciplinary team. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in adult acute care settings and excellent communication skills. The role offers a unique opportunity to shape a new service model and make a meaningful impact in urgent care.

Benefits

Access to learning and development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience in adult acute care settings.
• Ability to carry out complex assessment of patients.
• Experience with dysphagia assessment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely assessment and intervention for communication needs.
• Collaborate with medical and nursing colleagues.
• Support service development and evaluation.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Clinical reasoning

Flexibility

Passion for innovation

Education

Relevant degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. 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.

Key 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.
• 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.

Interested?

If you’re excited by the challenge of a role where no two days are the same, and where your expertise can truly make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

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.

Role Responsibilities (continued)

• Undertake complex assessment of patients with dysphagia and/or communication difficulties. Investigate, analyse skills, and formulate individualised management plans and specialised programmes of care.
• Use expert clinical reasoning to interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis on a wide range of highly complex conditions; recommend the best course of intervention, evaluate outcomes, reassess, and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
• 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 it effectively, prioritising and allocating patients for more junior staff as needed.
• Communicate complex SLT information in an understandable form to staff, patients and carers.
• Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including patient management.
• Take a lead on department audit and service development work, translating findings into practice as required.
• Provide specialist advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other members of the MDT regarding SLT issues.
• Plan and support clinical supervision of student SLTs on clinical placement.
• Engage in CPD activities and lead on supporting the learning and development of others, particularly more junior staff.
• 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, maintaining a clean, safe environment with adherence to Trust standards of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.
• Take on designated roles or responsibilities that support the overarching needs of the department.
• Provide SLT provision across sites of UHCW and Rugby St Cross as needed.

Note: For further details of the role please see the attached job description. This advert closes on Thursday 9 Oct 2025.