Job summaryAn exciting opportunity has arisen for a Speech and Language Therapist to join the Adult Acute SLT team at Cambridge University Hospitals in a permanent Band 7 post.
We welcome applications from established Band 7 clinicians and experienced Band 6 clinicians ready to develop towards Band 7 practice. Developing Band 7 applicants should have strong Adult Acute and complex dysphagia experience, experience in instrumental swallowing assessment (FEES and/or Videofluoroscopy) with evidence of active progression towards competency, and emerging clinical leadership experience.
Depending on skills, experience and competencies, appointment will be either at Band 7 or as a Developing Band 7, commencing at Band 6. Progression from Band 6 to Band 7 will be dependent on successful completion and sign-off of predefined competencies in advanced clinical practice, instrumental assessment and clinical/operational leadership.
Main duties of the jobYou will assess and manage adults with dysphagia and communication disorders across acute inpatient services, including patients with complex neurological, respiratory, medical, surgical and oncology presentations.
At Band 7, you will independently manage a highly complex caseload, demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning, contribute to complex multidisciplinary decision-making, undertake instrumental swallowing assessment and provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to colleagues.
A Developing Band 7 appointee will work towards the full Band 7 responsibilities through a predefined competency framework, commencing at Band 6 and progressing to Band 7 following successful completion of the required competencies.
The role also includes education, quality improvement and service development.
About usOur TrustCambridge 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.
DetailsDate posted: 28 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 180-B-263133-RE
Job locations: Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesPlease see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.
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 employmentThis vacancy will close at midnight on the 11th October 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on the 26th October 2026.
Benefits to youAt 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 SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
- Health professions Council Registration.
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent.
- Evidence of advanced post-registration training relevant to Adult Acute practice, including dysphagia, instrumental assessment (FEES/VFS) and/or tracheostomy management.
- Member of Specialist Interest Groups.
ExperienceEssential- Significant post-registration experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist within an Adult Acute service.
- Extensive experience in the independent assessment and management of adults with complex dysphagia.
- Experience independently undertaking and interpreting instrumental swallowing assessment (FEES and/or Videofluoroscopy).
- Experience independently assessing and managing adults with tracheostomies, including communication and swallowing management.
- Experience providing clinical supervision, education and support to junior clinicians and/or students.
- Experience contributing to multidisciplinary working, service development and quality improvement initiatives.
- Demonstrable experience independently prioritising and managing a highly complex Adult Acute caseload.
- Demonstrable experience independently prioritising and managing a highly complex Adult Acute caseload.
Desirable- Experience working within tertiary specialist services.
- Experience leading audit, research or quality improvement.
- Experience contributing to development of instrumental swallowing services.
KnowledgeEssential- Advanced knowledge of complex dysphagia assessment and management.
- Advanced knowledge of swallowing physiology and pathophysiology.
- Knowledge of the principles, interpretation and clinical application of instrumental swallowing assessment (FEES/VFS).
- Knowledge of tracheostomy assessment and management.
- Knowledge of current RCSLT guidance, evidence-based practice and national dysphagia guidance.
- Understanding of clinical governance, audit and quality improvement.
SkillsEssential- Advanced clinical reasoning.
- Autonomous clinical decision-making.
- Ability to negotiate and influence complex multidisciplinary clinical decision-making.
- Ability to communicate highly complex information effectively to patients, relatives and MDTs.
- Ability to demonstrate clinical leadership through supervision, education and support of colleagues.
- Excellent organisational and workload management skills.
- Excellent written documentation.
- Ability to contribute to service development and quality improvement.
Additional RequirementsEssential- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Addenbrookes Hospital-Division B, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Senior SLT, Andrie Schembri, andrie.schembri@nhs.net, 01223216200
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.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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. 
