Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Stroke)
A unique opportunity to shape care across the inpatient stroke pathway – all within a supportive, innovative, and truly collaborative SLT team.
If you're an SLT who lives and breathes stroke care – and you're ready to take your specialist skills to the next level – 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.
You will join a small, friendly, specialist SLT team with the added benefit of being employed by East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) – a forward‑thinking, staff‑owned social enterprise. This means you get the best of both worlds:
* Inpatient hospital experience at James Paget University Hospital offering acute care and rehabilitation in stroke
* Close clinical connection with ECCH's Stroke ESD service
* Exposure to the whole stroke pathway – not just one part of it
* Staff ownership, giving you a real voice in shaping future services
* NHS‑aligned terms, benefits & development opportunities
* Benefits: 3,000 Golden Hello payment, paid in three instalments
This post attracts a "Golden Hello" payment of 3,000 (taxable): 1,000 will be payable on appointment, another 1,000 after 6 months in post and the final 1,000 after 12 months in post (pro rata if applicable). Please note that the Golden Hello is not available to internal applicants.
Main duties of the job
As the senior SLT on the Stroke Unit, you will:
* 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 our well‑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
What we're looking for:
* Dysphagia‑trained SLT to at least a proficient level (RCSLT competencies 2025)
* HCPC & RCSLT registration
* Strong experience in acute stroke care
* Excellent communication and MDT skills
* Ability to manage a complex caseload independently
* Ability to work flexibly and compassionately with patients and families
* Offer advice, guidance, and training to patients, carers and colleagues
* Act as a clinical educator for SLT students and support volunteers and assistants
* Flavour for a fast‑paced inpatient environment, balance shifting priorities, and pride in strong MDT relationships
About us
ECCH is a well‑established health care provider, delivering NHS care within the community since 2011 across the eastern region of the Norfolk/Suffolk borders. We are aligned to NHS terms and conditions and offer many employee benefits. We are a social enterprise and staff‑owned organisation, giving staff the opportunity to be shareholders and to influence how ECCH operates.
What you'll get from us:
* A small team that offers a warm welcome, regular supervision, training and development opportunities and a united team approach
* Good administrative support
* Opportunities to work across the Norfolk/Suffolk coastline and within a one‑hour radius of Norwich
This post is advertised as a full‑time position but may be suitable for a job share. We welcome visits from interested applicants.
Job responsibilities
* Adhere to National and local standards and guidelines relating to Professional Practice (CQ3 and HCPC)
* Be aware of and adhere to current legislation and employer procedures relating to the post
* Demonstrate commitment to personal development and acquisition of further skills and knowledge
* Keep abreast of research in the field of stroke care
* Be responsible for collecting own work statistics as specified in the James Paget University Hospital service level agreement
* Manage own time appropriately and maintain a 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
* Conduct assessment, differential diagnosis, formulate treatment plans, write assessment reports, provide appropriate intervention and evaluate outcomes for each patient
* Seek second opinions when necessary
* Make onward referrals when necessary
* Accept support from designated colleagues
* Offer advice to clients, carers and significant others about individual patients, and demonstrate practical procedures when appropriate
* Attend and contribute to staff and team meetings
* Contribute to local and national audit and quality measures
* Request equipment necessary for caseload management
* Attend multidisciplinary meetings on the stroke unit
Indicative Features
* Teaching, training and clinical supervision – regular access to department supervision system for support, attending in‑service training and assisting senior SLTs in training students, volunteers and assistants
* Clinical advice and interpretation – recognise professional boundaries, seek advice and provide information to health service professionals, clients/carers and other professionals
* Specialist experience – on full practice register, supported by experienced staff to develop skills in all areas, access to second opinions
* Complexity – on‑going professional support when required, may work in more than one location, manage own caseload with increased complexity of cases
* Resource management, planning and policy making – manage own time efficiently, responsible for own clinic equipment, contribute to service planning and policy discussions
* Research, evaluation and development – keep professionally up to date, ensure own practice is safe and appropriate, evaluate performance through outcome measures, provide data for research and participate in clinical audit activities
* Staff management and leadership – may direct SLT assistants or volunteers, be aware of HR policy contents and demonstrate ECCH values and signature behaviours (CARE)
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Recognised qualification in Speech & Language Therapy
* Registered member of HCPC / RCSLT
* Dysphagia trained
Experience
* Broad and varied clinical experience in stroke care
* Experience working on an acute Stroke Unit
Additional Criteria
* Dysphagia trained
* Highly developed auditory & perceptual skills for use in all areas of practice
* Ability to identify and describe use of appropriate assessments for all client groups
* Passion for stroke care and keeping abreast of stroke research
* Ability to plan treatment packages for clients with communication difficulties
* Apply band 6 knowledge of clinical issues and developments to clinical practice
* Communicate effectively with clients with communication impairment
* Identify own strengths and needs in relation to the post
* Form relationships with clients and carers/family
* Work within a team
* Good knowledge of legal requirements and government initiatives influencing practice
* Awareness of the importance and usefulness of measuring the impact of therapy
* Interest in innovative practice and ability to work within trust moving and handling guidelines
* Demonstrate understanding of managing diversity and its implications for Speech and Language Therapy practice
* Punctual and reliable, organise workload, manage time and maintain intense concentration in patient management
* Identify when to seek support and convey complex condition‑related information to clients and professionals
* Friendly and approachable, use good humour appropriately and manage emotional consequences of working with a range of conditions
* Accept and follow advice and guidance, understand the importance of self‑awareness and reflection, and support colleagues collaboratively
* Resilient, aware of biological and psycho‑social influences on handling work and the MTS functioning
* Willingness to embrace ECCH culture, values and signature behaviours (CARE)
* Willingness and ability to work across different sites, travel to alternative sites and across the community as required
* Basic counselling skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and a Disclosure and Barring Service check must be completed to confirm no unsuitable convictions.
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