Job summary
We have an exciting new post for a Speech and Language Therapist to work across our community teams planning strategically the future of SLT by ensuring the skills and expertise of clinicians are extended and prioritised to assess and treat our patients in their own homes and community settings. This is a new role for the community, you will develop this role across our teams, setting up business planning and looking at succession planning working with several high-profile established multi-disciplinary specialties.You will support the workforce to meet the needs of our local populations alongside stretching and considering business opportunities for the future. You will be liaising with clinical leads ensuring there are clinical outcomes relevant to specialist areas, audits and research practices, including holding your own clinical case load. To excel in this role, you must show:o Experience in collaborative working with internal and external stakeholders.o A strong, proven track record of inclusive leadership and staff management.o A proven history of clinical leadership experience and clinical expertise in dysphagia.o A high level of organisational skills to facilitate the delivery of planned work and the unplanned/unpredictable requirements associated with the role.o Hold a case loadWe encourage applicants from all backgrounds.Closing: 13th July 2025Proposed Interview date: 22nd July 2025
Main duties of the job
- Partner with the Trust and local areas to strategically develop community SLT services.
- Collaborate with academic institutions and lead on education, training, research and practice development in community SLT.
- Lead innovations in community SLT delivery, working with relevant stakeholders and external agencies.
- Develop research and education in community SLT services.
- Provide expert clinical reasoning and specialist support in SLT services to colleagues and partners.
- Identify clinical research, quality improvement and data collection priorities within SLT to drive improvements and clinical expertise for SLTs working the in community.
- Provide professional and clinical leadership to facilitate the development and implementation of high-quality, evidence-based training programmes.
- Lead in the development of a Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) service in community, collaborating with existing services (e.g., CHANT) and the acute service.
- Supervise the community SLT staff within ILS including performance management, recruitment, retention and ongoing team development.
- With Service and Clinical leads, maintain and improve clinical governance, evidence-based practice, and quality assurance across community SLT services.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best-known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, and neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for complete details and key responsibilities for this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for complete details and key responsibilities for this role.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in SLT with license to practice
- Registered Member HCPC
- Masters or equivalent level of post-graduate specialist training short courses, specific training
- Evidence of ongoing professional development - professional portfolio
- Attended Masters level dysphagia training to independent practice at advanced level
- Management qualification / post graduate experience in team leader / management role
Desirable
- Registered MRCSLT
- Advanced competency in videofluoroscopy
- Advanced competency in FEES or willing to train and develop and expand to community services
Previous experience
Essential
- Extensive advanced specialist experience working with adults with acquired disorders of swallowing and communication
- Significant experience of working as an integrated member of an MDT
- Experience of workforce planning and implementing service developments
- Proven track record of support and supervision of junior staff including performance management, recruitment and selection in a lead role
- Previous experience of conducting quality improvement projects and implementing change
- Sound knowledge of a range of AAC
- Experience of QI / research
- Experience of writing protocols, guidance and policies
Desirable
- Previous successful publication of articles in peer reviewed journals
- Experience working in a range of community settings
- Experience of integrated working across organisational boundaries i.e. acute and community; health, education and social care
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Evidence of advanced independent management of complex dysphagia communication / swallowing disorders
- Able to demonstrate ability to evaluate and interpret videofluoroscopy results at advanced level
- Able evaluate and interpret FEES at advanced level
- Knowledge of current National initiatives in Frailty and community care
- Comprehensive research skills: able to review papers, submissions and documents. Ability to search, appraise, review and determine implementation plans as appropriate.
- Advanced sensory skills to facilitate auditory discrimination of speech sound / voice quality at the highest level
- Ability to analyse and problem solve complex clinical and non-clinical issues and demonstrate creativity in producing practical solutions.
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate ability to carry out and evaluate FEES at advanced level
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in SLT with license to practice
- Registered Member HCPC
- Masters or equivalent level of post-graduate specialist training short courses, specific training
- Evidence of ongoing professional development - professional portfolio
- Attended Masters level dysphagia training to independent practice at advanced level
- Management qualification / post graduate experience in team leader / management role
Desirable
- Registered MRCSLT
- Advanced competency in videofluoroscopy
- Advanced competency in FEES or willing to train and develop and expand to community services
Previous experience
Essential
- Extensive advanced specialist experience working with adults with acquired disorders of swallowing and communication
- Significant experience of working as an integrated member of an MDT
- Experience of workforce planning and implementing service developments
- Proven track record of support and supervision of junior staff including performance management, recruitment and selection in a lead role
- Previous experience of conducting quality improvement projects and implementing change
- Sound knowledge of a range of AAC
- Experience of QI / research
- Experience of writing protocols, guidance and policies
Desirable
- Previous successful publication of articles in peer reviewed journals
- Experience working in a range of community settings
- Experience of integrated working across organisational boundaries i.e. acute and community; health, education and social care
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Evidence of advanced independent management of complex dysphagia communication / swallowing disorders
- Able to demonstrate ability to evaluate and interpret videofluoroscopy results at advanced level
- Able evaluate and interpret FEES at advanced level
- Knowledge of current National initiatives in Frailty and community care
- Comprehensive research skills: able to review papers, submissions and documents. Ability to search, appraise, review and determine implementation plans as appropriate.
- Advanced sensory skills to facilitate auditory discrimination of speech sound / voice quality at the highest level
- Ability to analyse and problem solve complex clinical and non-clinical issues and demonstrate creativity in producing practical solutions.
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate ability to carry out and evaluate FEES at advanced level
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
