Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

The closing date is 08 January 2026

Job summary

An exciting new opportunity has arisen at the Royal United Bath Hospitals (RUH) for a suitably experienced speech and language therapist to join our very supportive and dynamic SLT team. The post will lead on the provision of SLT stroke services to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties admitted to our acute stroke ward ward.

You will work alongside other highly specialist SLT staff within Neurology, General Medicine , Critical Care and Head & Neck Cancer and have access to regular videofluoroscopy & FEES clinics with the chance to further develop and enhance and develop your existing specialist skills. We have regular training and development opportunities as well as a supervision and appraisal system.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this role is to autonomously clinically lead and provide a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service to stroke inpatients as part of the wider adult stroke service. You will also be part of a dedicated core stroke multidisciplinary team who will lead the development and delivery of a high-quality Acute Service for adults admitted to the stroke service.

About us

At the RUH we put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone's contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.

We are proud to be in the top 20 best hospitals to work for in the country.

We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks - celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.

A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.

We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We've even got a pool!

Details

Date posted

19 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum, pro rata (if part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

427-7636151-A

Job locations

Royal United Hospitals Bath (Brownsword Therapies Centre)

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
  • Registered with Health Professions Council.
  • Recognised post-grad dysphagia qualification

Desirable

  • FEES Competencies
  • Tracheostomy Competencies (RCSLT)
  • RCSLT member

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience as a specialist SLT in the acute adult stroke population.
  • Demonstrable ability to be a good team leader for an acute SLT team.
  • Experience and understanding of dysphagia theory and knowledge of evidence-base for therapy.
  • Awareness of stroke national guidelines and frameworks

Desirable

  • Experience teaching VFS competencies to junior SLTs.
  • Experience working at a clinical specialist level in the acute adult population

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
  • Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can

Specific Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills
  • Skills in handling adults with disabilities including oral examinations and oral care.
  • Good critical thinking skills including analytical and reflection skills.

Desirable

  • Ability to recognise individual team member characteristics and provide support and teaching in a way that maximises their potential.
  • Experience supporting the team when dealing with patient/carer complex scenarios.
Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
  • Registered with Health Professions Council.
  • Recognised post-grad dysphagia qualification

Desirable

  • FEES Competencies
  • Tracheostomy Competencies (RCSLT)
  • RCSLT member

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience as a specialist SLT in the acute adult stroke population.
  • Demonstrable ability to be a good team leader for an acute SLT team.
  • Experience and understanding of dysphagia theory and knowledge of evidence-base for therapy.
  • Awareness of stroke national guidelines and frameworks

Desirable

  • Experience teaching VFS competencies to junior SLTs.
  • Experience working at a clinical specialist level in the acute adult population

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
  • Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can

Specific Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills
  • Skills in handling adults with disabilities including oral examinations and oral care.
  • Good critical thinking skills including analytical and reflection skills.

Desirable

  • Ability to recognise individual team member characteristics and provide support and teaching in a way that maximises their potential.
  • Experience supporting the team when dealing with patient/carer complex scenarios.

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

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal United Hospitals Bath (Brownsword Therapies Centre)

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal United Hospitals Bath (Brownsword Therapies Centre)

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

B7 Highly Specialist SLT & B8 Clinical lead

Emily Parker / Lynne Clark

emily.parker11@nhs.net

01225821496

Details

Date posted

19 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum, pro rata (if part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

427-7636151-A

Job locations

Royal United Hospitals Bath (Brownsword Therapies Centre)

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Supporting documents

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