Advanced Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Adult Critical Care


Location
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata
Profession
Speech and Language Therapist
Grade
Band 7
Deadline
18 Oct 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
07 Oct 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

28 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Skills

    Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.

  • Skills

    Highly developed auditory and perceptual discriminatory skills for analysis of speech, including phonetic transcription

  • Skills

    Advanced clinical skills in analysis and interpretation of FEES examinations, including ability to pass the nasendoscope

  • Skills

    Excellent presentation skills, both verbal and written

  • Skills

    Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member and assume leadership responsibilities

  • Skills

    Excellent negotiation and problem solving skills for management of complex cases

  • Skills

    Excellent analytical and reflection skills

  • Skills

    Excellent prioritisation and organisational skills

  • Skills

    Computer skills for the preparation of reports, presentations and therapy materials

  • Knowledge

    Well established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication and dysphagia relevant to critical care.

  • Knowledge

    In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group.

  • Knowledge

    In depth understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit to monitor and improve service

  • Knowledge

    Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group

  • Knowledge

    Knowledge of standards of record keeping.

  • Experience

    In depth post graduate experience in specialist area of communication and swallowing in the acute setting

  • Experience

    Proven competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of complex communication and swallowing disorders associated with a critical care caseload

  • Experience

    Independent use and interpretation of FEES examinations

  • Experience

    Proven experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies, including ventilator dependent patients

  • Experience

    Experience in the selection, use and programming of augmentative communication systems

  • Experience

    Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals

  • Experience

    Experience of supervising students and supporting less experienced SLTs

  • Experience

    Involvement in multidisciplinary working

  • Qualifications

    Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent

  • Qualifications

    Health professions Council Registration

  • Qualifications

    Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

  • Qualifications

    Evidence of successful completion of advanced specialist short courses in communication and swallowing disorders in critical care, including tracheostomy management, to masters level equivalent

  • Qualifications

    Member of Specialist Interest Groups

  • Additional Requirements

    The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Desirable

2 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Skills

    Counselling Skills

  • Experience

    NHS Experience

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join the Critical Care Speech and Language Therapy team at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

We are pleased to advertise a permanent, part-time band 7 Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist position to support the provision of specialist SLT services in a general intensive care unit. We are seeking a highly motivated clinician with expertise in the assessment and management of adults with complex dysphagia and communication disorders within a critical care setting. Experience in instrumental swallowing assessment and tracheostomy management is highly desirable. The target start date for this position is April 2027.

Main duties of the job

You will independently assess and manage adults with highly complex dysphagia and communication disorders within general ICU, providing advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based management recommendations.

You will provide clinical leadership through supervision and support of students, contribute to education and training, participate in audit, research and quality improvement initiatives, and play an active role in the ongoing development of Adult Acute SLT services.

You will provide cover for the Senior Specialist SLT in service and team co-ordination, operational management and representation at relevant forums as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

This vacancy will close at midnight on the 18th October 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on the 26th October 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 café, 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.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Advanced Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Adult Critical Care with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 18 Oct 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (07 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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