Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Stroke) – Golden Hello £3000: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

A unique opportunity to shape care across the inpatient stroke pathway – all within a supportive, innovative, and truly collaborative SLT team. Why this role? Why you’ll love it.

If you’re an SLT who lives and breathes stroke care – and you’re ready to take your specialist skills to the next level – this role offers a rare, exciting opportunity to work across hyper-acute, acute and inpatient stroke rehabilitation in a highly regarded 38-bed Stroke Unit.

You’ll join a small, friendly, specialist SLT team with the added benefit of being employed by East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) – a forward-thinking, staff-owned social enterprise. This means you get the best of both worlds:

Inpatient hospital experience at James Paget University Hospital offering acute care and rehabilitation in stroke

Close clinical connection with ECCH’s Stroke ESD service

Exposure to the whole stroke pathway – not just one part of it

Staff ownership, giving you a real voice in shaping future services

NHS-aligned terms, benefits & development opportunities

Benefits £3,000 Golden Hello payment, paid in three instalments.

This post attracts a “Golden Hello” payment of £3,000 (taxable): £1,000 will become payable on appointment, a further £1,000 will become payable after 6 months in post and the final £1,000 will become payable after 12 months in post (pro rata if applicable). Please note that the Golden Hello is not available to internal applicants.

Main duties of the job

What you’ll be doing:

As the senior SLT on the Stroke Unit, you will:

Assess, diagnose and manage communication and swallowing difficulties for inpatients following stroke

Work alongside a Band 5 SLT with ongoing support from experienced Band 7 colleagues

Provide dysphagia assessment and management, seeking second opinions where appropriate

Contribute to our well-established Dysphagia Trained Nurse programme

Deliver tailored therapy plans and evaluate progress

Support the MDT with expert SLT input, attending regular team meetings and case discussions

Stay up to date with current research, National Stroke Strategy guidance, and best practice

Play an active role in audit, data collection and service quality development

What we’re looking for:

Essential:

Dysphagia-trained SLT to at least a proficient level (RCSLT competencies 2025)

HCPC & RCSLT registration

Strong experience in acute stroke care

Excellent communication and MDT skills

Ability to manage a complex caseload independently

Ability to work flexibly and compassionately with patients and families

Offer advice, guidance, and training to patients, carers and colleagues

To be a clinical educator for SLT students and support volunteers, and assistants

You’ll thrive here if you enjoy working in a fast-paced inpatient environment, can balance shifting priorities, and take pride in strong MDT relationships.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• *Recognised qualification in Speech & Language Therapy
• *Registered member of HCPC/ RCSLT
• *Dysphagia trained

Experience

Essential

• *Broad and varied clinical experience in the field of Stroke

Desirable

• *Experience of working on an acute Stroke Unit

Additional Criteria

Essential

• *Dysphagia trained
• *Highly developed auditory & perceptual skills for use in all areas of practice
• *Ability to identify and describe use of appropriate assessments for all client groups
• *Demonstrates a passion for Stroke care
• *Keeps abreast of stroke research
• *Ability to plan treatment packages for clients with communication difficulties
• *Ability to apply band 6 knowledge of clinical issues/developments to clinical practice
• *Ability to communicate effectively with clients with communication impairment
• *Ability to identify own strengths and needs in relation to post
• *Ability to form relationships with clients and carers/family
• *Ability to work within a team
• *Good knowledge of legal requirements/government initiatives which may influence practice
• SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• *Awareness of the importance and usefulness of measuring the impact of therapy
• *Demonstrates an interest in innovative practice
• *Able to work within trust moving and handling guidelines
• *Able to demonstrate good understanding of the principles of managing diversity and the implications of this on good Speech and Language Therapy practice
• PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
• *Punctual and reliable
• *Able to organise workload and manage time
• *Able to maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management
• *Able to identify when to seek support
• *Able to convey complex condition related information clearly to clients and other professionals in written and verbal form.
• *Friendly and approachable
• *Able to appreciate and use good humour appropriately within work
• *Able to manage emotional consequences of working with patients with a range of conditions/needs
• *Accepts and follows advice and guidance
• *Understands the importance of self-awareness and reflection
• *Willing to support colleagues and work collaboratively
• *Resilient and has an awareness of the biological and pyscho-social influences
• *which may impact on work with clients and may also have an impact on the way the multi-disciplinary team functions
• *Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:
• *(Compassion – We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action – My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect – Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone – Work Together, Achieve Together).
• *Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required.
• *Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:
• (Compassion – We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action – My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect – Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone – Work Together, Achieve Together).
• *Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required.

Desirable

• SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• *Has basic counselling skills

Closing Date: 6 September 2026