Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Development Role

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT); Cambridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for a development role at Band 5/6 in Cambridge. The post is full time, permanent, and focuses on community-based therapy with patients who have dysphagia or communication needs, with potential progression to Band 6 on successful competencies.

The post involves travelling across Cambridgeshire, with regular supervision and line management, and opportunities to work in stroke and brain

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent.
• Portfolio of CPD (Continuing Professional Development).
• Registered with HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council).
• Experience with neurological disorders including stroke, MS, PD and MND.
• Experience with patients with communication aids and SLT assistant.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle; willingness to travel across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess and manage patients with speech, language and swallowing needs.
• Provide input to outpatient and domiciliary patients and community hospital wards.
• Liaise with patients, carers and families to set therapy goals.
• Work with multidisciplinary team to ensure coordinated care plans.
• Participate in departmental governance and data collection.
• Adhere to infection control and information governance policies.

Skills

Dysphagia management

Neurological disorders

SLT teamwork

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

CPD portfolio

HCPC registration

Job description

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Development Role

Band 5/6

Main area Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Grade Band 5/6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 310-OPAC-8274499

Site Brookfields Hospital Town Cambridge Salary £32,073 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 05/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Speech and Language Therapist to work in the community CPFT Speech and Language Therapy Team. The post holder will need to be qualified to work independently with patients with dysphagia or have completed a post graduate theory dysphagia course and be working towards completing the relative competencies.

We will accept applications from current band 5 therapists who are working towards dysphagia competencies . The successful candidate would then work towards band 6 competencies within the team and move into a band 6 role subject to the successful completion of these competencies .

The post holder will work alongside colleagues, providing input to patients with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties. The postholder will be based in the Cambridge/ Huntingdon area of the County but travel across other areas may be required at times. The successful applicant will join a friendly, innovative team of therapists and clinical assistants. The team meet regularly for meetings and the post holder will receive regular line management and clinical supervision.

There may be an opportunity to develop skills in the area of stroke or brain injury or another area of interest to the candidate. We will also aim to secure funding to train the candidate in LSVT.

Main duties of the job

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

The post holder will work independently, providing speech and language therapy input to patients on an outpatient and domiciliary basis and input to the community hospital wards, providing a high standard of quality clinical care.

The post will involve working with patients with communication impairment, dysphagia and could also include some voice work, there will also be an opportunity to deliver LSVT to suitable patients. The team are currently redesigning the pathway for patients with Parkinsons disease and the post holder may be able to participate in this work.

*DVLA have a number ofreciprocalarrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.

Our clinical teams deliver a wide range of NHS services across inpatient, primary care and community settings, including children’s, adult and older people’s mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, and research and development.

To achieve our goals, we recruit high calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from all sections of the community, particularly under represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

All appointments are subject to the successful completion of a probationary period.

Please note we reserve the right to close adverts early should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all roles. If you apply for a post that does not attract sponsorship, your application will be withdrawn from the process.

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at https://www.cpft.nhs.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities

• To independently assess, differentially diagnose and develop and implement programmes of care for patients with speech, language and/or swallowing needs
• To make onward referral as appropriate
• To undertake a clinical caseload providing care to patients with both communication and swallowing difficulties.
• To liaise and work closely with patients, carer and families to establish agreed goals for therapy /management
• To liaise and work in partnership with other professionals and as part of the multidisciplinary team to ensure a well-co-ordinated care plan
• To participate in the department’s clinical governance initiatives, including computerised data collection
• The post holder must adhere to infection control procedures and policies
• To provide patients, families, carers and other professionals with information about the patient’s condition, taking account of information governance policies

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• Portfolio of own CPD
• Registered Member of HPC

Experience

• Experience of working with a wide range of neurological disorders including stroke, MS, PD and MND
• Experience of working with patients with communication aids
• Experience of working with an SLT assistant
• Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
• Sound assessment and treatment skills based on knowledge and experience
• Has a realistic knowledge of personal strengths and areas for development

Other

• Ability to travel independently around the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.

Here at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) we are dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion. We deliver many of the NHS services that are provided outside of hospital and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services.

We are a health and social care organisation, offering a wide range of services, including:

• Integrated physical and mental health services for adults and older people;
• Specialist mental health and learning disability services;
• Children’s community services in Peterborough;
• Ground-breaking research

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities. For further information about our positive equality, diversity and Inclusion work, please visit https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/equalityanddiversity .

CPFT is looking to build upon its pool of temporary workers with Temporary Staffing Services (TSS). You will be asked at interview if you would be willing to register with TSS. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to take on additional hours that are flexible around your personal circumstances.

Please be advised that in line with the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, 2020 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust currently are unable to accept applications from overseas candidates whose country of residence is classed as a ‘Red List’ country.

Applicants who require entry into the UK will be required to provide a valid police certificate from the relevant authority from each country (except the UK) where the applicant has been present for 12 months or more, 10 years before the date of visa application, while aged 18 or over.

If you are successful at interview you will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a DBS (if appropriate), references and Occupational Health. To ensure a smooth process please bring all identity documents to your interview. A list of required identity documents will be attached to your interview invitation.

All communications will be sent to you via TRAC Systems. By applying for this post you are agreeing to CPFT transferring the information contained in this application to TRAC. If you are made an offer, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

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 Jo Graham Job title Clinical Manager Adult Speech and Language Therapy Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07791501513