About this role
Job summary
We are looking for a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work across our acute general wards and stroke/neuro-rehabilitation units, providing high-quality assessment and intervention for adults with communication and swallowing needs. As an autonomous practitioner, you will manage a varied and fast-paced caseload, delivering specialist input for patients with complex acquired conditions including stroke, neurological disorders, frailty, and acute medical presentations.
Working as part of a dynamic MDT, you will contribute to timely clinical decision-making, early supported discharge, and rehabilitation planning, ensuring safe and effective care throughout the patient pathway. You will provide specialist dysphagia management, communication rehabilitation, and patient/carer education, alongside supporting junior colleagues and contributing to service development within the acute and neuro-rehab settings.
This role offers the opportunity to consolidate and extend specialist skills in dysphagia, stroke, and neuro-rehabilitation while shaping high-quality SLT provision within a supportive and forward-thinking team.
Main duties of the job
To provide specialist assessment, management and treatment to patients with swallowing and/or communication problems within the stroke and acute SLT team.
To contribute to and lead on (where appropriate) service audits, quality improvement projects and service redesign.
To work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary framework to achieve integrated care for patients.
Regularly attendance and contribution to patient and family meetings, both face to face and via video
Write high quality patient reports, including discharge reports for inpatients and community patients
To support clinical education and student placements.
To cover other areas within the wider SLT as and when required
About us
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.
Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':
Being a clinically led organisation Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust A positive patient experience every time A great place to work Managing our money well
As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.
Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.
Job description Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.
CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:
Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see ourPolicy for eligible vacancies.
AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information.This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.
Registered Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals returning to practice, moving into new roles or changing clinical environments, may access an agreed preceptorship period.
Disclosure and Barring Service:
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.
The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as followsif applicable to the post:
Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:
27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
Flexible working Scheme
NHS Discounts*
Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
Excellent opportunities for development*
Competitive NHS Pension scheme
Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems
*Subject to eligibility
Important Information:
Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.
If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.
Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
oExperience of organising, managing and prioritising a clinical caseload. oExperience of working as part of a MDT. oExperience of working with other professionals and agencies. oExperience of assessment and management of swallowing including instrumental assessment oExperience of working with stroke survivors oExperience of working in a fast paced acute ward setting oDelivering training to others e.g. carers and other AHPs. oGood working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and SLT role in the process. oGood working knowledge of prognostic indicators in stroke and how this impacts on SLT care. oClinical governance as it affects clinical practice, in line with national and local drivers. oGood working knowledge of Feed at Risk issues and the role of SLT in this process.
Qualifications Essential
oDegree in Speech and Language Therapy approved by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). oRegistered with HCPC. oOn-going membership with the RCSLT. oEvidence of formal training/self-study/ specialist experience to post graduate level in dysphagia
Knowledge Essential
oRCSLT code of conduct and professional standards oKnowledge of local and national drivers in stroke and how they relate to SLT practice. oKnowledge of RCSLT Clinical guidelines in regards to progressive neurological conditions, dementia, ABI & Stroke oKnowledge of swallowing and communication disorders, including Dysarthria, Dysphasia, Dyspraxia, Dysphagia, and Dysphonia. oKnowledge of Evidence based and modern therapy techniques with stroke and progressive neurological population. To demonstrate a breadth of knowledge with decision making underpinned by current evidence
Desirable
Experience of evidence based rehabilitation approaches Videofluoroscopy competencies MBSImp training Trachostomy Competencies
Skills and Aptitudes Essential
oAbility to carry out and analyse results of various assessments appropriate for different clients, relating to age, disorder, standardisation, etc oIT ability, including word processing, presentation skills, ability to access software packages and ability to effectively use telemedicine. oNegotiation and problem solving ability, in order to prioritise for assessment and intervention oSkills in motivation of clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process. oHighly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and management within the stroke population oWillingness to learn and be a reflective practitioner. oExcellent interpersonal and communication skills. oExcellent time management, organisational and administration skills.
Desirable
Experience of service evaluation and redesign
Other requirements Essential
oSupport equality and value diversity oAbility to maintain concentration in a range of clinical environments and withstand interruptions and unexpected changes to work patterns. Note that Stroke work will be based on the stroke ward, and require worker to maintain productivity with admin tasks during clinical environment oDuring periods of short staffing or significant caseload demands may be required to travel across North Cumbria to support the stroke or acute service as required by the team lead.
Desirable
Car driver Car owner
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 North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address Cumberland Infirmary
Newtown road
Carlisle
CA2 7HY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)