Job summary
Stroke Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Band 6, Acute Stroke Service (0.6 WTE, 22.5 hours per week)

We are pleased to offer this excellent opportunity for a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join our dynamic and well-established SLT department at Derriford Hospital, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. We are looking to appoint a highly skilled Speech and Language Therapist to work on the Acute Stroke Unit as a member of the Stroke Multi-Disciplinary Team. There will be opportunity to work on the stroke rehabilitation unit at Mount Gould Hospital to support resilience across both sites. The post holder will be required to work on a rota providing a 7-day clinical service to stroke and neurology patients. The appointee will be a specialist clinician with acute stroke and neurology- specific experience and with clinical expertise in the differential diagnosis and the management of disorders of speech, language, communication and dysphagia. The successful candidate will take a senior role in the team and will be developing skills in instrumental assessment such as Videofluoroscopy and FEES.

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job
To provide a Specialist Speech & Language Therapy service to acute stroke unit inpatients and stroke rehabilitation unit within Derriford Hospital and Mount Gould Hospital.

To clinically supervise and appraise identified junior staff.

This is a seven day working pattern, which includes full staffing levels over weekends and bank holidays.

To assess, diagnose, treat and manage own specialist caseload of patients with complex communication and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties, including tracheostomised patients following stroke, or with acquired neurological condition

To train and support the carers of clients and participate in appropriate highly specialist training to other colleagues.

To provide specialist clinical support and leadership to other therapists/staff on in-patient acute SLT issues.

To clinically supervise and appraise identified speech and language therapists

To provide specialist interventions and to evaluate outcomes

To provide second opinions, advice and training to less experienced SLTs in assessment and treatment programmes for stroke patients.

To provide formal clinical education, teaching and assessment for speech and language therapy students, medical students and other AHPs for stroke.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities
Clinical

• To provide specialist differential diagnosis, clinical advice and care plans/therapy to clients with communication and/or swallowing disorders, implementing programmes as a specialist member of the SLT Team
• To manage and prioritise own specialist caseload independently. The main clinical area for this post will be stroke and neurology inpatients.
• To contribute to specialist clinical teams by discussing own and others input around clients needs ensuring a well-co-ordinated care plan
• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of the clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness
• To use highly developed auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• To undertake a range of formal and informal assessments, including risk analysis of swallowing, understanding and use of voice, grammar, vocabulary, speech sounds, fluency, social use of language, carer/patient interaction, and non-verbal communication and to make judgements re normal and abnormal functioning.
• To monitor, recognise, assess and evaluate subtle changes in patients conditions and adapt clinical decisions and treatment programmes accordingly based on extended clinical experience.
• To be responsible for ensuring patients safety with regard to eating and drinking by assessing, monitoring and updating, and communicating details of safe practice to the patient, medical and ward staff, and carers, ensuring that recommendations are clearly documented in medical notes and in any other care plans, notes or documents as directed by the Lead SLT for Stroke
• To continue to develop deeper and more specialist professional expertise and clinical skills across a range of neurological and acquired speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD) by working with highly specialist staff, attending Clinical Excellence Networks, specialist courses, self-directed study and maintenance of personal CPD portfolio
• To recognise own professional and clinical boundaries and competencies and seek advice, support and training, when necessary, with in a clinical supervision and appraisal framework.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• HCPC Licence to Practise
• Registered member of RCSLT
• Advanced dysphagia training (or equivalent acquired through demonstrable experience and proven evidence of competencies)

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Specialist proven knowledge of assessment tools and therapy management techniques underpinned by proven evidence based practice that are relevant to communication and swallowing problems especially for stroke and neurology
• Demonstrable experience of delivering training to clinical staff
• Post-graduated demonstrable experience in acquired adult neurology and stroke
• Demonstrable experience working within a stroke interdisciplinary team

Desirable

• Member of Specialist Clinical Excellence Groups
• Interest in the use of videofluoroscopy and/or FEES assessment including analysis and report writing

Aptitude and Abilities
Essential

• Proven knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the client group including SSNAP
• Specialist level proven knowledge of range of appropriate therapeutic intervention relevant to client group
• A understanding of the principles of clinical governance /audit good

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION
Essential

• Competent IT and Presentation skills
• Ability to maintain judgement within a busy environment
• Ability to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet differing needs of the patients.
• Up to date with developments within the profession and the NHS

Desirable

• Participation in audit and research
• Interest, demonstrable experience or aptitude for developing skills in leadership, supervision and line management of more junior staff, students and assistants.

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. 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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address: University Hospitals NHS Trust Plymouth, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Senior Speech and Language Therapist
Jacqueline Emma Jasper
jacquie.jasper@nhs.net
01752433320

Details
Date posted: 28 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Job share
Reference number: 216-AM-DA8256983
Job locations: University Hospitals NHS Trust Plymouth, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Supporting documents
Privacy notice: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)