Main area Speech and Language Therapist Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (7 day service) Job ref 216-LT-DA7894036
Employer University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Derriford Hospital Town Plymouth Salary £32,073 - £39,043 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 09/06/2026 23:59
Speech and Language Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 5
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Speech and Language Therapist with good clinical and interpersonal skills to join our friendly and supportive team and to contribute to the provision of a high quality service to a mixed adult in-patient caseload at University Hospitals Plymouth.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
You will play a key role in delivering high-quality care to adult inpatients presenting with communication and swallowing disorders, the key dimensions of this post include:
* To independently assess, diagnose and manage a caseload of speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties.
* Supporting safe and effective dysphagia management
* Working closely within a multidisciplinary team to support patient recovery
* Training and advising patients, carers, professionals, and non-professionals how to support speech, language and communication difficulties.
* Providing evidence-based interventions tailored to individual patient need
For further details please see attached job description.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you into contact with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
* Undertake a range of formal and informal assessments for communication and swallowing needs, analysing linguistic, cognitive, social and non‑verbal factors.
* Assess and manage inpatients with non‑complex dysphagia, identifying risk factors and adapting management plans as required.
* Gather, analyse and interpret information from medical notes, patients, carers and other professionals to support differential diagnosis.
* Develop and deliver evidence-based treatment plans using SMART goals, ensuring patients and carers are fully involved in decision-making.
* Monitor clinical progress, recognise subtle changes in presentation and adjust intervention accordingly, seeking senior advice when appropriate.
* Provide individual, group and generalisation therapy, and produce therapy programmes for assistants, carers and other professionals to implement safely.
* Ensure accurate, timely documentation in SLT case notes and medical records, including reports for clinical and legal purposes.
* Identify when onward referral, videofluoroscopy, FEES or multidisciplinary input is required.
* Adhere to infection control and safety standards.
* Maintain accurate clinical records and activity data in line with organisational standards.
* Maintain patient confidentiality and share information appropriately, following data protection and information governance requirements.
* Participate in a 7day working rota, including weekends and bank holidays once relevant competencies achieve
Professional Practice & Governance
* Maintain HCPC registration and meet RCSLT professional standards.
* Recognise personal scope of practice and seek supervision or guidance when needed.
* Participate in clinical supervision, peer reflection and the annual appraisal process.
* Undertake regular clinical supervision with more experienced colleagues and to reflect on practice with peers to raise clinical competence.
* Engage in continuing professional development and maintain an up-to-date CPD portfolio.
* Adhere to local and national policies, clinical governance requirements and data protection legislation.
* Contribute to service evaluation, audit, research and quality improvement activities.
* Report and manage risks appropriately, following organisational procedures.
Training, Education & Support of Others
* Support the induction of new staff and contribute to the training and supervision of assistants, associate practitioners, students and volunteers.
* Provide clear guidance, demonstrations and written materials to ensure safe delegation of communication and swallowing programmes.
* Deliver presentations and training sessions, preparing resources where required.
Clinical Leadership & Service Development
* Support senior colleagues in maintaining high standards of care, including documentation review and monitoring staff–patient interactions.
* Contribute to service development, policy implementation and participation in clinical specialist groups.
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
* Broad and varied student placement experience.
* Demonstrable experience of multi-disciplinary working from clinical placements and / or whilst in employment.
* Demonstrable experience of providing supervision and training to less experienced staff.
Qualifications
* Specialist graduate level education in speech and language therapy.
* HCPC registration
* Specialist dysphagia practitioner (as defined by IDF framework).
* Well developed and clinically expert communication and interpersonal skills necessary for clinical work.
* Proven ability to diagnose, prioritise and decide on appropriate treatment/management and intervention matched to individual need from a range of options (initially with supervision).
* Proven ability to work as part of a team able to work without direct supervision.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included .
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
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