Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - 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. Whether you are looking to develop advanced clinical or leadership competencies, you will be supported by experienced clinicians committed to helping you achieve your career goals.

What makes us different?
Access to a wide range of specialist dysphagia assessment and rehabilitation approaches, including robust access to including Videofluoroscopy and 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, Stroke, Critical Care, Acute Medicine 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 and support to pursue quality improvement, research, service development and leadership opportunities.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service for adults with communication and swallowing disorders following stroke across the Hyperacute Stroke Unit and Stroke Unit. Responsibilities include advanced assessment and management of dysphagia, aphasia, dysarthria and cognitive-communication disorders, contributing to instrumental swallowing assessments, leading complex multidisciplinary decision-making, and supporting safe discharge planning. The role also provides clinical leadership for the stroke SLT service, including supervision of staff and students, service development, audit, quality improvement, training, and implementation of evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes and meet national stroke standards.

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 7
Salary: £55,524 to £62,652 a year per annum Inclusive of High Cost Area Supplement
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 337-NP-1069SM
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.
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Evidence of relevant postgraduate learning and continuing professional development in adult acquired communication and dysphagia

Desirable

• Relevant postgraduate qualification or accredited advanced clinical training.
• Recognised training in FEES, videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy management, leadership, supervision or quality improvement.

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Significant post-registration experience in adult acquired disorders, including substantial experience of stroke and complex dysphagia.
• Experience of independently managing a complex caseload and making decisions where information may be incomplete or conflicting.
• Experience of assessment and rehabilitation of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia of speech and cognitive-communication disorder.
• Experience of instrumental swallowing assessment and management planning within competence.
• Experience of multidisciplinary working, goal setting, discharge planning and risk management.
• Experience of supervising, teaching or supporting the development of staff and/or students.
• Knowledge of current evidence, national stroke guidance, clinical governance, safeguarding, consent, capacity and equality duties relevant to the role

Desirable

• Experience of tracheostomy and critical care-related assessment and management.
• Experience of line management, recruitment, performance management, audit, research or leading service improvement.

Skills, abilities and attributes
Essential

• Advanced clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis and treatment-planning skills.
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information and to adapt communication for people with significant communication impairment.
• Ability to prioritise competing clinical and operational demands and work calmly under pressure.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, teaching, supervision and team-working skills
• Ability to analyse service and outcome data, undertake audit and implement evidence-based change.
• Ability to work autonomously, recognise limits of competence and seek or provide appropriate support.
• Accurate written communication, digital literacy and effective use of electronic health records.
• Commitment to inclusive, person-centred and culturally responsive practice

Desirable

• Evidence of presenting service developments, audit or research to professional audiences.
• Participation in regional or national professional networks

HEART values
Essential

• Demonstrate commitment to Trust HEART values
• Demonstrate commitment to place Quality at our HEART

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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

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