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Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
The closing date is 23 April 2026
We are looking for either a band 7 Speech and Language Therapist. This is an excellent job share opportunity for a dynamic, enthusiastic and highly motivated Speech and Language therapist to join The Care Home Support Team in Hillingdon supporting residents of care homes.
The successful applicant will be part of a multidisciplinary team, including GPs and Matrons, with borough wide support from Care Home Pharmacist, Care of the Elderly Consultant and Dietitian.
The post holder will be expected to manage a caseload of patients referred to the service to support the management of patients with swallow or communication difficulties. They will work closely with all members of the multi-disciplinary team to prevent admission to hospital and be actively involved in advanced care planning.
It offers the opportunity to gain clinical experience in a range of dysphagia and communication difficulties in care home residents which includes management of neurological conditions, risk feeding and end of life care. Other responsibilities include promoting the highest standard of swallow safety in homes through teaching and training programmes, policy and systems development, audit and multi-professional working across the borough.
Main duties of the job
To independently manage a caseload of clients with swallowing and communication disorders in Hillingdon care homes.
To work closely with all members of the multi‑disciplinary team to prevent admission to hospital and be actively involved in advanced care planning.
To actively contribute to service development in SLT (CHST service) within the areas of stroke, long term neurological conditions & older people services.
To co‑supervise junior Speech and Language Therapists and students as needed.
To deliver training/teaching to carers, other health professionals and students with a particular emphasis on improving the management of dysphagia in care homes.
To conduct regular swallow safety audits to support and drive excellence in swallow management in care homes.
The post holder will provide a Specialist Speech & Language Therapy service as an autonomous SLT working within the Care Home Support Team (which includes another SLT), for clients who reside in care homes across Hillingdon. They will contribute to further development of the SLT service.
The post holder will be part of a multi‑disciplinary Care Home Support team supporting the care of residents in care homes to respond to urgent referrals to enable residents to remain in the care homes and avoid hospital admissions where appropriate.
About us
We are a small, supportive, friendly team consisting of Matrons, GPs, Dietitians and pharmacist who work alongside the SLT with support from our elderly Care consultant. Providing care to all care home residents in Hillingdon. We are passionate about delivering the best care to our residents and have established good working relationships with all our care homes.
There is good support for personal development and opportunities to develop the service in line with best practice. This includes close relationships with the wider Hillingdon Speech and Language Therapy Team and access to Videofluoroscopy clinic.
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION ON THIS ADVERT FOR FURTHER INFO.
CLINICAL
To use highly specialist clinical skills to manage a complex caseload of adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties for patients residing in care homes.
To provide specialist assessment of communication and swallowing problems, formulate a hypothesis using a high level of clinical reasoning, and develop and implement appropriate interventions/rehabilitation to be delivered in patients home.
To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.
To write comprehensive reports that are accessible to a range of professionals reflecting specialist knowledge.
To develop clear care plans, advice and information, based on best practice and to use specialist knowledge to inform clinical judgments for care management.
To ensure that patients and/or carers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans and wherever possible facilitate patients with communication and/or cognitive difficulties to participate in the process to ensure meaningful outcomes.
To provide advice and training to other professionals, carers and relatives regarding the safe management and care of patients with communication and/or swallowing difficulties to maximise the patients skills and reduce clinical risk.
To work collaboratively and liaise with a wide range of other professionals across a variety of locations and agencies.
To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
To reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of patients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures, and maintain knowledge of current literature and developments within the specialist clinical field of adult neurology (including stroke, progressive neurological conditions, and dementia).
To demonstrate specialist knowledge and use of high and low technology communication aids with a range of patients.
To undertake and interpret videofluoroscopies on care home residents as required.
To manage risk when dealing with people who live in care homes and who have swallowing difficulties, to promote choice by providing information about the risks and to contribute to moral and ethical decision making about oral and/or alternative feeding choices.
To clinically co‑supervise students.
TEAM WORKING
To attend Multidisciplinary Team Meetings, and to actively promote and contribute to MDT working, maintaining effective communication and client centered focus.
To support the MDT when undertaking capacity assessments for people who can benefit from supported communication techniques.
To work with the MDT when dealing with patients who are on risk acknowledged feeding plans and collaborate with them in advanced care planning for these residents.
To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager, including participation in other working groups, policy development groups, and to contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
To work closely with patients, carers and other community healthcare professionals where appropriate.
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi‑disciplinary team/other professions.
To work collaboratively with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to patient management.
To employ counselling and listening skills when discussing clinical and emotional aspects of client care and form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging behaviour.
To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
To routinely overcome barriers to communication during assessment and intervention. This includes the use of augmentative or alternative communication, as well as accessing interpreter services where patients do not have English as a first language.
To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs, and seek advice and support to resolve.
To actively build links with relevant local support / community groups.
To facilitate continuity of care through appropriate liaison with relevant agencies and services on transfer or discharge of clients from service.
To provide training to a variety of audiences on aspects of Speech & Language Therapy and area of specialism.
MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE
To co‑lead the Adult SLT service in regard to the management of patients with dysphagia in the community.
To triage and direct SLT community/outpatient referrals to the appropriate service.
To help develop and collate a bank of resources for assessment and treatment of adult neurological patients in the care home population.
To help develop care protocols/training packages relating to adult neurology to improve patient care.
To advise line manager of issues of service shortfall or pressure.
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as required.
To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of SLT equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients.
To advise on and record the loan of equipment/communication aids to patients.
To evaluate own delivery and to be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries seeking advice as appropriate.
To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Review framework. To develop a professional portfolio developed within the appraisal framework to include objectives relating to clinical work area.
To attend specialist short courses, CENs and advanced training in specialist areas and to demonstrate knowledge of these areas underpinned by current evidence based best practice.
To enhance clinical expertise through self‑reflection and analysis to identify own strengths and development needs.
To provide mentoring, advice and support (including second opinions) to more junior Speech and Language Therapists, assistants and volunteers, and to participate in the supervision and training of Band 5/6 SLTs.
To facilitate the development of others problem solving/negotiation skills within peer review/support.
To provide support to students from other health professional groups as appropriate and to explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
To actively provide input to Team and Departmental meetings.
To assist with the identification of training needs within the team, community, and Trust as a whole, and to target training (formal and informal) appropriately, and to develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
Person Specification
EDUCATION/ QUALIFICATIONS
* Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
* Health Professions Council - Licence to Practice
* Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
* Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
* Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses.
EXPERIENCE
* Considerable experience working with adults with acquired and progressive neurological disorders in a variety of settings.
* Relevant highly specialist experience post qualification in assessment and management of acquired communication/swallowing disorders of neurological aetiology.
* In‑depth experience within an appropriate specialist area (adult acquired and progressive neurological disorders, dementia).
* A significant proportion of post graduate experience should include community setting.
* Independent in videofluoroscopy.
* Experience of supervising and appraising more junior therapists.
* Experience working with interpreters.
* Experience of developing and providing specialist training to nursing home staff, carers, and other members of the MDT.
* Involvement in multidisciplinary working.
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS/ ABILITIES
* Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills.
* Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal.
* Excellent organisational skills.
* Excellent caseload management skills, including the ability to prioritise caseload and work independently. Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities. Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to adult acquired communication and swallowing.
* Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities.
* Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to adult acquired communication and swallowing disorder.
* In‑depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to specialist patient group; in‑depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to communication and dysphagia in specialist patient group and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits; in‑depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit/record keeping.
* Knowledge of high and low technology communication aids and their use with adult neurological patients.
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.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
£53,751 to £60,651 a yearpa inc HCAS pro rata
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