About this role
Job summary
The post involves working with the senior SLT team lead, to take forward a well-established service for babies, children and young people with acute swallowing and communication needs. You will be expected to play a very active role in promoting potential SLT services and being an advocate for the SLT needs of infants and CYP as we contribute to the design and service planning of the new Cambridge Children's Hospital.
There will be the opportunity to contribute to SLT provision for both neonatal and paediatric caseloads across specialities, including intensive care, neurology, ENT, cardiology, respiratory, surgery and oncology and haematology.The acute paediatric SLT service benefits from working closely with highly receptive medical and multi-disciplinary teams, and has a strong focus on delivering holistic care.
Main duties of the job
In this advanced specialist role, you will independently manage a defined inpatient caseload. You will provide expert assessment and intervention on the neonatal unit, and for children with a broad spectrum of developmental and acquired communication and feeding/swallowing needs on the paediatric wards.
In addition, you will contribute to the MDT neurodevelopmental follow up outpatient clinic for graduates of NICU and establish the newly funded joint SLT/Cleft infant feeding outreach service.
We are committed to your ongoing professional development. You will have exceptional opportunities to deepen your acute paediatric skills, including training in instrumental swallowing assessment and exposure to complex, varied clinical presentations. You'll be supported by an experienced team lead and advanced specialist colleagues, ensuring you feel confident, encouraged and empowered in your practice. We place a strong emphasis on psychological safety --creating a culture where every team member feels valued, heard and confident to speak up, share ideas and seek support.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 4th June 2026
Interviews are due to be held on 10th June 2026
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent Health professions Council Registration Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Post-graduate paediatric feeding/dysphagia accreditation or equivalent Evidence of successful completion of advanced specialist short courses in paediatric communication disorders to level of masters or equivalent Evidence of successful completion of advanced specialist short courses in paediatric swallowing disorders to level of masters or equivalent Member of Clinical Excellence Networks
Experience Essential
In depth post graduate experience in specialist area of paediatrics at an advanced specialist level Proven competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of complex communication and swallowing disorders associated with a neonatal/paediatric caseload Proven experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with complex feeding difficulties Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals Experience of coordinating student placements and supervising SLT students Experience of advising/providing second opinions Involvement in multidisciplinary working Experience in the selection, use and programming of augmentative communication systems
Desirable
Experience of working with neonates Experience conducting and interpreting videofluoroscopic examinations Experience in the assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies. NHS Experience
Knowledge Essential
Advanced knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication, dysphagia and feeding relevant to paediatrics. Up to date knowledge of advances in clinical specialism In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group. In depth understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit to monitor and improve service Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group Awareness of demand and capacity issues Knowledge of standards of record keeping. Knowledge of strategic direction of local organisation
Additional Requirements Essential
The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of kind, safe and excellent.
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 Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Addenbrooke's Hospital-Division B
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)