Speech and Language Therapist, Band 5 Rotational

King's College Hospital; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The Speech and Language Therapist role at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a Band 5 rotational post based in London. It offers full-time hours (37.5 per week) with weekend work on a 1 in 6 basis and a fixed-term 6-month contract.

You will rotate across multiple inpatient areas, delivering assessment, treatment and management for patients with communication and swallowing disorders, while participating in supervision, CPD, and multidisciplinary team activities within a supportive

Qualifications

• HCPC registration is required.
• Membership of RC SLT is desirable.
• BSc/MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy.

Responsibilities

• Provide detailed assessment, treatment and management for an autonomous caseload.
• Participate in providing cover across other parts of the SLT service and sites.
• Provide training and support to relatives and carers.
• Attend MDT meetings and contribute to minutes when required.
• Liaise with community SLTs on patient discharge.

Skills

Assess and treat communication

Swallowing assessment

Inpatient rotation experience

7-day service readiness

Team collaboration

CPD participation

Education

BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy

Registration with the HCPC

Member of RCSLT

Job description

Speech and Language Therapist, Band 5 Rotational

NHS AfC: Band 5

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract 6 months (Fixed term contract) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Weekend working is required on a 1 in 6 basis) Job ref 213-Division-A-8320696

Employer King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Town London Salary £38,488 - £46,852 Per annum, Inc HCA Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2026 23:59

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£2.1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.

Speech and Language Therapist Band 5 (rotational post) - Denmark Hill site

The post offers a fantastic opportunity to work in a supportive acute inpatient team in Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. King’s offers high quality Band 5 rotations including Neurosciences, Critical Care, Acute Medicine and Stroke at King's College Hospital.

The successful applicant will provide Speech and Language Therapy starting in the acute medicine rotation. Working with the Team at King's will allow the opportunity to develop a wide knowledge base and range of skills, alongside specified learning objectives for the rotation.

The SLT team works closely with the wider multidisciplinary teams. The SLT service offers a comprehensive supervision and CPD structure with a range of opportunities for learning and participation in both self and service development. There is a strong emphasis on the management of both communication and swallowing difficulties and the impact of SLT within the acute setting. This post requires a flexible approach to working and some rotations will require the post holder to work as part of a rota’d seven day working pattern. We provide a weekly videofluoroscopy clinic as well as a Fibreoptic Endoscopic evaluation of Swallowing service.

Main duties of the job

The band 5 Speech and Language Therapy post involves rotation across5 rotations on the Denmark Hill site: Heath & Ageing, Critical Care, Stroke, Medicine and Neurosurgery.

The post holder will provide Speech and Language Therapy services within a clinical specialty, remaining within eacharea for a maximum of 9 months. This will allow them the opportunity to develop a wide knowledge base and range of skills. Line management will be provided by the relevant senior therapist depending on the rotation.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are delivering high-quality patient care; creating a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

We have also agreed four new organisational values – Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative – and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

1. To provide detailed assessment, treatment and management for an autonomous caseload of patients with acquired communication and swallowing disorders following King’s College Hospital Speech & Language Therapy service guidelines and standards.

2. To participate in providing cover across the other parts of the SLT service (and sites) where appropriate.

3. To provide relevant information, training and support to relatives and carers.

4. To attend and contribute to, multidisciplinary team meetings, goal setting meetings, and other ward meetings as necessary and to share in minute taking when required.

5. To liaise with community speech and language therapists and other relevant professional organisations when patients are discharged from KCH.

6. To provide timely and accurate reports, including transfer/discharge reports and including SLT information in medical notes where appropriate.

7. To undertake the key worker role if required.

8. To maintain patient confidentiality at all times and according to KCH policies.

9. To provide a 7 day, extended hours flexible service as appropriate.

Governance / Quality Control

1. To maintain and record an active programme of continuing professional development, including feeding back to colleagues on any courses or conferences attended.

2. To make recommendations on service development and governance.

3. To be an active member of relevant special interest groups.

4. To participate regularly in the evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention and models of service delivery, maintaining up to date knowledge of relevant clinical practice and research

5. To undertake specific departmental audit projects and contribute to departmental research where appropriate

Education and Training

1. To provide clinical training for speech and language therapy students as appropriate to the experience of the post holder (at least 1 year post qualification).

2 To contribute to education and training of other disciplines in both the acute and rehabilitation settings.

3. To undertake continuing professional development within the field of communication and swallowing disorders, both through in-service training and attendance on external courses, and to feed back on any relevant courses attended.

4. To be responsible, with management support, for your personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

5. To undertake mandatory King’s College Hospital training

Research and Service Development

1. To participate in relevant audit activity within King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

2. To participate in research initiatives in the relevant area

3. To publish and disseminate information which results from research and audit activity.

Administrative Responsibilities

1. To maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records within EPIC

2. To provide timely and accurate reports including transfer and discharge reports.

3. To prepare for and participate in an annual job appraisal which includes a 6 monthly review with the SLT acute clinical lead.

4. To maintain clinical equipment in good order and carry out inventory checks as requested.

5. To contribute to the infection control and cleanliness of the hospital by ensuring cleanliness of own equipment, undertaking mandatory training, abiding by the hand washing policy and other policies related to barrier nursing.

6. To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data.

7. To attend King’s College Hospital Speech and Language Therapy team meetings.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

• BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
• Registration with the HCPC
• Member of RCSLT

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of working with acutely unwell patients within Speech & Language Therapy training/clinical experience including reflection on the role of a Speech & Language Therapist in this context
• Demonstrates the ability to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical patient-centred manner

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to assess, diagnose and manage communication problems in the context of an acute inpatient setting
• Ability to assess, diagnose and manage swallowing problems in the context of an acute inpatient setting
• Willing to work in all areas on rotation
• Ability to communicate complex and emotive information
• Ability to work as a member of multidisciplinary team
• Appropriate professional presentation
• Able to reflect on previous clinical/ personal experiences and demonstrate learning and personal development from these
• Professional and patient focused approach, acting as a role model to colleagues or junior staff members
• Demonstrates the King’s Values
• Able to manage own caseload and work autonomously
• Ability to undertake a range of management and therapeutic decisions
• Demonstrates awareness of limitations of own knowledge and experience and when to seek help/advice
• Evidence of organisational and time management skills
• Demonstrates self-motivation and initiative
• A flexible approach to working patterns, which may include participating in providing a 7 day week service
• Demonstrates skill in preparing teaching materials and participate in designated training/courses
• Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner
• Ability to take on student/assistant supervision

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
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We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

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.

Application numbers

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Name Jenny Clark Job title Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 02032993069

If you have problems applying, contact

Address King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Jennie Lee House
2nd Floor
Love Walk Lane
SE5 8AD
Telephone [phone]