Principle Speech & Language Therapist

NHS; Northampton; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Part time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to lead the Stroke pathway within the Speech & Language Therapy service at a leading healthcare trust. The role involves managing complex cases, providing mentorship, and contributing to service development. Join a dynamic team focused on delivering high-quality care and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge in complex stroke communication and Dysphagia.
• Experience in managing complex acute stroke patients.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Stroke pathway and manage a complex caseload.
• Provide mentorship and clinical teaching to students and junior colleagues.
• Initiate research and clinical governance projects.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Flexibility

Education

UK professional registration

Tools

Video fluoroscopy

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Speech & Language Therapy service at Northamptonshire NHT trust, and lead the Stroke pathway within the county.

We provide a Countywide acute and community service within Northants. The Principal role is within the Acute Stroke pathway within the assessment and rehabilitation wards at Northampton General Hospital.

The post is a clinical lead Specialism in Stroke and the Stroke pathway.

Northampton General Hospital has a dynamic and highly rated Stroke service, as the designated centre for countywide acute stroke services. There are close working relationships with the stroke MDT and Northamptonshire stroke community services including strong networking and in-service training opportunities.

You will have the ability to work on your own initiative yet thrive as a valued member of a multi-disciplinary team. You will possess excellent interpersonal and team-working skills and approach your work with energy and enthusiasm.

You will be supported to continue to develop and demonstrate leadership behaviors as you are encouraged to actively contribute to the ongoing development of the service. You will be expected to provide mentorship support to colleagues, SLT Assistant Practitioners and students.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an experienced Speech and Language Therapist with highly specialist knowledge of differential diagnosis associated with complex acute stroke.

Will independently manage and priorities a complex, highly specialist caseload of acute stroke patients.

Responsible for policy implementation and development in specialist area, interprets National policy for specialist area.

Will lead within the specialist area of Stroke on the development of the service, across the county and identify shortfalls and changes to service delivery.

Will liaise and work in partnership with the acute Trusts to ensure a clear and effective care pathway is delivered within the county.

Will support/mentor junior colleagues and provide expert opinions to others, including advice and support for colleagues referring to specialist services from outside Northamptonshire.

Will provide clinical teaching of Speech and Language Therapy students and will develop and deliver specialist training to others in the area of clinical expertise.

Will initiate and undertake research/Clinical Governance/audit projects within area of expertise.

Provide expert second opinions.

Design and develop competency frameworks in line with National guidelines e.g. KSF, Skills for Health.

To take the Speech and Language Therapy lead in multi-disciplinary clinics

About us

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.

All SLT staff are encouraged to attend regular team meetings, countywide staff meetings and in-house clinical forums. The service promotes a strong culture of clinical supervision. Professional development is encouraged through membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks, in-house and external training courses and is monitored through annual appraisal.

Details Date posted

16 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

270-TG060-ACS

Job locations

Highfield Clinical Care Centre

Cliftonville Road

Northampton

NN1 5BU

Job description Job responsibilities

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.

Job description Job responsibilities

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.

Person Specification Leadership Essential

• Evidence of leadership skills

Desirable

• evidence of service development

Knowledge and skills Essential

• Specialist Knowledge in complex stroke communication and Dysphagia

Desirable

• Experience and knowledge in tracheostomies

Clinical skills Essential

• experience in Video fluorsopcpy / FEES

interpersonal skills Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills

Flexibility Essential

• ability to work with competing demands

Person Specification Leadership Essential

• Evidence of leadership skills

Desirable

• evidence of service development

Knowledge and skills Essential

• Specialist Knowledge in complex stroke communication and Dysphagia

Desirable

• Experience and knowledge in tracheostomies

Clinical skills Essential

• experience in Video fluorsopcpy / FEES

interpersonal skills Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills

Flexibility Essential

• ability to work with competing demands

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.

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.

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

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Highfield Clinical Care Centre

Cliftonville Road

Northampton

NN1 5BU

Employer's website

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Highfield Clinical Care Centre

Cliftonville Road

Northampton

NN1 5BU

Employer's website

https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)