Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

An esteemed healthcare provider is seeking a part-time Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for a role focused on stroke and trauma rehabilitation at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The successful candidate will work with a friendly team, managing complex swallowing and communication disorders. Candidates are required to have a Speech and Language Therapy degree, HCPC registration, and experience in acute settings. Competitive salary of £38,682 to £46,580 pro rata is offered, along with development opportunities and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

On-site leisure facilities

Shopping concourse

Subsidised transportation options

Qualifications

• Experience in acute and rehabilitation settings.
• Competence in assessment and management of communication and swallowing disorders.
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the client group.

Responsibilities

• Support decision making for patients and families.
• Provide specialist clinical input to a defined caseload.
• Involve in service improvement projects and staff training.

Skills

Supported conversation techniques

Auditory and perceptual skills for speech analysis

Presentation skills

Negotiation and problem-solving

Advanced counselling skills

Capacity assessment skills

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent

HCPC Registration

Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation

Job description

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 10 February 2026

Would you like to work in a busy acute stroke and trauma rehabilitation setting, developing your clinical skills as a Band 6 Specialist SLT? We have an exciting opportunity to join our friendly and supportive Speech and Language Therapy Rehabilitation team on a permanent, part-time basis, with potential to combine with other current vacancies, for example, Head and Neck/ENT. There will be opportunities to work across stroke and trauma, on a flexible basis according to service need. We are looking for a suitably experienced therapist with highly developed communication skills and a solid basis of knowledge and expertise in management of swallowing and communication disorders post acquired brain injury. The team is pro‑active in shared learning, so if you are keen and enthusiastic to further develop both clinically and professionally, this may be the post for you!

The Rehabilitation SLT team works closely with the MDT across trauma, stroke and neuro‑rehabilitation services, providing assessment and therapy for patients with complex swallowing and communication impairments arising from stroke, TBI and spinal injury, such as aphasia, cognitive communication difficulties, dysarthria and dysphagia, tracheostomy and challenging behaviour.

Main duties of the job

A key role is to work with patients and families to support decision making and to help identify and work towards individual goals. Promotion of a communication friendly environment and social model practice in the acute setting is a key aim across all areas. Involvement in service improvement projects including staff training is encouraged.

To contribute to the provision of specialist SLT services within the SLT Acute Stroke and Trauma Rehabilitation Services.

To provide specialist clinical input to a defined caseload, prioritising needs and managing workload independently.

To be proactive in developing specialist services offered to patients referred.

To contribute to the multidisciplinary management of patients, taking a holistic approach to care.

To cover for colleagues and line manager as required in service co‑ordination and representation to relevant forums, e.g. Ward rounds, Clinics and multidisciplinary team meetings.

Speech and Language Therapy at CUH is structured to maximise opportunities for support, supervision, learning and career progression. The department comprises five services: Adult Acute, Rehabilitation, Head and Neck / ENT, Acute Paediatrics and CASEE (Communication Aid Service East of England).

About us

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high‑quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:

• applied for a Graduate visa
• or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
• or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 10th February 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 25th February 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on‑site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose‑created colleague‑only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work‑life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part‑time working, job‑share, term‑time working and flexible start and finish times. Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and language Therapy degree or equivalent qualification
• HCPC Registration
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Post‑graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses in communication, cognitive‑communication and swallowing disorders.
• Member of relevant Clinical excellence networks

Knowledge

• Well established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication and dysphagia relevant to stroke and trauma caseload
• Demonstrate knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit to monitor and improve service
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group
• In depth understanding of mental capacity act, supported decision making and capacity assessment.

Skills

• Skilled in use of supported conversation techniques
• Good auditory and perceptual discrimination skills for analysis of speech including phonetic transcription
• Good presentation skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to be an effective team member
• Negotiation and problem solving skills
• Advanced counselling skills
• Skills in the use of cognitive neuropsychological assessment
• Skilled in supported decision making and capacity assessment
• Ability to analyse and interpret video fluoroscopic and / or FEES examinations

Experience

• Relevant clinical experience in specialist area of communication and swallowing in acute and rehabilitation settings
• Proven competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of communication and swallowing disorders associated with acquired neurological caseload.
• Experience in supported decision making and joint goal setting
• Experience in the selection, use and programming of augmentative communication systems and therapy Apps
• Experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies
• Experience in carrying out and interpreting video fluoroscopy studies.
• Experience contributing to FEES examinations
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

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.

Position Details

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pro rata

Permanent

SLT, Addenbrooke's Hospital, CUH NHS Trust, Hills Road

Reference number: 180-B-263016