Job overview
We are looking for a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work across our acute general wards and stroke/neuro‑rehabilitation units, providing high‑quality assessment and intervention for adults with communication and swallowing needs. As an autonomous practitioner, you will manage a varied and fast‑paced caseload, delivering specialist input for patients with complex acquired conditions including stroke, neurological disorders, frailty, and acute medical presentations.
Working as part of a dynamic MDT, you will contribute to timely clinical decision‑making, early supported discharge, and rehabilitation planning, ensuring safe and effective care throughout the patient pathway. You will provide specialist dysphagia management, communication rehabilitation, and patient/carer education, alongside supporting junior colleagues and contributing to service development within the acute and neuro‑rehab settings.
This role offers the opportunity to consolidate and extend specialist skills in dysphagia, stroke, and neuro‑rehabilitation while shaping high‑quality SLT provision within a supportive and forward‑thinking team.
Main duties of the job
To provide specialist assessment, management and treatment to patients with swallowing and/or communication problems within the stroke and acute SLT team.
To contribute to and lead on (where appropriate) service audits, quality improvement projects and service redesign.
To work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary framework to achieve integrated care for patients.
Regularly attendance and contribution to patient and family meetings, both face to face and via video
Write high quality patient reports, including discharge reports for inpatients and community patients
To support clinical education and student placements.
To cover other areas within the wider SLT as and when required
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.
CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:
Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.
AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information. This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.
Registered Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals returning to practice, moving into new roles or changing clinical environments, may access an agreed preceptorship period.
Disclosure and Barring Service:
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.
The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:
Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:
27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
Flexible working Scheme
NHS Discounts*
Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
Excellent opportunities for development*
Competitive NHS Pension scheme
Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems
*Subject to eligibility
Important Information:
Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.
If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.
Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential
- • RCSLT code of conduct and professional standards
- • Knowledge of local and national drivers in stroke and how they relate to SLT practice.
- • Knowledge of RCSLT Clinical guidelines in regards to progressive neurological conditions, dementia, ABI & Stroke
- • Knowledge of swallowing and communication disorders, including Dysarthria, Dysphasia, Dyspraxia, Dysphagia, and Dysphonia.
- • Knowledge of Evidence based and modern therapy techniques with stroke and progressive neurological population.
- To demonstrate a breadth of knowledge with decision making underpinned by current evidence
Desirable
- Experience of evidence based rehabilitation approaches
- Videofluoroscopy competencies
- MBSImp training
- Trachostomy Competencies
Experience
Essential
- • Experience of organising, managing and prioritising a clinical caseload.
- • Experience of working as part of a MDT.
- • Experience of working with other professionals and agencies.
- • Experience of assessment and management of swallowing including instrumental assessment
- • Experience of working with stroke survivors
- • Experience of working in a fast paced acute ward setting
- • Delivering training to others e.g. carers and other AHPs.
- • Good working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and SLT role in the process.
- • Good working knowledge of prognostic indicators in stroke and how this impacts on SLT care.
- • Clinical governance as it affects clinical practice, in line with national and local drivers.
- • Good working knowledge of Feed at Risk issues and the role of SLT in this process.
Qualifications
Essential
- • Degree in Speech and Language Therapy approved by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
- • Registered with HCPC.
- • On-going membership with the RCSLT.
- • Evidence of formal training/self-study/ specialist experience to post graduate level in dysphagia
Other requirements
Essential
- • Support equality and value diversity
- • Ability to maintain concentration in a range of clinical environments and withstand interruptions and unexpected changes to work patterns. Note that Stroke work will be based on the stroke ward, and require worker to maintain productivity with admin tasks during clinical environment
- • During periods of short staffing or significant caseload demands may be required to travel across North Cumbria to support the stroke or acute service as required by the team lead.
Desirable
- Car driver
- Car owner
Skills and Aptitudes
Essential
- • Ability to carry out and analyse results of various assessments appropriate for different clients, relating to age, disorder, standardisation, etc
- • IT ability, including word processing, presentation skills, ability to access software packages and ability to effectively use telemedicine.
- • Negotiation and problem solving ability, in order to prioritise for assessment and intervention
- • Skills in motivation of clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
- • Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and management within the stroke population
- • Willingness to learn and be a reflective practitioner.
- • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- • Excellent time management, organisational and administration skills.
Desirable
- Experience of service evaluation and redesign
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist roles in Carlisle
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Acute and Stroke Rehab Wards with North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust in Carlisle, North East and Yorkshire, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 Per Annum Pro Rata. The contract type is 12 months (Fixed term 12 month contract to cover maternity leave). The application deadline is 30 Jul 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 (16 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.