Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join our Stroke Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing expert assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management for adults with complex communication and swallowing disorders following stroke.

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering evidence-based, patient-centred care across the stroke pathway, supporting patients with a wide range of acquired communication impairments, cognitive-communication difficulties, and dysphagia. You will work with patients presenting with highly complex needs, requiring advanced clinical reasoning and specialist intervention.

The service covers diverse communities across Medway and Swale and gives you the chance to work with your patient on their journey from hospital discharge to home. The stroke pathway consists of inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Units (SRU) at Harmony House and Sheppey Community Hospital, as well as Early Supported Discharge Team (ESD) and Stroke Community Assessment Rehabilitation Team (SCART) for longer term rehab. You will have the opportunity to support your patients to achieve their goals for as long as clinically indicated.

This role is part time (22.5 hours per week) and is predominantly based at Harmony House Stroke In Patient Unit in Rochester however there is the opportunity to work across all parts of the pathway

Main duties of the job

Main Duties:

• Independently manage a specialist caseload of patients with complex stroke-related communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Undertake comprehensive assessment and treatment of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia of speech, cognitive-communication disorders, and dysphagia.
• Lead on complex clinical decision-making, including instrumental assessment pathways where appropriate.
• Provide specialist advice and support to patients, families, carers, and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Contribute to discharge planning and rehabilitation goals across acute and rehabilitation settings.
• Deliver education and training to healthcare professionals, students, patients, and carers.
• Participate in service development, quality improvement initiatives, audit, and research activities.
• Support clinical governance requirements and contribute to the ongoing development of stroke services.
• Provide supervision, mentorship, and leadership to junior speech and language therapy staff and students.

Working for our organisation

So what else?

• This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
• We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
• We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
• You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly?  In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

• Informal visits can be arranged on request.
• We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.

• MCH is considering merging with Kent Community Health Foundation Trust (KCHFT). If the merger goes ahead, the proposed transfer date is 30^th September 2026 and this role will be subject to TUPE transfer to KCHFT.