Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS trust is seeking a dynamic Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join its acute in-patient service. This full-time role involves managing adults with communication and swallowing disorders, conducting assessments, and providing training to the multi-disciplinary team. The qualified candidate should possess a relevant degree, registration with HCPC, and experience in acute settings. Competitive salary range is offered, alongside a supportive work environment emphasizing professional development.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Peer supervision and training

Qualifications

• Experience managing adults with swallowing and communication disorders in acute settings.
• Significant experience in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Exposure to FEES (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing).

Responsibilities

• Provide independent clinical management for inpatients with swallowing and communication disorders.
• Conduct videofluoroscopic examinations and report findings.
• Develop training programmes for MDT members.

Skills

Training delivery

Videofluoroscopy evaluation

Clinical governance participation

Team collaboration

Independent work initiative

Education

Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice

Registered member of HCPC

Evidence of CPD to Specialist level

Job description

Go back Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 04 January 2026

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Adult Acute Inpatients

Band 6 Full time permanent post

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join the acute in-patient service at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. This post will join our existing team of 29.2 WTE SLTs and 1.4 WTE SLT assistants.

You will be based at St Thomas' Hospital and will be responsible for delivering high-quality care to adult inpatients with communication and/or swallowing disorders on the acute medical and surgical wards.

Suitable applicants will have experience of working at a post-graduate level, independently managing adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders. Experience of instrumental assessment is essential. Teaching is a significant part of the role and you will participate in nurse/medical education and provide external talks and presentations as needed.

Main duties of the job

To take clinical responsibility as an autonomous specialist for the provision of a high-quality Speech and Language Therapy service to adult inpatients on the acute medical and surgical wards.

About us

There is a strong ethos of clinical support, supervision and development within the team. The service is able to offer you excellent supervision and peer support, with an emphasis on team working. Quality improvement projects and research ideas are strongly encouraged, both within SLT and in the multi-professional teams. We have regular team meetings, plus opportunities for continuing professional development through in-house training, clinical excellence networks and external courses.

Job responsibilities

1. To provide independent clinical management of acute inpatients requiring assessment and rehabilitation of complex communication and swallowing disorders, with the aim of restoring optimum function or offering compensatory strategies. This will include assessing the patients needs for alternative/augmentative communication where appropriate.
2. To regularly participate in videofluoroscopic examinations of swallow, analyse and report findings to the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) regarding implications for management and design specialised therapeutic programmes of care.
3. To be a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy resource for members of the MDT in the management of communication/swallowing disorders.
4. As a core member of the MDT, to participate in team meetings, ward rounds and family meetings. Where appropriate to propose and assist in the implementation of policy/service development.
5. To develop training programmes relevant to communication/swallowing disorders and deliver these aspects in the on-going training programme for the members of the MDT on the acute wards.
6. To contribute and take a lead as appropriate in the organisation of training for nursing staff on the acute wards.
7. To train staff and carers to facilitate the communication and swallowing skills of the patient including the use of alternative and augmentative communication.

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice
• Registered member of HCPC
• Evidence of CPD to Specialist level
• Membership/regular attendance of CEN

Previous Experience

• Experience of working with adults with acquired disorders in an acute hospital and/or rehabilitation/community setting including independent management of dysphagia
• Significant experience of working as an integrated member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working on Acute inpatient wards
• Experience of working with assistants, junior colleagues and/or volunteers

Skills

• Evidence of development and delivery of training to other professionals
• Experience of performing and evaluating videofluoroscopy
• Supervision and teaching of SLT students
• Previous participation in clinical governance activities (audit, quality improvement)
• Good, reliable team worker and also able to work effectively on own initiative
• Exposure to/experience with FEES

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.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

£46,419 to £55,046 a yearper annum inc HCA