Specialist Speech and Language Therapist: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Job summary

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 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

Essential

  • 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

Desirable

  • Member of Specialist Clinical Excellence Groups
  • Interest in the use of videofluoroscopy and/or FEES assessment including analysis and report writing

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

  • 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

Essential

  • 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

Desirable

  • 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.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 26 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.