Highly Specialist Stroke Speech and Language Therapist

Integrated Care System; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Canterbury seeks a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for their stroke team. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Speech and Language Therapy, possess HCPC registration, and demonstrate extensive clinical competencies. This position offers the opportunity to support a dedicated team, develop specialized care, and contribute to improving patient outcomes. Join a progressive service focused on high-quality care and professional growth.

Benefits

Continuous professional development

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for career advancement

Qualifications

• Hold a diploma/degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• HCPC registration is required.
• Post-graduate experience in stroke services is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist service delivery for stroke patients.
• Support team leadership in stroke services.
• Be part of MDT working on all wards.

Skills

Dysphagia assessment

Clinical skills in communication therapy

Leadership skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving skills

Team player

Education

Diploma/degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC registration

Formal teaching or mentoring qualification

Job description

Go back East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Stroke Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 22 August 2025

We are looking for an energetic, self-motivated Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to work within our stroke team team.If you are enthusiastic, dynamic and motivated, then we would love you to join our team at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust.

Main duties of the job

Due to increased investment in stroke services we are expanding our team at EKHUFT! We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated SLTs with a passion for working in stroke services to support our team leadership and provide highly specialist service delivery for our patients.

We take pride in the work we do to support people who have had a stroke to reach their potential. Are you looking for the next challenge in your career? If so, this is a great opportunity to play a key role in developing our expanding stroke services at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. The increased investment in our services has resulted in a substantial increase in staffing which will enable us to deliver a holistic, forward-thinking service over seven days.

We are a friendly, hard-working team who get together regularly for team meetings, clinical supervision and CPD. We provide a high quality SLT service across three busy acute hospital sites.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a motivated and progressive SLT service who are continuously striving towards best-practice care.We are passionate about providing high quality care for our patients.

About us

We form part of close MDT working on all the wards and the therapy team are key team members in the rehabilitation of patients and discharge planning. We firmly believe that developing our staff is key to success; we have a dynamic and progressive training and development ethos, providing excellent opportunities to enhance your knowledge and competencies, nurturing your personal and professional development by encouraging and supporting you to reach your full potential. As the organisation is moving towards a skills based workforce, the future opportunities are endless!

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents'.

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• Hold a diploma/degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Formal teaching or mentoring qualification
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Clinical competencies in videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy, FEES and/or laryngectomy
• Post-graduate experience of working in the acute hospital setting in stroke services
• Completed or started Master's Degree in a health related subject relevant to area of clinical specialty and advanced practice
• NHS Leadership Academy qualification e.g. 'Edward Jenner', 'Mary Seacole'.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• oSignificant experience in dysphagia assessment and management
• oHighly developed clinical skills in assessment, therapy and management of patients with communication and swallowing impairments
• oSignificant postgraduate healthcare experience equivalent to L7 demonstrating professional development across the four pillars of practice.
• oSignificant experience working with acutely unwell patients and those who have experienced a stroke.
• oExperience of working with patients/service users to resolve concerns and improve their experience.
• oEvidence of effective networking or matrix working
• oExperience of supervising staff and delivering training
• oExperience of assessing patients and developing specialised programmes of care
• oExperience of presenting to groups of staff/public
• oSkills and experience in specialist dysphagia and communication management
• oClinical and non-clinical prioritisation skills
• oHighly developed clinical skills in assessment, therapy and management of patients with communication and swallowing impairments
• oProven skills in leadership
• oExcellent interpersonal skills
• oHighly developed problem-solving skills
• oExcellent analytical and reflection skills
• oExcellent written and verbal communication skills
• oEffective team player

Governance

• oUnderstanding of quality governance, patient safety and patient experience tools to support clinical practice and service improvement.
• oSound knowledge and understanding of national policy and guidance
• oUtilisation of clinical effectiveness tools to deliver quality improvement e.g. risk management and clinical audit.
• oEvidence of innovative practice utilising research and audit.
• oExperience of contributing to quality improvement in safety/quality improvement projects.
• oExperience of writing reports and presenting to teams or small groups

Personal/professional attributes

• oAbility to work within a team to achieve goals for a shared vision.
• oEvidence of service development and delivery in practice.
• oKnowledge of health policy and application to practice.
• oAbility to problem solve, anticipate and plan, individually and within a team
• oDemonstrate self-awareness and critical reflection

Other requirements

• oFlexibility in working patterns to meet the needs of the service (including weekend working)
• oCommitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• oSelf-motivated, positive, adaptable and flexible approach
• oUpholds and role models the Trust values
• oWilling to work across sites (including moving base-site when stroke services move to William Harvey Hospital)

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.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust