Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Adult Acute & Stroke

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A national healthcare provider in Greater London seeks a Specialist Speech & Language Therapist for adult inpatients. This role involves managing patients with communication and swallowing disorders, supporting MDT collaboration, and providing specialist assessments. The offer includes career development opportunities, flexible working, and a commitment to equal opportunities. Ideal candidates will possess a relevant degree, current HCPC registration, and post-graduate experience with dysphagia and communication disorders.

Benefits

Career development

Flexible working

Staff recognition scheme

Qualifications

• Post-graduate experience working with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
• Evidence of clinical governance participation.
• Experience supervising juniors or students on placement.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Support MDT collaboration for integrated patient care.
• Participate in clinical governance projects and audits.

Skills

Clinical skills in management of swallowing disorders

Experience in multi-disciplinary team working

Competent Level C dysphagia practitioner

Basic computer skills

Education

Degree accredited by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

Current HCPC registration as a speech & language therapist

Registration with RCSLT

Job description

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Adult Acute & Stroke

Are you passionate about providing a high quality Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) service to adult inpatients? Are you looking for the chance to develop your career in a prestigious London Trust with access to highly skilled clinicians and multiple learning opportunities?

We are looking for a Specialist SLT to join our Adult Service in a cross-site rotational role. This post rotates between the Stroke Service (hyperacute and acute stroke units), and three Adult Acute teams at Charing Cross, Hammersmith, and St Mary's Hospitals. Each acute site has its specialisms, including admissions, neurology, respiratory, major trauma, critical care, and surgical specialisms.

As a valued member of the speech & language therapy and multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to multidisciplinary working, further developing your clinical skills and actively participating in service development and training others. Staff are encouraged and supported to participate in CPD activities and audit and research. The post-holder will provide support to SLT/rehabilitation assistants as well as supervise students on placement.

We hold weekly videofluoroscopy clinics and provide a FEES service. You will be supported in the development of your skills in these areas in line with your learning needs, along with specialist skills in assessment and therapy for acquired communication disorders.

Main duties of the job

• To independently manage a caseload of adults with acquired communication and/or swallowing difficulties of neurological/medical/surgical origin, demonstrating specialist knowledge and skill underpinned by current evidence-based practice.
• To provide specialist assessment and treatment for patients with adult acquired communication and swallowing problems.
• To support the provision of instrumental assessments on site as clinically appropriate and as required by the service, including identifying appropriate patients, under-taking joint assessments, analysis, reporting and feedback.
• To work in collaboration with other members of the MDT to provide an integrated service for patients, participating in joint clinics, ward rounds, multi-disciplinary assessment/treatment, family/ carer support and education, attending regular meetings and case conferences as appropriate.
• To participate in quality improvement, clinical governance projects, audit and research as required by the Clinical Service Lead for Adult Speech & Language Therapy.
• To support the training and development of speech and language therapy students on placement and of SLT/rehabilitation assistants, as required.
• Suitable applicants will have post-graduate experience of working with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders, be a competent RCSLT Level C dysphagia practitioner (or equivalent), and be committed to multi-disciplinary team working.

About us

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.

Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews, please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person Specification

• Degree accredited by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Current HCPC registration as a speech & language therapist
• Professional portfolio demonstrating experience and achievements
• Registration with RCSLT

Experience

• Experience of working at post-graduate level with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of delivering training programmes to multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Experience of participation in clinical governance activities.
• Experience of videofluoroscopy (including writing reports
• Experience of FEES (assessor or endoscopist
• Experience of working with patients with Tracheostomy
• Experience of supervising junior staff or students on placement

Skills

• Specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge relevant to the management of adults with swallowing and communication disorders in the acute hospital setting; underpinned by current models of best practice.
• Competent Level C dysphagia practitioner ('RCSLT dysphagia training and competency framework') ie able to manage a dysphagia caseload independently - or equivalent (eg operating at Proficient Level of SLT EDS Competency Framework 2025)
• Ability to use specialist knowledge to make appropriate independent clinical decisions, with access to a supervisor, reflecting on practice and demonstrating evidence based practice.
• Competent in basic computer skills and common programmes i.e. Word, Outlook, internet searches, Excel, Powerpoint

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.

Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist