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Job summary

Main area
Speech and Language Therapist
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
179-8311595-I
Employer
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
West Suffolk Hospital
Town
Bury St Edmunds
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 pro rata, per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
20/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust logo

B6 Speech & Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

We are excited to advertise a Band 6 senior speech and language therapist post (rotational). 

This role is suited to an experienced  speech and language therapist who is competent in the assessment and management of adults with communication and dysphagia in a range of specialties within both hospital and community settings. Consideration may also be given to candidates as band 5 to 6 development post.

Current rotations offer opportunities to work within a wide array of specialties including, community, acute hospital, acute stroke, ESD and voice/ENT. The first rotation would be within the community team - a friendly dynamic team who offer both one to one and group settings both in clinic and in a person's own home. Ability to travel to home visits and various clinical settings is essential as is the ability to work autonomously with regular clinical support and supervision. . You will be a strong team player who is able to provide high quality speech and language therapy assessments and interventions across a wide variety of clinical needs.

There will also be an opportunity to contribute to our videofluoroscopy clinics and FEES service for suitably qualified candidates.

The WSH speech and language therapy team work seamlessly across all acute, community and specialist services and there are lots of opportunity to develop your skills and experience.  We have a wide range of CPD opportunities and a strong supervision and team ethos.

Main duties of the job

To provide a high standard of speech and language therapy assessment and management of adults with comunication difficulties and dysphagia in a variety of settings across acute and community teams; autonomously manage a clinical  caseload with support from senior colleagues as required; provide support and clinical supervision to B5 SLTs and assistants and other students as required; participation in service quality improvement projects; undertake professional dutues as a qualified speech and language therapist seeking advice from senior colleagues where appropriate. You will demonstrate a high level of clinical skills and leadership behaviours.

Working for our organisation

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

 

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached the full job description and person specification for the full details of this job role. 

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • RCSLT recognised degree or equivalent
  • Eligible for registered membership of RCSLT.
  • HPC membership.
  • Independent Dysphagia Practitioner.
Desirable criteria
  • Relevant postgraduate short courses

Experience & Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in an acute hospital and / or community environment.
  • Experience of working with stroke patients
  • Experience of working as part of a MDT and liaising with other agencies.
  • Portfolio of CPD evidence relevant to post. Independent bedside assessment of dysphagia.
  • Differential diagnosis of patients with multiple aetiologies
  • Experience of case conferences.
  • Experience of independent case management.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in various clinical settings.
  • Experience of supervising staff
  • Experience of facilitating mental capacity assessments.
  • Involvement in audit/clinical governance within SALT
  • Experience of working with pts with voice disorders

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of evidence based practice in relation to swallowing and communication disorders.
  • Specialist knowledge of neurologically impaired patients, and current approaches to treatment and rehabilitation.
  • Knowledge of respiratory conditions and their effect on swallowing and current approaches to assessment and treatment
  • Detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the swallow to synthesise and collate information from cranial nerve assessment and bedside assessment of the swallow to form hypothesise regarding patient status..
  • Knowledge of videofluoroscopy analyse images and prepare detailed specialist reports with support.
  • An ability to develop and deliver work programmes for individuals and groups.
  • Knowledge and use of outcome measures
  • Highly developed communication/interpersonal skills
  • Excellent organisational and administrative skills, including word processing.
  • Ability to manage time and prioritise workload effectively
  • Teaching and training other staff
  • Ability to manage operational aspects of the acute service in absence of senior clinicians as requested.
  • Knowledge of changes in the NHS and current legislation.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to manage tracheostomy dependent patients independently
  • Completion of videofluoroscopy competencies to allow for independent practice in clinics.
  • Knowledge of FEES.
  • Attendance in MDT voice clinics
  • Attendance at specialist voice SIGs/courses
  • Specialist knowledge of voice disorders + current approaches to assessment, diagnosis and therapy. Knowledge of swallowing in critical care dependent patients.

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Developed critical appraisal skills, with insight into own strengths and weaknesses and development.
  • Committed to personal development.
  • Flexible approach to working duties
  • Problem solving skills
  • Ability to pass knowledge and skills on to others.
  • Able to maintain judgement under pressure. Pragmatic
  • Arrive and leave promptly and work effectively during agreed hours.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to travel to rural locations to carry out the job role

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardDisability confident employerArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Liza Asti
Job title
Service Lead SALT
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07701 032438
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