Closing date: 17 November 2026

Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to work as a band 6 specialist SLT in the stroke pathway. It is ideal for an experienced band 5 or an existing band 6 speech and language therapist looking to clinically focus in stroke.

The job focus will be to work as part of the SLT team and wider MDT providing responsive and high quality stroke services across acute, rehabilitation and community settings. ELHT as an organisation and the Therapies directorate are committed to an integrated stroke pathway, which includes a hyper acute stroke unit, an in-patient rehabilitation unit, and a community service spanning both early intervention and routine care.

Innovation and service improvement are core to our ethos and the Trust is a consistent high achiever in SSNAP audits, with a strong partnership with The Stroke Association.

You will be a qualified and HCPC registered SLT with good knowledge and competence in up to date assessment and treatment procedures for the stroke population (dysphagia and communication).

Main duties of the job
The key duties are:

• To work as part of the staff team delivering specialist Speech and Language Therapy Services to the SLT Stroke pathway (community/acute): adults with acquired disorders of communication and swallowing, predominantly in community and hospital settings.
• To lead relevant projects for the SLT service.
• To promote an understanding of clinical disorders and speech and language therapy services.
• To undertake instrumental and objective dysphagia assessment to level of competence and within the existing VFL and FEES workforce structure.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required together with good organisational and time management skills. Flexibility in working patterns to meet the needs of the service is essential - duties may be at Royal Blackburn Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital and across the community. You will be able to work under pressure and be self directed, recognising your own limits.

You will be a car driver/owner or be able to travel between community visits in a timely manner.

You will be part of the seven day/bank holiday rota.

About us
Established in 2003 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is a large integrated health care organisation providing high quality acute secondary healthcare for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.

Our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 700,000 patients a year from the most serious of emergencies to planned operations and procedures. We employ over 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work and achievements.

The SLT service has an experienced team of clinical leads - Critical Care, Dysphagia, Voice, Head and Neck, Stroke, FEES, Videofluoroscopy, Neurorehabilitation and Community (including progressive disease).

Actively involved in a range of service and workforce initiatives across the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS and research including collaborations with ELHT and UCLan's AHP Professor in Neurorehabilitation and Stroke.

The service is well equipped and is supported by a team of administrators, SLT Assistants and Therapy Assistant Practitioners. Regular team meetings, an annual SLT Showcase of best practice, SLT, Stroke and Neuro Improvement Event and continual improvement is embedded in our daily work and service improvement initiatives. We are committed to continuing professional development and this is underpinned by supervision, regular line management and an annual appraisal system.

Details
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year pro rata per annum
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Contract: Fixed term, 6 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 435-D214-26
Job location: Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH

Person Specification
Experience (Essential)

• Experience treating a variety of patients relevant to the post including independent dysphagia competencies
• Organising and managing everyday clinic routines
• Minimum 6 months experience of working as B5 Speech Therapist

Knowledge and Skills (Essential)

• Knowledge of a range of communication and swallowing difficulties and their management relevant to the post.
• Knowledge of a range of Alternative and Augmentative systems of communication.
• Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the client group.
• Knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group.
• Awareness of principles of clinical governance/audit.
• Awareness of the roles of other professionals relevant to the client group
• Awareness of confidentiality as relating to the NHS

Knowledge and Skills (Desirable)

• Use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
• Presentation skills

Qualifications (Essential)

• Registered with the HCPC
• Profession specific Diploma/ Degree

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer contact
Clinical and Operational Lead SLT: Nicola Fleming, nicola.fleming@elht.nhs.uk, 01254734492

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