Job summary
- Main area
- Adult Speech and Language Therpay
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 203-CS1182
- Employer
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- George Eliot Hospital
- Town
- Nuneaton
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Speech and Language Therapist
Band 5
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
Many of the roles we advertise have a requirement for a DBS check to be carried out. If you are successful for a role and it requires a DBS check the Trust will carry out the initial check and subscription to the DBS Update Service, however successful candidates will be expected to cover the associated costs . Details of this will be sent to successful candidates in their offer letter.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2
We appreciate you completing the survey.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust currently have limited availability of car parking spaces, as such are operating a waiting list for new starters joining the organisation.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).
Visa Sponsorship
The Trust will only consider sponsoring staff for certain roles, however this will be considered on a case by case basis in line with current legislation. As an employer we are unable to offer sponsorship to all roles in particular we cannot offer sponsorship for roles below Band 5.
Job overview
This is a wonderful opportunity for a newly or recently qualified Speech and Language Therapist to join our forward thinking, enthusiastic and supportive adult team. You will also work in a large multidisciplinary team, providing the opportunity to develop your clinical skills with people who have had a stroke.
You will be based in George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton with the SLT Stroke Rehab Team, the Acute SLT team and the Community Team. You will have a keen interest in developing your dysphagia competencies and will receive support and supervision to achieve this.
We have a strong team culture and ethos and the successful post holder will be a team player, flexible at work when needed and supportive to their colleagues. We have regular in-house CPD sessions and we strongly encourage sharing our learning. You will also have access to clinical supervision sessions. For further information, please contact:
Charlotte Hartley, Stroke Rehab Team Lead 02476865285
Or email: [email protected]
Main duties of the job
To provide a speech and language therapy service to patients on a stroke rehabilitation ward at George Eliot Hospital. The post-holder will provide assessment, diagnosis and management of acquired communication and swallowing disorders (when appropriately trained). The post-holder will be required to work as part of multi-disciplinary team and to liaise with families and carers where appropriate
Working for our organisation
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2
We appreciate you completing the survey.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
To take shared responsibility for a designated caseload of adults (supported by a band 6 and/or band 7 therapist) with acquired communication and swallowing disorders, predominantly as a result of an acquired neurological condition such as stroke, ABI or a progressive neurological condition; becoming independent with assessing, diagnosing and treating disorders in adults as part of a multidisciplinary team.
To support patients (and their families) in managing their condition.
To use a range of evidence-based assessment tools in the assessment of communication and swallowing disorders.
To provide therapeutic intervention with patients, either individually or in groups as best meets the needs of the patient
Identify indicators of potential associated medical conditions and refer to other specialists or professionals as appropriate.
To undertake training to achieve RCSLT competencies in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of swallowing disorders (dysphagia)
To refer patients appropriately for instrumental evaluation of their swallow where appropriate e.g. FEES, Videofluoroscopy
Use non-verbal communication skills to recognise the emotional needs of the client/carer and maintain sensitivity at all times, particularly when imparting potentially distressing information.
Use negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
To use developed interpersonal skills to assess clients own goals where communication ability is a significant barrier
Provide expert facilitation of clients’ communication with others to ensure that they are central to the process
Play a pivotal role in ensuring effective joint working for clients with communication difficulties.
To use developed skills in motivating clients and their carers to engage with the therapeutic process, particularly when co-existing apathy or lack of initiation exist.
Demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures.
To work with the AAC specialist SLT to provide appropriate support with communication where indicated.
Communicate complex information, regarding communication and/or eating or swallowing, to patients, relatives and other professionals through written reports, programs and face to face discussion, matching communication style and content to the needs of the situation, including where there may be barriers to understanding.
Adapt practice to meet individual client circumstances including due regard for culture, social and linguistic difficulties.
To maintain up to date and accurate case-notes in line with SWFT and RCSLT professional standards.
To maintain clinical and non-clinical standards and work within the policy frameworks laid down (e.g. NHS, Trust, Professional, Health Care Professionals Council, Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, relevant government policies etc.)
To participate in team, professional and personal development activities and promote commitment to continuous development and improvement.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree or equivalent
- Registered NQP member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- Health Professions Council Registration
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development since qualification including successful completion of specialist short courses
- Post graduate Dysphagia qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with adults
- Experience of working with a range of acquired neurological conditions including head injury and stroke
Skills
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates knowledge of standardised assessment tools relevant to the client group
- Demonstrates the ability to draw upon psychological knowledge to develop a holistic view of the client and assess the psycho-social impact on them, their family and environment.
- Demonstrates knowledge of a range of evidence based therapeutic interventions e.g. compensatory swallowing techniques, specific oral exercises, creation of communication charts, use of AAC and supported conversation
- Demonstrates knowledge of national policies, procedures, legislation and frameworks relevant to the client group.
- Demonstrates understanding of the use of client centred goal planning and the use of SMART goals
- Demonstrate the ability to prioritise caseload
- Demonstrate interest/knowledge of stroke/ABI
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Strong team player
- Well-developed communication skills and ability to match communication style to context.
- Good time management skills and ability to work flexibly
- Awareness of own limitations and ability to reflect on own practise
- Ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods when undertaking assessments
Other
Desirable criteria
- Car driver/owner
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Charlotte Hartley
- Job title
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02476 865285
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