University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Senior Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 14 August 2025

Job summary

Do you have an interest in acute care and rehabilitation?

Do you want to join a multi-disciplinary team and support patients to achieve their goals?

We are looking for the right candidate to represent the Speech and Language Therapy team, alongside a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, at the newly-opened Preston Lodge. Preston Lodge is a 53-bedded unit in Leicester, providing rehabilitation to individuals on the general medicine caseload. You will be supporting individuals to make the transition from hospital into the community.

Options for flexible working will be considered. Car driving is an essential requirement of this role.

Main duties of the job

You will be joining the multi-disciplinary team at Preston Lodge which includes medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics and therapy support staff. You will also be part of the UHL Adult Speech and Language Therapy team and will be supported by the Occupational Lead and Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapists in the Acute Wards team.

You will be supporting individuals with a range of conditions including dementia, stroke and respiratory conditions. You will be delivering individual and group therapy, working towards person-centred and team goals.

In order to develop and maintain the specialist skills required for this role, you will be expected to travel between UHL sites (Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital, Glenfield Hospital) to observe and work jointly with the wider Speech and Language Therapy team on a regular basis. At times of service pressure, you may be asked to provide clinical support at other UHL sites to aid patient flow to Preston Lodge.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

  • high-quality care for all,
  • being a great place to work,
  • partnerships for impact, and
  • research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

  • we are compassionate,
  • we are proud,
  • we are inclusive, and
  • we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/

Details

Date posted

31 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-7365707-CSI-PL

Job locations

Preston Lodge

20 Kingfisher Avenue

Leicester

LE5 3FY


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Working independently with adults with a range of acquired and often complex communication and swallowing disorders, their carers and the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Screening new admissions to Preston Lodge.
  • Providing individual and group therapy, towards person-centred and team goals. This could include functional therapy within the community.
  • Supporting the multi-disciplinary team to complete Mental Capacity Act assessments for individuals with communication difficulties.
  • Supporting a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant.
  • Contributing to regular Speech and Language Therapy team meetings and in-service training.
  • Providing clinical supervision, mentoring and training opportunities for junior members of staff both in the multi-disciplinary team and wider Speech and Language Therapy team.
  • Facilitating student placements.
  • A large part of this role involves supporting individuals with dysphagia. You will be expected to demonstrate completion of Level B of the RCSLT Dysphagia Training and Competency Framework as part of the application process.

We believe in supporting our team to achieve their goals and are committed to offering:

  • Regular 1:1 and peer supervision
  • Annual appraisal
  • Opportunities for joint working
  • Continuing professional development, both through in-house training and external courses
  • A 4-6 weekly STARS session to work towards individual objectives

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Working independently with adults with a range of acquired and often complex communication and swallowing disorders, their carers and the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Screening new admissions to Preston Lodge.
  • Providing individual and group therapy, towards person-centred and team goals. This could include functional therapy within the community.
  • Supporting the multi-disciplinary team to complete Mental Capacity Act assessments for individuals with communication difficulties.
  • Supporting a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant.
  • Contributing to regular Speech and Language Therapy team meetings and in-service training.
  • Providing clinical supervision, mentoring and training opportunities for junior members of staff both in the multi-disciplinary team and wider Speech and Language Therapy team.
  • Facilitating student placements.
  • A large part of this role involves supporting individuals with dysphagia. You will be expected to demonstrate completion of Level B of the RCSLT Dysphagia Training and Competency Framework as part of the application process.

We believe in supporting our team to achieve their goals and are committed to offering:

  • Regular 1:1 and peer supervision
  • Annual appraisal
  • Opportunities for joint working
  • Continuing professional development, both through in-house training and external courses
  • A 4-6 weekly STARS session to work towards individual objectives

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised SLT Degree qualification or equivalent
  • HCPC registration
  • RCSLT registration
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Assessment tools relevant to client group
  • A range of therapeutic interventions relevant to client group
  • Understanding of principles of clinical governance.
  • Able to prioritise caseload
  • Organisational/time management skills
  • Analytical & Reflection skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Developing clinical/technical skills for interpretive assessment

Experience

Essential

  • Post graduate clinical experience with relevant client groups for post
  • Evidence of dysphagia competence as appropriate to role
  • Post graduate training relevant to role
  • Experience of audit
  • Delivering training

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Positive team working skills
  • Ability to work flexible to meet needs of job
  • Able to work independently as appropriate
  • Caring and empathetic
  • Strong self motivation and ability to motivate others
  • Emotional resilience

Standard Requirements

Essential

  • Commitment to equality and valuing diversity principles
  • Understanding confidentiality and data protection
  • Understanding of service users of the Trust
Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised SLT Degree qualification or equivalent
  • HCPC registration
  • RCSLT registration
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Assessment tools relevant to client group
  • A range of therapeutic interventions relevant to client group
  • Understanding of principles of clinical governance.
  • Able to prioritise caseload
  • Organisational/time management skills
  • Analytical & Reflection skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Developing clinical/technical skills for interpretive assessment

Experience

Essential

  • Post graduate clinical experience with relevant client groups for post
  • Evidence of dysphagia competence as appropriate to role
  • Post graduate training relevant to role
  • Experience of audit
  • Delivering training

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Positive team working skills
  • Ability to work flexible to meet needs of job
  • Able to work independently as appropriate
  • Caring and empathetic
  • Strong self motivation and ability to motivate others
  • Emotional resilience

Standard Requirements

Essential

  • Commitment to equality and valuing diversity principles
  • Understanding confidentiality and data protection
  • Understanding of service users of the Trust

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

Preston Lodge

20 Kingfisher Avenue

Leicester

LE5 3FY


Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

Preston Lodge

20 Kingfisher Avenue

Leicester

LE5 3FY


Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Lead Speech and Language Therapist

Jenny Sales

jenny.sales2@nhs.net

01162585363

Details

Date posted

31 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-7365707-CSI-PL

Job locations

Preston Lodge

20 Kingfisher Avenue

Leicester

LE5 3FY


Supporting documents

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