Team Lead Speech & Language Therapist Acute Frailty & Elderly Pathway: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

The Speech and Language Therapy post is based within the Acute team at King’s College Hospital, PRUH site. The post holder will provide a highly specialist inpatient service to adults who have communication and/or swallowing disorders, working closely with the MDT to deliver optimal clinical care in the acute and post-acute phases of hospital admission.

The post holder will establish, build and maintain working relationships within Speech & Language Therapy (cross-site) and all multidisciplinary teams within the speciality of acute frailty and elderly care. They will be expected to be involved in Southeast London/London/England-wide Acute networks for Speech & Language Therapists.

Main duties of the job

To autonomously manage and provide highly specialist intervention, which will include assessment, contribution to differential diagnosis, and highly specialist SLT management for patients with acute, acquired communication and swallowing disorders, following King’s College Hospital (KCH) Speech and Language Therapy evidence-based guidelines and abiding by KCH Speech and Language Therapy service standards.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of adult acquired neurological and medical disorders in a medical, health & ageing and acute care setting, including managing own swallowing and communication caseload and using a range of assessment and therapy techniques
• The management of patients presenting with dementia and disorders which impact on communication, cognition / behavioural feeding
• Experience of risk identification and management including multidisciplinary liaison and decision making.
• Experience of audit within specialism
• Experience of specialist assessment and differential diagnosis with a complex caseload
• Previous experience of clinical supervision of others, including supporting approaches with appropriate theoretical models of management

Education and Qualification

Essential

• BSc or recognised post graduate MSc or diploma in speech and language therapy
• Registration with the Health Professions Council
• Postgraduate training in dysphagia
• Postgraduate training in communication disorders and aphasia therapy
• Active member of RCSLT CEN or equivalent
• Postgraduate short courses in language, cognition and motor speech disorders and swallowing specifically to frailty assessment and management
• Postgraduate training in management of dysphagia, including training and experience in instrumental assessment of swallowing skills (Videofluoroscopy and / or FEES)

Desirable

• Member of RCSLT
• Attended leadership & management training course(s)

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Excellent communication skills – written and spoken
• Highly motivated and able to demonstrate ability to lead designated clinical area
• Clinical supervision and line management skills
• Good presentation and teaching skills and ability to devise appropriate training and information packages
• Ability to work at a senior level in partnership with other professionals and agencies
• Ability to plan and implement appropriate highly specialist treatment packages
• Excellent observational and analytical skills
• Ability to undertake complex assessment and make differential diagnoses
• Ability to communicate complex and emotive information, including where there are barriers to understanding
• Ability to plan and implement treatment programmes
• Good organisational and time management ability
• Ability to plan and prioritise own autonomous caseload within professional guidelines and policies
• Able to work flexibly, under pressure and to use appropriate conflict resolution skills
• Able to demonstrate awareness of current NHS changes and professional issues
• High level of motivation and initiative
• Good auditory and perceptual skills
• Interest in developing research audit skills
• Excellent IT Skills including data and presentation packages
• Evidence of professionally written and spoken public presentation skills

Closing Date: 9 October 2026