Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust; Bath; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist to lead SLT stroke services within a supportive team. This role involves delivering essential services to patients facing swallowing and communication challenges and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Ideal candidates will possess a recognised SLT degree, registration with the Health Professions Council, and experience in the acute adult stroke population. This is a fixed-term position based in Bath, offering competitive pay and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Regular training and development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Holistic wellbeing program

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a specialist SLT in the acute adult stroke population.
• Demonstrable ability to lead a team effectively.
• Experience teaching VFS competencies to junior SLTs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide specialist SLT services to stroke inpatients.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary stroke team.
• Help develop and deliver a high-quality Acute Service.

Skills

Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills

Good critical thinking skills

Ability to handle adults with disabilities

Experience supporting complex patient scenarios

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent

Registered with Health Professions Council

RCSLT member

Job description

Go back Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

The closing date is 08 January 2026

An exciting new opportunity has arisen at the Royal United Bath Hospitals (RUH) for a suitably experienced speech and language therapist to join our very supportive and dynamic SLT team. The post will lead on the provision of SLT stroke services to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties admitted to our acute stroke ward ward.

You will work alongside other highly specialist SLT staff within Neurology, General Medicine , Critical Care and Head & Neck Cancer and have access to regular videofluoroscopy & FEES clinics with the chance to further develop and enhance and develop your existing specialist skills. We have regular training and development opportunities as well as a supervision and appraisal system.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this role is to autonomously clinically lead and provide a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service to stroke inpatients as part of the wider adult stroke service. You will also be part of a dedicated core stroke multidisciplinary team who will lead the development and delivery of a high-quality Acute Service for adults admitted to the stroke service.

About us

At the RUH we put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone's contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.

We are proud to be in the top 20 best hospitals to work for in the country.

We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks - celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.

A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.

We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We've even got a pool!

Job responsibilities

Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
• Registered with Health Professions Council.
• RCSLT member

Knowledge & Experience

• Significant experience as a specialist SLT in the acute adult stroke population.
• Demonstrable ability to be a good team leader for an acute SLT team.
• Experience and understanding of dysphagia theory and knowledge of evidence-base for therapy.
• Awareness of stroke national guidelines and frameworks
• Experience teaching VFS competencies to junior SLTs.
• Experience working at a clinical specialist level in the acute adult population

Values

• Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
• Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
• Helps and co-operates with colleagues
• Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can

Specific Skills

• Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills
• Skills in handling adults with disabilities including oral examinations and oral care.
• Good critical thinking skills including analytical and reflection skills.
• Ability to recognise individual team member characteristics and provide support and teaching in a way that maximises their potential.
• Experience supporting the team when dealing with patient/carer complex scenarios.

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.

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal United Hospitals Bath (Brownsword Therapies Centre)

£47,810 to £54,710 a yearper annum, pro rata (if part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time

Reference number

427-7636151-A

Job locations

Royal United Hospitals Bath (Brownsword Therapies Centre)