Senior Speech & Language Therapist

Ready for your next step in Speech and Language Therapy?

We have an exciting opportunity for three Band 6 SLTs to join our Adult SLT Service, with rotations across Charing Cross and St Mary's Hospitals. If you are looking to broaden your experience, develop skills and work alongside experienced clinicians in a dynamic teaching environment, we would love to hear from you.

Part of Imperial College Healthcare, our hospitals offer exposure to diverse and complex patient populations. St Mary's is a Major Trauma Centre, while Charing Cross provides specialist neuroscience, neurosurgical and head & neck cancer services.

Three 12-month rotations are offered: Adult Acute at Charing Cross, Adult Acute at St Mary's, and Head & Neck Cancer at Charing Cross, with potential for future rotations. Across the rotations, you will work within teams providing SLT services across admissions and medical and surgical specialties, including respiratory, elderly care, critical care, neurology, neurosurgery and trauma. The H&N rotation includes inpatient and outpatient services.

You will be a valued member of the SLT and multidisciplinary teams, developing clinical skills while contributing to service development and training, supporting junior staff and supervising students.

We provide a videofluoroscopy and FEES service, with opportunities to develop competencies and specialist skills in acquired communication and swallowing disorders. CPD, audit and research are encouraged.

Main duties of the job

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including management of patients in your care.
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment and re-assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentation.
• To communicate effectively, using a range of verbal and non-verbal skills, with patients and carers/family to motivate, engage to participate in therapy and to ensure an understanding of their condition.
• To deal sensitively and constructively with patients and carers/family, who have high levels of anxiety frustration or aggression caused by a variety of issues, such as pain, poor prognosis or limited mobility.
• To plan and prioritise own caseload independently on a day-to-day basis to ensure patients are appropriately seen, in conjunction with the priorities of the team and to give assistance to other team members as required.
• To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your own work and current practice through the use of projects, audit or outcome measures, whether individually or with the support of senior staff.
• To critically appraise published research and use results to inform practice.
• To assist in the induction, daily supervision and delegation of tasks to band 5 speech and language therapists, therapy support workers, students and administrative staff, as required.
  
  

About Us

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Environmental sustainabilityClimate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan.

Details

Date posted

12 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£47,951 to £56,863 a year

pa inclusive

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

290-MIC-2324

Job locations

Charing Cross Hospital

London

W6 8RF

United Kingdom

Job Description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews, please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews, please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person Specification

##

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• Degree accredited by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Current HCPC registration as a speech & language therapist
• Professional portfolio demonstrating experience and achievements
  
  

Desirable

• Registration with RCSLT
  
  

##

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working at post-graduate level with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders in an acute hospital setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of delivering training programmes to multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Experience of participation in clinical governance activities.
  
  

Desirable

• Experience of instrumental swallowing assessment (video fluoroscopy and/or FEES).
• Experience of working with patients with tracheostomy.
• Experience of working with patients with head & neck cancer.
• Experience of supervising junior staff or students on placement.
  
  

##

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

Essential

• Specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge relevant to the management of adults with swallowing and communication disorders in the acute hospital setting; underpinned by current models of best practice.
• Competent Level C dysphagia practitioner (RCSLT dysphagia training and competency framework') i.e. able to manage a dysphagia caseload independently - or equivalent (e.g. operating at Proficient Level of SLT EDS Competency Framework 2025)
• Ability to use specialist knowledge to make appropriate independent clinical decisions, with access to a supervisor, reflecting on practice and demonstrating evidence-based practice.
• Ability to negotiate with client/carer and medical/AHP teams around individual case management, prioritisation and clinical risk management
• Able to work effectively on own initiative and within a team, contributing to team goals and initiatives as required.
• Ability to seek guidance when faced with a situation beyond clinical experience
• Good organisation and time management skills
• Effective teaching/training skills, including knowledge of learning styles to support unqualified and qualified SLT and MDT staff as required.
• Ability to manage own caseload and workload independently on a daily basis, generating appropriate strategies for caseload management and seeking support from senior colleagues if/ when required.
• Ability to educate, empathise, support, negotiate and motivate even when co-operation is not guaranteed.
• Understanding of clinical governance agenda
• Critical appraisal skills
  
  

Person Specification

##

Essential

• Specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge relevant to the management of adults with swallowing and communication disorders in the acute hospital setting; underpinned by current models of best practice.
• Competent Level C dysphagia practitioner (RCSLT dysphagia training and competency framework') i.e. able to manage a dysphagia caseload independently - or equivalent (e.g. operating at Proficient Level of SLT EDS Competency Framework 2025)
• Ability to use specialist knowledge to make appropriate independent clinical decisions, with access to a supervisor, reflecting on practice and demonstrating evidence-based practice.
• Ability to negotiate with client/carer and medical/AHP teams around individual case management, prioritisation and clinical risk management
• Able to work effectively on own initiative and within a team, contributing to team goals and initiatives as required.
• Ability to seek guidance when faced with a situation beyond clinical experience
• Good organisation and time management skills
• Effective teaching/training skills, including knowledge of learning styles to support unqualified and qualified SLT and MDT staff as required.
• Ability to manage own caseload and workload independently on a daily basis, generating appropriate strategies for caseload management and seeking support from senior colleagues if/ when required.
• Ability to educate, empathise, support, negotiate and motivate even when co-operation is not guaranteed.
• Understanding of clinical governance agenda
• Critical appraisal skills
  
  

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

London

W6 8RF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

London

W6 8RF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including management of patients in your care.
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment and re-assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentation.
• To communicate effectively, using a range of verbal and non-verbal skills, with patients and carers/family to motivate, engage to participate in therapy and to ensure an understanding of their condition.
• To deal sensitively and constructively with patients and carers/family, who have high levels of anxiety frustration or aggression caused by a variety of issues, such as pain, poor prognosis or limited mobility.
• To plan and prioritise own caseload independently on a day-to-day basis to ensure patients are appropriately seen, in conjunction with the priorities of the team and to give assistance to other team members as required.
• To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your own work and current practice through the use of projects, audit or outcome measures, whether individually or with the support of senior staff.
• To critically appraise published research and use results to inform practice.
• To assist in the induction, daily supervision and delegation of tasks to band 5 speech and language therapists, therapy support workers, students and administrative staff, as required.
  
  

Essential

• Specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge relevant to the management of adults with swallowing and communication disorders in the acute hospital setting; underpinned by current models of best practice.
• Competent Level C dysphagia practitioner (RCSLT dysphagia training and competency framework') i.e. able to manage a dysphagia caseload independently - or equivalent (e.g. operating at Proficient Level of SLT EDS Competency Framework 2025)
• Ability to use specialist knowledge to make appropriate independent clinical decisions, with access to a supervisor, reflecting on practice and demonstrating evidence-based practice.
• Ability to negotiate with client/carer and medical/AHP teams around individual case management, prioritisation and clinical risk management
• Able to work effectively on own initiative and within a team, contributing to team goals and initiatives as required.
• Ability to seek guidance when faced with a situation beyond clinical experience
• Good organisation and time management skills
• Effective teaching/training skills, including knowledge of learning styles to support unqualified and qualified SLT and MDT staff as required.
• Ability to manage own caseload and workload independently on a daily basis, generating appropriate strategies for caseload management and seeking support from senior colleagues if/ when required.
• Ability to educate, empathise, support, negotiate and motivate even when co-operation is not guaranteed.
• Understanding of clinical governance agenda
• Critical appraisal skills
  
  

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

London

W6 8RF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

London

W6 8RF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)