Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist Acute Medicine/Surgery

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Location

Preston, England

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Salary

£49,387 - £56,515 Per annum, pro rata

Profession

Speech and Language Therapist

Grade

Band 7

Deadline

10 May 2026

Contract Type

Permanent

Posted Date

26 Apr 2026

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic clinical lead speech and language therapist with a passion for improving care and leading change within both the acute and outpatient services.

This is a part‑time, permanent position working 30 hours per week.

As a large teaching hospital and tertiary centre, we offer a diverse caseload across acute, emergency, critical care, surgical, frailty, admission avoidance and instrumental assessment services. The post holder will jointly lead the service across two sites with an established Band 7 Clinical Lead, reviewing service models, streamlining pathways, strengthening MDT working, and delivering education to improve care for patients with swallowing and communication needs.

This person will understand acute care and be motivated to deliver a high-quality service with a vision on how to improve patient outcomes and flow with the opportunity to work across the inpatient and outpatient pathway and in FEES and videofluoroscopy clinics.

The service supports evidence-based practice and CPD, offering opportunities to develop your clinical portfolio. Part-time and flexible working may be considered, with potential for Band 6–7 development for the right candidate.

Main duties of the job

To lead and provide operational management of the Speech & Language therapy service to acute medicine and surgery.
To lead service developments and support staff working.
To use advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose and independently manage complex dysphagia and disorders of communication respectively.
To represent speech and language therapy in multidisciplinary team settings and contribute highly specialist expertise for the management of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.
To integrate with the multidisciplinary teams and contribute to training and education and quality improvement projects as appropriate.
To demonstrate skills in motivating patients to engage in therapeutic process.
To use excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and a flexible approach to work practice.
To participate in instrumental assessment using videofluoroscopy and fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
To participate in appropriate trust level service developments which impact on the care delivered to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties.
To maintain clinical professional development and be up to date with research and advancements within this clinical area.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

To communicate and collaborate with all SLT Stakeholders.
To provide leadership and highly specialist clinical skills within acute medicine and surgery.
To support personal and people development.
To ensure the health, safety and security of self and colleagues.
To support service development and planning.
To support the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda within SLT.
To support equality of opportunity and access withing SLT for both staff and patients.
To directly support delivery of therapy to patients.
To provide leadership and management support.