Specialist Speech and Language Therapist – Adult Acute

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly and supportive Adult Acute Speech and Language Therapy team at Addenbrooke's Hospital.

You will provide specialist assessment and management for adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders across a varied and clinically complex caseload.

Working within a major teaching hospital and regional specialist centre, you will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary colleagues and receive support from experienced senior clinicians.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and compassionate SLT with relevant post-registration experience in adult dysphagia and acquired communication disorders. You should be able to manage a caseload with appropriate autonomy and demonstrate sound clinical reasoning, effective teamwork and a commitment to evidence-based practice.

This is a permanent post of 30 hours per week. Main duties of the job You will provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy input to a defined adult acute caseload, independently assessing, diagnosing and managing patients with acquired communication and swallowing disorders.

They will prioritise and manage their workload, formulate evidence-based management plans and contribute to coordinated multidisciplinary care. The role includes providing specialist advice to patients, families, carers and professionals and supporting continuity of care on transfer or discharge.

You will contribute to videofluoroscopy and other instrumental swallowing assessments in accordance with their level of competence. Previous experience or competency in videofluoroscopy would be desirable; however, training and supervised competency development will be provided where required.

They will also contribute to tracheostomy management and participate in student supervision, teaching, audit, clinical governance and service development.

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 employmentThis vacancy will close at midnight on the 27th August 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on the 7th September 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. HCPC Registration. RCSLT member.

Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent. Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses in communication and swallowing disorders in neurology. Desirable Member of relevant RCSLT CEN(s).

Experience Essential Relevant experience at undergraduate/post graduate level (pre-qualification). Post graduate experience in the areas of dysphagia and communication, including proven independent assessment, treatment and management of a neurological caseload. Undertaking videofluoroscopic examinations.

Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals. Experience of supervising students. Involvement in multidisciplinary working.

Desirable Experience in managing patients with tracheostomies. Knowledge Essential Well established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication and dysphagia. Demonstrate knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group.

Understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit and use of outcome measures. Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group. Knowledge of standards of record keeping.

Skills Essential Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills. Good auditory and perceptual discriminator skills for analysis of voice and speech, including phonetic transcription. Ability to analyse and interpret videofluoroscopic examinations.

Good presentation skills, both verbal and written. Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member. Negotiation and problem solving skills.

Good analytical and reflection skills. Prioritisation and organisational skills. Demonstrates ability to lead on service projects.

Computer skills for the preparation of reports, presentations and therapy materials. Desirable Counselling Skills. 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.

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) .