Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Acute & Stroke

Job summary
We are a friendly, ambitious and highly supportive Speech and Language Therapy team providing specialist services across acute medicine and surgery, critical care and respiratory pathways at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that is passionate about clinical excellence, innovation and professional development. You will be supported by experienced clinicians committed to helping you achieve your career goals in the inpatient setting.

What makes us different?
We have robust access to a wide range of specialist dysphagia assessment and rehabilitation approaches, including Videofluoroscopy, FEES, Cough Reflex Testing, Phagenyx, EMST and other evidence-based rehabilitation interventions. There are opportunities to learn from and collaborate with specialist colleagues across SLT Head and Neck Cancer, Voice, Spinal and Outpatient Services, providing a rich and varied clinical experience.

We have a strong culture of supervision, mentorship and peer support, with regular opportunities for joint working and shared learning as well as support to pursue quality improvement, research, and leadership opportunities.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist within the adult acute and stroke inpatient services at Northwick Park Hospital. The post is rotational with approximately 8 months within each team. They will independently assess, diagnose and manage adults with complex acquired communication and swallowing disorders, including patients with acute medical, neurological and critical care needs, with access to senior clinical support for highly complex presentations. The role includes caseload prioritisation, multidisciplinary working, discharge planning, supervision and support of junior staff and students, training, audit, service improvement and contribution to safe, effective and evidence-based care.

About us
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We run major acute services at:

• Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
• St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
• Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
• Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

Details
Date posted: 26 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £45,953 to £54,254 a year Inclusive of HCAS pro rata per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 337-NP-1064SM
Closing date: 09 November 2026

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications

• Essential: Degree or postgraduate qualification in Speech and Language Therapy recognised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Essential: Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Essential: Postgraduate training or supervised competency development in FEES and/or videflouroscopy.
• Desirable: Relevant post-registration experience working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders in acute, stroke or neurological services.

Knowledge and experience

• Essential: Relevant post-registration experience working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders in acute, stroke or neurological services.
• Essential: Experience of independently managing and prioritizing a clinical caseload.
• Essential: Experience assessing and managing complex dysphagia and acquired communication disorders.
• Essential: Experience working collaboratively with patients carers and multidisciplinary teams.
• Essential: Experience producing clear clinical records and reports and contributing to discharge planning.
• Essential: Experience supporting less experienced staff students or colleagues through teaching supervision or coaching.
• Essential: Knowledge of evidence-based assessments and interventions relevant to acute and stroke populations.
• Essential: Experience in critical care tracheostomy management instrumental swallowing assessment or AAC.
• Desirable: Experience in critical care tracheostomy management instrumental swallowing assessment or AAC.

Skills, abilities and attributes

• Essential: Excellent spoken and written communication skills.
• Essential: Advanced observation listening analytical clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Essential: Ability to communicate complex or sensitive information and manage disagreement professionally.
• Essential: Ability to work independently within professional boundaries and seek support appropriately.
• Essential: Ability to prioritise safely in a busy and unpredictable inpatient environment.
• Essential: Ability to teach supervise and give constructive feedback.
• Essential: Ability to use digital clinical systems and maintain accurate records and activity data.
• Essential: Commitment to inclusive person-centered and culturally responsive practice.
• Essential: Ability to work flexibly across the service in response to clinical need.
• Desirable: Competence in FEES and/or videofluoroscopy relevant to local service requirements.

HEART values

• Essential: Demonstrate commitment to Trust HEART values.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Principal Speech and Language Therapist, Natalie Griffin, nataliegriffin@nhs.net, 02088692410

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