Job Summary
A unique opportunity to shape care across the inpatient stroke pathway – all within a supportive, innovative, and truly collaborative SLT team. This role offers a rare, exciting opportunity to work across hyper‑acute, acute and inpatient stroke rehabilitation in a highly regarded 38‑bed Stroke Unit.
Benefits
£3,000 Golden Hello payment – paid in three instalments (£1,000 on appointment, £1,000 after 6 months, £1,000 after 12 months, pro rata if applicable). Note: the Golden Hello is not available to internal applicants.
Main Duties
* Assess, diagnose and manage communication and swallowing difficulties for inpatients following stroke.
* Work alongside a Band 5 SLT with ongoing support from experienced Band 7 colleagues.
* Provide dysphagia assessment and management, seeking second opinions where appropriate.
* Contribute to the established Dysphagia Trained Nurse programme.
* Deliver tailored therapy plans and evaluate progress.
* Support the MDT with expert SLT input, attending regular team meetings and case discussions.
* Stay up to date with current research, National Stroke Strategy guidance, and best practice.
* Play an active role in audit, data collection and service quality development.
Responsibilities
* Adhere to National and local standards and guidelines relating to Professional Practice (CQ3 and HCPC).
* Maintain awareness of current legislation and employer procedures.
* Commit to personal development and acquisition of further skills and knowledge.
* Keep abreast of research in the field of stroke care.
* Collect own work statistics as specified in the James Paget University Hospital service level agreement.
* Manage own time and defined caseload.
* Work closely and effectively with staff on the stroke unit.
* Supervise work with volunteers and assistants where appropriate.
* Take responsibility for student observation.
* Assess, formulate treatment plans, write assessment reports, provide intervention and evaluate outcomes for each patient.
* Review and discharge individual patients.
* Seek second opinions and make onward referrals when necessary.
* Accept support from designated colleagues.
* Offer advice to clients, carers and significant others, demonstrating practical procedures where appropriate.
* Attend and contribute to staff and team meetings.
* Contribute to local and national audit and quality measures.
* Highlight and request necessary equipment for caseload management.
* Attend multi‑disciplinary meetings on the stroke unit.
Qualifications
* Recognised qualification in Speech & Language Therapy.
* Registered member of HCPC / RCSLT.
* Dysphagia‑trained (at least proficient level – RCSLT competencies 2025).
* Current UK professional registration.
Skills and Knowledge
* Dysphagia‑trained and highly developed auditory & perceptual skills.
* Ability to identify and describe use of appropriate assessments for all client groups.
* Passion for stroke care and up‑to‑date knowledge of stroke research.
* Ability to plan treatment packages for clients with communication difficulties.
* Proficiency in applying Band 6 knowledge of clinical issues/developments to practice.
* Effective communication with clients with communication impairment.
* Knowledge of legal requirements and government initiatives influencing practice.
* Aware of measuring the impact of therapy and innovative practice.
* Good understanding of managing diversity and working within trust moving and handling guidelines.
Desirable
* Basic counselling skills.
* Experience of working on an acute stroke unit.
* Experience of training students, volunteers or assistants in SLT practice.
Person Specification – Essential Attributes
* Punctual and reliable.
* Organised, able to manage workload and time.
* Maintains intense concentration in all aspects of patient management.
* Recognises when to seek support.
* Able to convey complex condition‑related information clearly to clients and other professionals in written and verbal form.
* Friendly and approachable; uses good humour appropriately.
* Manages emotional consequences of working with patients of varying conditions.
* Accepts and follows advice and guidance; reflects on practice.
* Willing to support colleagues and work collaboratively.
* Resilient, with awareness of biological and psychosocial influences on team functioning.
* Embraces the organisation’s CARE values and signature behaviours.
* Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel as required.
Application Details
Job posted: 24 November 2025
Pay Scheme: Agenda for change – Band 6, £38,682 to £46,580 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number: B9849‑089‑25C
Location: James Paget Hospital, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6LA
Disclosure and Barring Service Check required – subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
We welcome you to visit ecch.org for further details about East Coast Community Healthcare CIC.
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