Speech & Language Therapist

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Full-time•£49k-57k/year•Leicester, East Midlands
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Job summary

Do you have an interest in acute care?

Do you want to join a service with strong leadership and an emphasis on team working?

We are looking for the right candidate to join us as Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for our Acute Inpatient Services during maternity leave cover.

You will be based full-time in the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service within University Hospitals of Leicester, providing input to the acute inpatient services at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital and Preston Lodge as needed. Options for flexible working will be considered.

You will be working alongside an Operational Lead Speech and Language Therapist to lead a team of experienced and developing Band 5 and Band 6 Speech and Language Therapists and a developing Speech and Language Therapy Advanced Support Worker.

A key focus for this post is to provide clinical support across the UHL sites and to lead in the development of junior members of staff, working through in-house and RCSLT competencies relating to dysphagia. An ability and willingness to travel between UHL sites is an essential requirement of this role.

Applications will be welcomed from Band 6 or Band 7 Speech and Language Therapists with experience working in the acute setting with patients with complex swallowing difficulties, and with an interest in developing skills in leadership and line management.

Main duties of the job

  • Working independently with adults with a range of acquired and often complex communication and swallowing disorders, their carers and the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Supporting with morning processes and caseload prioritisation discussions.
  • Contributing to regular team meetings.
  • Leading in dysphagia competency training for junior members of staff.
  • Line management.
  • Providing clinical supervision.
  • Undertaking clinical audit and service development projects.
  • Supporting the wider service to provide a community videofluoroscopy clinic (on rota).

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

  • high-quality care for all,
  • being a great place to work,
  • partnerships for impact, and
  • research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

  • we are compassionate,
  • we are proud,
  • we are inclusive, and
  • we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/

Details

Date posted

23 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-7899377-CSI

Job locations

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Infirmary Square

Leicester

LE15WW

Job description

Job responsibilities

In acute care every day is different. You will be supporting individuals with a range of conditions including dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, respiratory conditions, cancer and infectious diseases. You will have the opportunity to work closely with specialist Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in stroke, neurology, critical care and head and neck cancer.

It is desirable for you to hold competencies in videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy. Experience working in the acute setting with individuals with complex dysphagia is an essential requirement of this role.

What our team members say about working for us

I am part of a team.

I have the opportunity to try different clinical caseloads and to manage my caseload independently.

I enjoy the fast pace of working.

I have freedom.

There is a great selection of cake and chocolate!

Job description

Job responsibilities

In acute care every day is different. You will be supporting individuals with a range of conditions including dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, respiratory conditions, cancer and infectious diseases. You will have the opportunity to work closely with specialist Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in stroke, neurology, critical care and head and neck cancer.

It is desirable for you to hold competencies in videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy. Experience working in the acute setting with individuals with complex dysphagia is an essential requirement of this role.

What our team members say about working for us

I am part of a team.

I have the opportunity to try different clinical caseloads and to manage my caseload independently.

I enjoy the fast pace of working.

I have freedom.

There is a great selection of cake and chocolate!

Person Specification

Training & qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
  • Health Care Professionals Council Registration
  • Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
  • Membership of relevant Clinical Education Networks.

Desirable

  • Leadership/Management Training.
  • Working towards / completion of competencies in FEES and/or tracheostomy care.
  • Completion of competencies in videofluoroscopy.
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist courses /modules /programme (master's degree and/or equivalent).

Physical skills

Essential

  • The post-holder will be required to travel independently across UHL sites.
  • There is a frequent requirement for sitting in a restricted position (i.e. at a workstation) for some periods of the day.

Experience

Essential

  • Well established knowledge and use of a broad range of assessment, management and therapy approaches relevant to the specialist client group guidelines (Communication/ Dysphagia)
  • In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit/research.
  • Understanding the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stake holders in the service area.
  • In depth knowledge of national policies, guidelines and procedures relevant to health and social care.
  • Knowledge of the strategic direction of the local health providers.
  • Knowledge and application of professional standards and code of conduct.

Communication & relationship skills

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills.
  • Evidence of high level of supervision skills.
  • Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations and ability to facilitate these skills in others.
  • Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills.
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others.
  • Ability to lead in an interprofessional/interagency context/environment to benefit of client groups.
  • Prioritisation skills.
  • An effective team member.
  • Evidence of giving formal presentations at local, regional, national or international level.
  • Evidence of providing training to others
  • Ability to work flexibly to meet needs of job.
  • Ability to motivate others.
  • Ability to translate policy into practice.
  • Strong self-motivation.
  • Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically.

Analytical & judgement skills

Essential

  • Relevant highly specialist experience post qualification.
  • Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
  • Evidence of effective leadership.
  • Evidence of facilitating change /innovation

Desirable

  • Experience in operational/line management

Planning & organisational skills

Essential

  • Ability to assume leadership responsibilities.
  • Advanced negotiation and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.

Mental Agility

Essential

  • Frequent concentration, work pattern unpredictable. Concentration required for checking documents and for inputting into the computer. Regular interruptions to deal with business issues.

Person Specification

Training & qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
  • Health Care Professionals Council Registration
  • Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
  • Membership of relevant Clinical Education Networks.

Desirable

  • Leadership/Management Training.
  • Working towards / completion of competencies in FEES and/or tracheostomy care.
  • Completion of competencies in videofluoroscopy.
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist courses /modules /programme (master's degree and/or equivalent).

Physical skills

Essential

  • The post-holder will be required to travel independently across UHL sites.
  • There is a frequent requirement for sitting in a restricted position (i.e. at a workstation) for some periods of the day.

Experience

Essential

  • Well established knowledge and use of a broad range of assessment, management and therapy approaches relevant to the specialist client group guidelines (Communication/ Dysphagia)
  • In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit/research.
  • Understanding the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stake holders in the service area.
  • In depth knowledge of national policies, guidelines and procedures relevant to health and social care.
  • Knowledge of the strategic direction of the local health providers.
  • Knowledge and application of professional standards and code of conduct.

Communication & relationship skills

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills.
  • Evidence of high level of supervision skills.
  • Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations and ability to facilitate these skills in others.
  • Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills.
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others.
  • Ability to lead in an interprofessional/interagency context/environment to benefit of client groups.
  • Prioritisation skills.
  • An effective team member.
  • Evidence of giving formal presentations at local, regional, national or international level.
  • Evidence of providing training to others
  • Ability to work flexibly to meet needs of job.
  • Ability to motivate others.
  • Ability to translate policy into practice.
  • Strong self-motivation.
  • Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically.

Analytical & judgement skills

Essential

  • Relevant highly specialist experience post qualification.
  • Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
  • Evidence of effective leadership.
  • Evidence of facilitating change /innovation

Desirable

  • Experience in operational/line management

Planning & organisational skills

Essential

  • Ability to assume leadership responsibilities.
  • Advanced negotiation and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.

Mental Agility

Essential

  • Frequent concentration, work pattern unpredictable. Concentration required for checking documents and for inputting into the computer. Regular interruptions to deal with business issues.

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Infirmary Square

Leicester

LE15WW

Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Infirmary Square

Leicester

LE15WW

Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Apply Now