Specialist Speech and Language Therapist | Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Posting date:	20 February 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Band 5 - 6 Development Role
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	22 March 2026
Location:	Norwich, NR2 3TU
Company:	Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7804564/839-7804564-BM

Summary

We have an excellent opportunity for an experienced Speech & Language Therapist to join Specialist Stroke Services for a permanent contract of 37.5 hours a week. This opportunity would enable the successful candidate to develop their rehabilitation skills working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with patients with speech, language and swallowing needs after stroke. The successful candidate will work across inpatient stroke rehabilitation and in patient’s homes as part of the Early Supported Discharge and will need to be flexible and adaptive depending on the needs of the service.

The role would involve working alongside highly specialist colleagues who will offer support and clinical supervision.

This post is offered as a Band 5-6 development role and would suit a qualified Speech and Language Therapist wishing to develop within Stroke services.

1. To provide Specialist Speech and Language Therapy, in-depth assessments, differential diagnosis and treatment and intervention for adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders after stroke within the Trust, in the inpatient rehabilitation ward and in their homes. Interventions may include dysphagia management, speech and language rehabilitation and assistive technology incorporating low and high tech alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) input.

2. To provide specialist education, training and advice to other professionals, patients, carers, families, voluntary organisations, work places, education settings and patients place of residence.

4. To provide specialist written information in the form of reports, or guidelines or advice or personalised information to patients, their families and other organisations as needed.

5. To adapt clinical practice to the individual needs of patients.

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.

Find out more about working for our organisation here:

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2565ae62eb.html



Please note, the selection processes at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical
• To carry out the assessment, implementation of clearly planned interventions, and evaluation of evidence based specialist treatment programs for patients following a stroke, who may have a range of impairments and complex health needs. This must be in line with RCSLT clinical guidelines, evidence based practice and relevant national frameworks for patients with a communication and swallowing disorders following a stroke.
• To be professionally and legally accountable for all clinical decisions and professional actions and to ensure that work is within professional standards, clinical guidelines and in line with evidence based practice.
• To devise, monitor, supervise and evaluate the implementation of communication and swallowing intervention programmes carried out by others.
• To sensitively negotiate patient-led goals with patients, families, carers and the interdisciplinary team, to enable patients to engage in treatment, and to ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans where possible.
• To develop targeted therapy programmes to be carried out by Speech and Language Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants / Assistant Practitioners.
• To participate in team meetings working to enhance patients’ functional abilities.
• To adapt assessment and intervention techniques to the needs of the individual patients on an ongoing basis, including use of augmentative and alternative communication systems as appropriate.
• To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex cases, cultural and linguistic differences, and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management in the stroke population.
• To identify the need for second opinions, referring to senior colleagues as appropriate.
• To participate in investigative assessments as client need dictates (e.g. participation in Modified Barium Swallow, led by the Speech and Language Therapy team based at the local acute hospital, or Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow, supporting the Trust Speech and Language Therapists)
• To contribute to assessment and information-gathering re: patients’ mental capacity and ability to give informed consent, with support from senior colleagues, and to assist patients to maximise their independence in decision-making and communicating their wishes.
• To work closely with all appropriate agencies and MDT colleagues to ensure comprehensive management of patients’ SLT needs, providing written and verbal reports as appropriate, enabling all parties involved to fully understand the nature of the patient’s communication and swallowing disorders.
• To provide information which may be complex to patients, carers and families in an empathetic manner which enables and ensures their understanding (patients will frequently have communication and/or cognitive difficulties, as well as emotional difficulty accepting the information being provided), observing data protection guidelines.
• To effectively prioritise the workload according to the needs of the patients in each service.
• To develop, plan and deliver group interventions.
• To identify the need for second opinions, referring to specialist colleagues/lead SLT as appropriate.
• To enable patients who have communication disorders to access information and services in order for them to make informed decisions about their care, including utilisation of bodies such as interpreter services where appropriate.
• To recognise the possible emotional consequences of working with patients and families in distressing circumstances, such as delivering bad news about prognosis, and to know where and when to seek appropriate assistance.
• To demonstrate empathy with patients, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
• To keep up-to-date with current clinical and technological advances in liaison with senior colleagues and to maintain appropriate continuing professional development to HCPC specifications.
• To provide education, training and advice to patients, carers, colleagues, students, and voluntary organisations.
• To work closely and flexibly with colleagues across the integrated stroke pathway to provide a seamless service to patients.
• To develop resources to meet patient requirements and for departmental use.
• To work in a variety of settings including patient’s homes, hospital wards and care homes.
• To maintain registered membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC.
• And in addition, the band 6 post holder should be able:
• To work autonomously, carrying out the assessment, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based specialist treatment programmes for patients following a stroke, who may have a range of impairments and complex health needs, including dysphagia.
• To demonstrate specialist skills in dealing with complex cases, cultural and linguistic differences, and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management in the stroke population.
• To support junior colleagues in their patient management and identify the need for second options, referring to senior colleagues as appropriate.
• To represent the Integrated Stroke Service in the clinical environment as requested by the Team Leader, and to report back as appropriate.





Service Development
• To identify and address the professional development and training needs for junior colleagues within the integrated stroke service in negotiation with the Team Leader and senior colleagues and to contribute to their annual PDR.
• To audit the clinical effectiveness of interventions within the teams, applying the principles of Evidenced Based Practice and outcome measures. These are to be discussed with senior colleagues as appropriate.
• Interpret clinical guidelines and adapt local service needs on the basis of specialist knowledge.
• To assist in recruitment and induction of new staff within the stroke early supported discharge and inpatient rehabilitation teams.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues across the Integrated Stroke Service and support professional leads to improve patient care and share best practice across the service.
• To assume delegated tasks as requested by professional leads and service managers related to service development.
• To participate in the development of local guidelines informed by evidence in the area of stroke services.
• And in addition, the band 6 post holder should be able:
• To act as a stroke specialist speech and language therapy resource and provide advice and support to other members of the Ward and ESD team, service users, community colleagues and professionals from external agencies.





Education, Training and Supervision
• To provide observation opportunities for prospective SLT career candidates, students from other health professions and non-health related individuals as requested by Team Leader.
• To contribute to the clinical training of Speech and Language Therapy undergraduates on placements, in agreement with Team Leader and Student Co-ordinator on completion of clinical educator training.
• To support the work and contribute to the development of assistants and volunteers in the integrated stroke service.
• To provide teaching /training for colleagues in relation to communication and swallowing difficulties following a stroke.



Quality, Research, Audit and Governance
• To collect, input and monitor own caseload data and report to the Team Leader as required by the integrated stroke service, Trust and National Targets.
• To inform the Team Leader of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and their likely impact to the provision of service within the stroke service.
• To monitor stock levels and request new equipment where necessary, and to carry out yearly stock-take of equipment.
• To participate in Clinical Governance, Research and Development and Audit activities as required by line manager and colleagues.
• To keep assessment, treatment materials and equipment up-to-date, safe (following infection control procedures) and in good order, informing the Team Leader of needs and opportunities identified.
• To maintain an up-to-date record of communication equipment loaned to patients.
• To work with the Team Leader, Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapists and the teams, in the development of clinical standards, care protocols, policies and procedures for specific clinical issues and further service developments.
• To assist in the development of team objectives and projects in liaison with the Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapists and Team Leader.
• To be aware of, adhere to, and implement service and team plans and policies.




This advert closes on Sunday 1 Mar 2026

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