Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 15 March 2026

Job summary

Due to internal promotion an exciting new opportunity has arisen at the Royal United Bath Hospitals (RUH) to join our Acute inpatient SLT team as a Speech and Language Therapist (fixed term band 6).

The post is a great opportunity to further develop acute communication and dysphagia management skills within a hospital setting as you will cover the areas of stroke, general medicine, care of the older person, respiratory, or surgery, depending on the clinical need at the time of recruitment.

You will be welcomed by our very supportive and dynamic SLT team and will have an opportunity to work alongside other highly specialist SLT staff within Neurology, Acute Medicine , Critical Care and Head and Neck Cancer.

The Acute SLT service has access to regular videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics and has regular training, development and supervision opportunities.

Our values; Everyone Matters, Working Together, Making a Difference, represent our aspiration for the type of hospital we want to be and the type of service we want to offer. The Speech and Language Therapy department is forward-thinking with new and ongoing projects, monthly CPD (continuing professional development) sessions and support for progression of competencies.

Main duties of the job

You will be providing specialist Speech and Language Therapy input for a caseload of inpatients with a wide range of communication and swallowing difficulties. This includes assessment and differential diagnosis, delivering intervention and rehabilitation, reviewing outcomes, and ensuring appropriate onward referral to community services and safe discharge

We work closely within the multi-disciplinary team and have well-established links with Therapy, Nursing and Medical colleagues. We are looking for an SLT with excellent communication skills and a patient centred, collaborative approach.

The SLT team has an established video-fluoroscopy clinic and Fibre-optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing service. We are dedicated to developing skills across the team and supporting progression of all members.

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 well-being, 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 well-being. We've even got a pool!

We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we're providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research.

Details

Date posted

26 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata (if part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

427-7767081

Job locations

Royal United Hospital

Combe Park

Bath

BA2 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

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
  • Registered with Health Professions Council.
  • Completion of RCSLT Level C dysphagia competencies

Desirable

  • Video-fluoroscopy competencies
  • Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience as a Band 5 SLT in the acute adult population working with a wide range of aetiologies
  • Demonstrable ability to be a good team member within an acute SLT team.
  • Well balanced theoretical knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement/decision making for case management.
  • Experience managing professional relationships, including building rapport, matching communication style, and maintaining boundaries within the therapeutic and other working relationships.
  • Knowledge of specialist assessment and therapeutic interventions appropriate for the client group.
  • Experience as a Band 5 SLT working with an adult caseload

Desirable

  • Experience in supporting junior SLTs or SLT assistants.
  • Experience in working on intensive care ward.
  • Experience using audit methodology.
  • Experience working within the acute adult population.
  • Experience working within stroke or neurology services.

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
  • Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Pro-active and takes responsibility
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
  • Willing to learn, open to change
  • Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can
  • Takes pride in themselves, their appearance, their role and where they work.

Specific Skills

Essential

  • Good critical thinking skills including analytical and reflection skills.
  • Caseload/workload management skills, including the ability to prioritise, plan and organise.
  • Self-motivation and the ability to manage own time independently.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.
  • Ability to work closely with a small team of healthcare professionals, utilising respect behaviours to ensure collaboration and efficiency are maximised at all times.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
  • Registered with Health Professions Council.
  • Completion of RCSLT Level C dysphagia competencies

Desirable

  • Video-fluoroscopy competencies
  • Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience as a Band 5 SLT in the acute adult population working with a wide range of aetiologies
  • Demonstrable ability to be a good team member within an acute SLT team.
  • Well balanced theoretical knowledge to inform sound clinical judgement/decision making for case management.
  • Experience managing professional relationships, including building rapport, matching communication style, and maintaining boundaries within the therapeutic and other working relationships.
  • Knowledge of specialist assessment and therapeutic interventions appropriate for the client group.
  • Experience as a Band 5 SLT working with an adult caseload

Desirable

  • Experience in supporting junior SLTs or SLT assistants.
  • Experience in working on intensive care ward.
  • Experience using audit methodology.
  • Experience working within the acute adult population.
  • Experience working within stroke or neurology services.

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
  • Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Pro-active and takes responsibility
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
  • Willing to learn, open to change
  • Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can
  • Takes pride in themselves, their appearance, their role and where they work.

Specific Skills

Essential

  • Good critical thinking skills including analytical and reflection skills.
  • Caseload/workload management skills, including the ability to prioritise, plan and organise.
  • Self-motivation and the ability to manage own time independently.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.
  • Ability to work closely with a small team of healthcare professionals, utilising respect behaviours to ensure collaboration and efficiency are maximised at all times.

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 Hospital

Combe Park

Bath

BA2 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 Hospital

Combe Park

Bath

BA2 3NG


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Amy Watkins

amy.watkins4@nhs.net

01225821241

Details

Date posted

26 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata (if part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

427-7767081

Job locations

Royal United Hospital

Combe Park

Bath

BA2 3NG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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