Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Plymouth Hospitals; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is recruiting a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the Acute Stroke Service at Derriford Hospital. This 0.6 WTE post (22.5 hours per week) operates on a 7-day rota, with potential rotation to Mount Gould Hospital.

You will work within the Stroke MDT, manage a specialist caseload including dysphagia and communication disorders, supervise junior staff, and contribute to training.

Qualifications

• Recognised SLT degree qualification or equivalent.
• HCPC Licence to Practise.
• Registered with RCSLT.
• Advanced dysphagia training.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist SLT service to acute stroke unit inpatients and stroke rehabilitation unit.
• Clinically supervise and appraise identified junior staff.
• Work seven days and support weekend/holiday coverage as required.
• Assess, diagnose and manage complex speech, language and swallowing disorders.
• Train carers and contribute to specialist training for colleagues.
• Provide leadership and supervise other SLTs on inpatient acute SLT issues.

Skills

Specialist SLT

Stroke/Neurology expertise

Clinical supervision

Teamwork/ MDT collaboration

Education

Recognised SLT degree

HCPC Registration

RCSLT Registration

Advanced dysphagia training

Tools

Videofluoroscopy

FEES

Job description

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent: Hours

• Part time
• Job share

22.5 hours per week (7 day working pattern) Job ref 216-AM-DA8256983

Site University Hospitals NHS Trust Plymouth Town Plymouth Salary £39,959 - £48,117 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 26/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Stroke Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Band 6, Acute Stroke Service (0.6 WTE, 22.5 hours per week)

We are pleased to offer this excellent opportunity for a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join our dynamic and well-established SLT department at Derriford Hospital, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. We are looking to appoint a highly skilled Speech and Language Therapist to work on the Acute Stroke Unit as a member of the Stroke Multi-Disciplinary Team. There will be opportunity to work on the stroke rehabilitation unit at Mount Gould Hospital to support resilience across both sites. The post holder will be required to work on a rota providing a 7-day clinical service to stroke and neurology patients. The appointee will be a specialist clinician with acute stroke and neurology- specific experience and with clinical expertise in the differential diagnosis and the management of disorders of speech, language, communication and dysphagia. The successful candidate will take a senior role in the team and will be developing skills in instrumental assessment such as Videofluoroscopy and FEES.

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘ Priority ’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job

To provide a Specialist Speech & Language Therapy service to acute stroke unit inpatients and stroke rehabilitation unit within Derriford Hospital and Mount Gould Hospital.

To clinically supervise and appraise identified junior staff.

This is a seven day working pattern, which includes full staffing levels over weekends and bank holidays.

To assess, diagnose, treat and manage own specialist caseload of patients with complex communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties, including tracheostomised patients following stroke, or with acquired neurological condition

To train and support the carers of clients and participate in appropriate highly specialist training to other colleagues.

To provide specialist clinical support and leadership to other therapists/staff on in-patient acute SLT issues.

To clinically supervise and appraise identified speech and language therapists

To provide specialist interventions and to evaluate outcomes

To provide second opinions, advice and training to less experienced SLTs in assessment and treatment programmes for stroke patients.

To provide formal clinical education, teaching and assessment for speech and language therapy students, medical students and other AHPs for stroke.

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

To provide specialist differential diagnosis, clinical advice and care plans/therapy to clients with communication and/or swallowing disorders, implementing programmes as a specialist member of the SLT Team

2. To manage and prioritise own specialist caseload independently . The main clinical area for this post will be stroke and neurology inpatients.

3. To contribute to specialist clinical teams by discussing own and others’ input around client’s needs ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan

4. To demonstrate the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of the client’s communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness

5. To use highly developed auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically

6. To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments, including risk analysis of swallowing, understanding and use of voice, grammar, vocabulary, speech sounds, fluency, social use of language, carer/patient interaction, and non-verbal communication and to make judgements re normal and abnormal functioning.

7. To monitor, recognise, assess and evaluate subtle changes in patients’ conditions and adapt clinical decisions and treatment programmes accordingly based on extended clinical experience.

8. To be responsible for ensuring patients’ safety with regard to eating and drinking by assessing, monitoring and updating, and communicating details of safe practice to the patient, medical and ward staff, and carers, ensuring that recommendations are clearly documented in medical notes and in any other care plans, notes or documents as directed by the Lead SLT for Stroke

9. To continue to develop deeper and more specialist professional expertise and clinical skills across a range of neurological and acquired speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD) by working with highly specialist staff, attending Clinical Excellence Networks, specialist courses, self-directed study and maintenance of personal CPD portfolio

10. To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training, when necessary, with in a clinical supervision and appraisal framework.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• HCPC Licence to Practise
• Registered member of RCSLT
• Advanced dysphagia training (or equivalent acquired through demonstrable experience and proven evidence of competencies)

Knowledge and Experience

• Specialist proven knowledge of assessment tools and therapy management techniques underpinned by proven evidence based practice that are relevant to communication and swallowing problems especially for stroke and neurology
• Demonstrable experience of delivering training to clinical staff
• Post-graduated demonstrable experience in acquired adult neurology and stroke
• Demonstrable experience working within a stroke interdisciplinary team
• Member of Specialist Clinical Excellence Groups
• Interest in the use of videofluoroscopy and/or FEES assessment including analysis and report writing

Aptitude and Abilities

• Proven knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the client group including SSNAP
• Specialist level proven knowledge of range of appropriate therapeutic intervention relevant to client group
• A understanding of the principles of clinical governance /audit good

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION

• Competent IT and Presentation skills
• Ability to maintain judgement within a busy environment
• Ability to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust’s policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet differing needs of the patients.
• Up to date with developments within the profession and the NHS
• Participation in audit and research
• Interest, demonstrable experience or aptitude for developing skills in leadership, supervision and line management of more junior staff, students and assistants.

We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included .

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.

Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.

For Doctors Roles:

Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.

We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.

In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.

We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.

Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.

Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.

In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.

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.

We’d love to hear from you if you feel you’re a great fit for the role - and that the role is right for you.Below, you’ll find more information about our recruitment process and what happens once you’ve submitted your application.