Team Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Luton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider seeks a passionate Speech and Language Therapist to join their team in Luton. You will deliver specialist therapy to patients with complex communication and swallowing disorders, and support the community through a diverse caseload. The role emphasizes collaboration and professional growth in an inclusive environment. Ideal candidates will possess a degree in Speech & Language Therapy and demonstrate effective team communication skills. Join us to make a meaningful impact and thrive in your career.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Speech & Language Therapy.
• Post graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent.
• Competent in managing complex communication disorders.

Responsibilities

• Manage SLT for stroke and neurology caseload.
• Provide intensive SLT for patients in Luton.
• Involve patients in care processes.

Skills

Independent assessment

Training delivery

Tracheostomy management

Negotiation skills

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Speech & Language Therapy

HCPC registration

Post graduate dysphagia accreditation

Tools

RCSLT guidelines

Assessment tools

Job description

Job overview

Ready to lead, inspire, and thrive? Join a team where your growth, wellbeing, and professional development are truly valued.

At Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to attracting exceptional individuals, nurturing their talents, and empowering them to deliver outstanding care. When you join us, you’re not just filling a role—you’re becoming part of a culture that celebrates collaboration, compassion, and excellence.

Our Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) department is a vibrant, supportive community of professionals working across acute, stroke, and community settings. We pride ourselves on creating a mindful and inclusive environment where every voice is heard and every contribution matters. With a diverse caseload and opportunities to lead service development, this is a role where you can truly make an impact.

Why join us? Here’s what one of our team members had to say :

"This has honestly been the friendliest team I’ve worked in. I’m grateful for the learning opportunities—like developing my skills in video-fluoroscopy and tracheostomy—and the personal support I’ve received. The social celebrations and team spirit really make a difference. Thank you, L&D SLT team!"

If you're a passionate SLT leader looking to shape services, support colleagues, and grow in a dynamic setting, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and discover what it means to truly thrive.

Main duties of the job

• Management and provision of highly specialist Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) to a stroke and neurology caseload, utilising models of best practice to assess the client’s needs, and to provide highly specialist care, therapy, advice and support for the client, family and their carers.
• Provide an intensive SLT service to adults in Luton who have been referred to the Luton Early Supported Discharge (ESD) for stroke team.
• Provide highly specialist speech and language therapy to patients on the acute stroke unit ensuring they have involvement in the care of those patients who have been identified for the ESD pathway.
• Management and provision of highly specialist SLT for specified clients, by assessing needs and then providing programmes and resources, which are reviewed and up-dated regularly.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience – we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification.

If further details are required, please contact Adesakin Adebowale :

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Degree or equivalent in Speech & Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Post graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Member of RCSLT
• MBSImp Certified

Experience

Essential criteria

• Competent in the independent assessment, treatment and management of highly complex communication and swallowing disorders with adults
• Experienced in the delivery of training to others
• Able to assess and manage patients with a tracheostomy tube
• Experience of performance management and staff appraisal / supervision

Desirable criteria

• Experience in developing protocols and guidelines
• Highly developed auditory and perceptual discriminatory skills
• Video fluoroscopy and FEES competencies

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and interventions
• In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and policies
• Clear understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit to monitor and improve service

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of service improvement techniques

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to give highly specialised advice to the MDT in a range of formats
• Well developed negotiation and motivational communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team
• Able to make decisions involving complex facts / situations often under pressure
• Critical appraisal, audit and presentation skills both verbal and written.
• Excellent time management, delegation and prioritisation skills

Desirable criteria

• Able to analyse and interpret video fluoroscopy
• Data collection & analysis skills
• Service improvement skills & project management skills

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust

Lewsey Road

Luton

Bedfordshire

LU4 0DZ

Telephone [phone]