Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the Adult Acute SLT team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The role involves managing a defined caseload in dysphagia and acquired communication disorders, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based, person-centred care.

The post offers full or part-time hours, flexible working, and a 37.5-hour week, with NHS Band 6 salary and opportunities for professional development within

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent
• HCPC Registration
• RCSLT member
• Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent
• Evidence of specialist short courses in communication and swallowing disorders in neurology
• Member of relevant RCSLT CEN(s)

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist SLT services within the Adult Acute Service on a defined caseload
• Work autonomously within professional and local standards and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team
• Contribute to service development and provide cover for colleagues
• Support student supervision, teaching, audit and clinical governance
• Represent SLT at ward rounds, clinics and multidisciplinary meetings

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Clinical reasoning

Autonomous working

Presentation skills

Counselling skills

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent

Job description

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Adult Acute Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-B-263179

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B Town Cambridge Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro-rata Salary period Yearly Closing 01/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our welcoming Adult Acute Speech and Language Therapy team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate SLT with relevant post-registration experience in adult dysphagia and acquired communication disorders. You will bring sound clinical reasoning, effective multidisciplinary-working skills and a commitment to evidence-based, person-centred care.

This role offers the opportunity to work within a major teaching hospital and regional specialist centre, alongside experienced clinicians and a broad range of acute specialties. It would suit an SLT who enjoys the pace and variety of acute care and is ready to develop their specialist practice while contributing positively to the team.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, comprising Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie Hospitals, is one of the largest and busiest teaching trusts in the country and has a national and international reputation for clinical excellence.

This is a permanent, full-time post of 37.5 hours per week.

Main duties of the job

You will contribute to the provision of specialist SLT services within the Adult Acute Service and provide specialist clinical input to a defined caseload, prioritising clinical need and managing their workload independently.

You will work autonomously within professional and local standards, applying specialist knowledge and evidence-based practice. Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, they will take a coordinated and holistic approach to patient care.

You will contribute proactively to service development and provide cover for colleagues as required. They may also support service coordination and represent SLT at ward rounds, clinics and multidisciplinary meetings. The role includes contributing to student supervision, teaching, audit and clinical governance.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

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

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 café, 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
• HCPC Registration
• RCSLT member
• Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses in communication and swallowing disorders in neurology
• Member of relevant RCSLT CEN(s)

Experience

• Relevant experience at undergraduate/post graduate level (pre-qualification)
• Post graduate experience in the areas of dysphagia and communication, including proven independent assessment, treatment and management of a neurological caseload
• Undertaking video fluoroscopic examinations
• Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals
• Experience of supervising students
• Involvement in multidisciplinary working
• Experience in managing patients with tracheostomies
• NHS Experience

Knowledge

• Well established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication and dysphagia.
• Demonstrate knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit and use of outcome measures
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Good auditory and perceptual discriminator skills for analysis of voice and speech, including phonetic transcription
• Ability to analyse and interpret video fluoroscopic examinations
• Good presentation skills, both verbal and written
• Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member
• Negotiation and problem solving skills
• Good analytical and reflection skills
• Prioritisation and organisational skills
• Demonstrates ability to lead on service projects
• Computer skills for the preparation of reports, presentations and therapy materials
• Counselling Skills

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of kind, safe and excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Andrie Schembri Job title Clinical Team Lead (Adult Acute and Critical Care) Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01223216200