Speech and Language Therapist (Band 6) JD.docx

HCRG Care Group; Runcorn; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000

Job description

Job purpose

The Speech and Language Therapist (Band 6) will deliver high-quality, autonomous assessment and intervention to adults with acquired communication and/or swallowing difficulties. This role involves supporting patients across community and inpatient settings, with a base at the Swindon Intermediate Care Centre, and includes work in patients' homes, care homes, and other community locations.

Base

Swindon Intermediate Care Centre, with outreach to a variety of community-based settings.

This post is responsible for

1. Managing an independent caseload, including admission, treatment, and discharge decisions.
2. Assessing and analysing complex communication and swallowing difficulties using formal tools and clinical reasoning.
3. Delivering personalised, hypothesis-driven interventions in partnership with patients and carers.
4. Providing clinical education, supervision, and second opinions to SLT colleagues, assistants, and students.
5. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to optimise care pathways.
6. Contributing to service development, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice.

Key responsibilities

1. Use expert assessment and diagnostic skills to identify type and impact of communication/swallowing disorders.
2. Analyse results from standardised assessments and apply them within a holistic, patient-centred care model.
3. Communicate highly sensitive and complex clinical information with clarity and empathy.
4. Make independent clinical decisions about treatment, referral, and discharge planning.
5. Use advanced observational and sensory skills (e.g., acoustic/phonetic transcription) in assessments.
6. Provide training and education to students, rehabilitation assistants, carers, and other professionals.
7. Contribute to and sometimes lead service audits, journal clubs, and quality improvement initiatives.
8. Support students and newly qualified SLTs through structured supervision and reflective practice.
9. Ensure safeguarding practices, data protection, health and safety, and clinical governance standards are met.
10. Maintain and update knowledge of best practice through CPD, reading, and relevant training.

Personal Specification

Essential

1. Degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
2. HCPC registered.
3. Demonstrated experience working with adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
4. Ability to independently assess, diagnose, and manage complex SLT needs.
5. Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
6. Ability to work across disciplines and engage patients and carers in goal-setting.
7. Experience supporting SLT students or junior staff.
8. Good time management and organisational skills.
9. High standard of clinical record keeping.

Desirable

1. Experience in testing and evaluating new assessments or treatment approaches.
2. Experience leading formal and informal training sessions for staff and carers.
3. Experience in quality improvement, clinical audit, or research.
4. Specialist skills in dysphagia management.

Other Requirements

1. Full UK driving licence and ability to travel across the Trust area.
2. Commitment to reflective practice, supervision, and CPD.
3. Awareness of and adherence to SLT and Trust-wide professional policies and legal frameworks.
4. Willingness to be flexible in response to service developments and changes in care delivery.