Job summary
Are you a passionate and skilled Speech and Language Therapist looking to take the next step in your career? Due to some new funding, we're offering a fantastic opportunity to join our dynamic, friendly and highly supportive SLT service at Cambridge University Hospitals, working within our specialist acute paediatric and neonatal team.
There has never been a more exciting time to join us. We are preparing for our move into the ground-breaking Cambridge Children's Hospital--the first dedicated children's hospital in the East of England. This pioneering centre will bring together mental and physical healthcare with world-leading research, creating an inspiring environment for clinicians and families alike.
Our acute paediatric and neonatal service spans the entire hospital, giving you the chance to work closely with a wide range of specialist teams including ENT, gastroenterology, intensive care, neonatology, neurology, respiratory medicine and surgery. As an integral member of the MDT, you'll play a key role in delivering truly holistic, patient-centred care.
In this advanced specialist role, you will independently manage a defined inpatient caseload, providing expert assessment and intervention for children with a broad spectrum of developmental and acquired communication and feeding/swallowing needs. You will provide an outpatient SLT service to ENT clinic, Complex Airways and Long-term Ventilation Clinic and the Cleft infant feeding service.
Main duties of the job
Our acute paediatric and neonatal service spans the entire hospital, giving you the chance to work closely with a wide range of specialist teams including ENT, gastroenterology, intensive care, neonatology, neurology, respiratory medicine and surgery. As an integral member of the MDT, you'll play a key role in delivering truly holistic, patient-centred care.
In this advanced specialist role, you will independently manage a defined inpatient caseload, providing expert assessment and intervention for children with a broad spectrum of developmental and acquired communication and feeding/swallowing needs. You will provide an outpatient SLT service to ENT clinic, Complex Airways and Long-term Ventilation Clinic and the Cleft infant feeding service.
We are committed to your ongoing development. You will have exceptional opportunities to deepen your acute paediatric skills, including training in instrumental swallowing assessment and exposure to complex, varied clinical presentations. You'll be supported by an experienced team lead and advanced specialist colleagues, ensuring you feel confident, encouraged and empowered in your practice. We place a strong emphasis on psychological safety --creating a culture where every team member feels valued, heard and confident to speak up, share ideas and seek support.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 18th December 2025
Interviews are due to be held on 14th January 2026
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 18th December 2025
Interviews are due to be held on 14th January 2026
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent
- Health professions Council Registration
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Post-graduate paediatric feeding/dysphagia accreditation or equivalent
- Evidence of successful completion of advanced specialist short courses in paediatric communication and swallowing disorders to level of masters or equivalent
- Member of Clinical Excellence Network
Experience
Essential
- In-depth post-graduate experience in specialist area of paediatric at a specialist level
- Competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of complex communication and swallowing disorders associated with a paediatric caseload
- Experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with complex feeding difficulties
- Experience in the assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies.
- Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals
- Experience of coordinating student placements and supervising SLT students
- Experience of advising/providing second opinions
- Involvement in multidisciplinary working
- Experience in the selection, use and programming of augmentative communication systems
Desirable
- Experience of working with neonates
- Experience in working with long term ventilator dependant patients
- Experience of working in an intensive or critical care environment
- Experience of working with voice disorders
- Experience of analysis and interpretation of instrumental swallowing assessments
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication, dysphagia and feeding relevant to paediatrics
- Up to date knowledge of advances in clinical specialism
- In-depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group.
- In-depth understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit to monitor and improve service
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group
- Awareness of demand and capacity issues
- Knowledge of standards of record keeping.
- Knowledge of strategic direction of local organisation
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
- Good auditory and perceptual discriminatory skills for analysis of speech, including phonetic transcription
- Excellent presentation skills, both verbal and written
- Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member and assume leadership responsibilities
- Ability to lead development of local policies, care protocols and team objectives
- Ability to translate policy into practice
- Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills for management of complex cases
- Excellent analytical and reflection skills
- Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills
- Computer skills for the preparation of reports, presentations and therapy materials
Desirable
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of kind, safe and excellent. This behaviour is outlined on the final page of this person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent
- Health professions Council Registration
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Post-graduate paediatric feeding/dysphagia accreditation or equivalent
- Evidence of successful completion of advanced specialist short courses in paediatric communication and swallowing disorders to level of masters or equivalent
- Member of Clinical Excellence Network
Experience
Essential
- In-depth post-graduate experience in specialist area of paediatric at a specialist level
- Competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of complex communication and swallowing disorders associated with a paediatric caseload
- Experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with complex feeding difficulties
- Experience in the assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies.
- Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals
- Experience of coordinating student placements and supervising SLT students
- Experience of advising/providing second opinions
- Involvement in multidisciplinary working
- Experience in the selection, use and programming of augmentative communication systems
Desirable
- Experience of working with neonates
- Experience in working with long term ventilator dependant patients
- Experience of working in an intensive or critical care environment
- Experience of working with voice disorders
- Experience of analysis and interpretation of instrumental swallowing assessments
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication, dysphagia and feeding relevant to paediatrics
- Up to date knowledge of advances in clinical specialism
- In-depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group.
- In-depth understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit to monitor and improve service
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group
- Awareness of demand and capacity issues
- Knowledge of standards of record keeping.
- Knowledge of strategic direction of local organisation
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
- Good auditory and perceptual discriminatory skills for analysis of speech, including phonetic transcription
- Excellent presentation skills, both verbal and written
- Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member and assume leadership responsibilities
- Ability to lead development of local policies, care protocols and team objectives
- Ability to translate policy into practice
- Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills for management of complex cases
- Excellent analytical and reflection skills
- Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills
- Computer skills for the preparation of reports, presentations and therapy materials
Desirable
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of kind, safe and excellent. This behaviour is outlined on the final page of this person specification.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).