About this role
Job summary
Are you passionate about providing a high quality Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) service to adult inpatients? Are you looking for the chance to develop your career in a prestigious London Trust with access to highly skilled clinicians and multiple learning opportunities?
We are looking for a Specialist SLT to join our Adult Service in a cross-site rotational role. This post rotates between the Stroke Service (hyperacute and acute stroke units), and three Adult Acute teams at Charing Cross, Hammersmith, and St Mary's Hospitals. Each acute site has its specialisms, including admissions, neurology, respiratory, major trauma, critical care, and surgical specialisms.
As a valued member of the speech & language therapy and multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to multidisciplinary working, further developing your clinical skills and actively participating in service development and training others. Staff are encouraged and supported to participate in CPD activities and audit and research. The post-holder will provide support to SLT/rehabilitation assistants as well as supervise students on placement.
We hold weekly videofluoroscopy clinics and provide a FEES service. You will be supported in the development of your skills in these areas in line with your learning needs, along with specialist skills in assessment and therapy for acquired communication disorders.
Main duties of the job
To independently manage a caseload of adults with acquired communication and/or swallowing difficulties of neurological/medical/surgical origin, demonstrating specialist knowledge and skill underpinned by current evidence-based practice. To provide specialist assessment and treatment for patients with adult acquired communication and swallowing problems. To support the provision of instrumental assessments on site as clinically appropriate and as required by the service, including identifying appropriate patients, under-taking joint assessments, analysis, reporting and feedback. To work in collaboration with other members of the MDT to provide an integrated service for patients, participating in joint clinics, ward rounds, multi-disciplinary assessment/treatment, family/ carer support and education, attending regular meetings and case conferences as appropriate. To participate in quality improvement, clinical governance projects, audit and research as required by the Clinical Service Lead for Adult Speech & Language Therapy. To support the training and development of speech and language therapy students on placement and of SLT/rehabilitation assistants, as required.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
Environmental sustainabilityClimate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan.
Job description Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews, please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Education/ qualifications Essential
Degree accredited by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) Current HCPC registration as a speech & language therapist Professional portfolio demonstrating experience and achievements
Desirable
Registration with RCSLT
Experience Essential
Experience of working at postgraduate level with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders. Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team Experience of delivering training programmes to multidisciplinary colleagues. Experience of participation in clinical governance activities.
Desirable
Experience of videofluoroscopy (including writing reports) Experience of FEES (assessor or endoscopist) Experience of working with patients with Tracheostomy Experience of supervising junior staff or students on placement
Skills/knowledge/ abilities Essential
Specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge relevant to the management of adults with swallowing and communication disorders in the acute hospital setting; underpinned by current models of best practice. Competent Level C dysphagia practitioner ('RCSLT dysphagia training and competency framework') ie able to manage a dysphagia caseload independently - or equivalent (eg operating at Proficient Level of SLT EDS Competency Framework 2025) Ability to use specialist knowledge to make appropriate independent clinical decisions, with access to a supervisor, reflecting on practice and demonstrating evidence based practice. Ability to negotiate with client/carer and medical/AHP teams around individual case management, prioritisation and clinical risk management Able to work effectively on own initiative and within a team, contributing to team goals and initiatives as required. Ability to seek guidance when faced with a situation beyond clinical experience Good organisation and time management skills Effective teaching/training skills, including knowledge of learning styles to support unqualified and qualified SLT and MDT staff as required. Competent in basic computer skills and common programmes i.e. Word, Outlook, internet searches, Excel, Powerpoint Able to manage the emotional consequences of working with distressing conditions and emotionally demanding patients/carers and workload independently on a daily basis, generating appropriate strategies for caseload management and seeking support from senior colleagues if/ when required. Ability to educate, empathise, support, negotiate and motivate even when co-operation is not guaranteed. Able to maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management
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 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Address Hammersmith Hospital
London
W12 0HS
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)