Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary

Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking to work in a highly specialist environment with complex and rewarding cases? Join Badby Park and Avonfield as the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to manage a diverse caseload and deliver highquality, personcentred care to residents with complex communication, tracheostomy and swallowing needs. In this role, you will take full responsibility for your own specialist caseload, working as an autonomous practitioner while collaborating closely with the multidisciplinary team. You will deliver detailed assessments and interventions, including tracheostomy communication and dysphagia management, using both formal tools and advanced clinical analysis to support accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning. You will work closely with residents, families and carers, providing clear and compassionate guidance around complex communication, voice and swallowing difficulties. A key part of the role includes leading on tracheostomy care and weaning, as well as coordinating safe swallowing programmes in collaboration with nursing teams, kitchen staff and dietitians to ensure appropriate nutrition and care.

Main duties of the job

Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking to work in a highly specialist environment with complex and rewarding cases? Join Badby Park and Avonfield as the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to manage a diverse caseload and deliver highquality, personcentred care to residents with complex communication, tracheostomy, and swallowing needs. In this role, you will take full responsibility for your own specialist caseload, working as an autonomous practitioner while collaborating closely with the multidisciplinary team. You will deliver detailed assessments and interventions, including tracheostomy communication and dysphagia management, using both formal tools and advanced clinical analysis to support accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning. You will work closely with residents, families, and carers, providing clear and compassionate guidance around complex communication, voice, and swallowing difficulties. A key part of the role includes leading on tracheostomy care and weaning, as well as coordinating safe swallowing programmes in collaboration with nursing teams, kitchen staff, and dietitians to ensure appropriate nutrition and care.

About us

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is a leading provider in the healthcare sector with over 8,000 employees across more than 80 services in England and Wales. As part of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], a global network spanning 10 countries, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] offers a unique approach to the delivery of care. The company covers a broad range of services including Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, providing opportunities for growth and development for its employees. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is committed to safer recruitment processes and is a Disability Confident employer. The organisation values inclusive and accessible recruitment and requires all staff to understand their responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. A DBS disclosure is mandatory for all candidates, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of both staff and clients. Overall, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] aims to take care of the people who care for others, providing a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the wellbeing, growth, and future of its workforce.

Job responsibilities

• To have personal, professional and legal responsibility for own highly specialist caseload of residents, working as an autonomous practitioner, seeking support when needed.
• To select, use and interpret accurately the appropriate specialist tracheostomy communication and or swallowing assessments for own caseload. Assessment can include formal assessments (i.e. published assessments) and informal assessments e.g. own assessments, accurate perceptual analysis of residents’ speech together with transcription, detailed language analysis.
• To assess and differently diagnose tracheostomy, communication and swallowing difficulties arising from a variety of different complex conditions and to understand how diagnosis affects prognoses and thereby contribute to a medical diagnosis.
• To contribute actively to multidisciplinary teams and provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy input.
• To attend and contribute to relevant clinical and management meetings
• To work closely with residents, carers and families giving appropriate explanations of complex communication, tracheostomy, voice and/or swallowing difficulties.
• To work closely with kitchen staff, nursing staff and dietician regarding residents on swallowing programmes (with and without feeding tubes in situ) to ensure adequate nutritional intake and appropriate consistency of food.
• To demonstrate empathy with residents, carers, families and colleagues ensuring that effective communication is achieved.
• To assess the need for and, teach residents and carers in the safe and effective use of application of low – and high-tech communication aids.
• To teach therapy assistants and carers relevant swallowing or communication programmes for individual residents.
• To lead the therapeutic group activities that relate to communication.
• To persuade, motivate, negotiate and problem solve with residents, colleagues in the department, MDT and other professionals.
• To work with the Psychology team regarding complex capacity issues relating to residents with communication difficulties.
• To document correctly all relevant information, including care plans and care records.
• To refer to and action any therapy programmes from, the Assistive Technology Team working closely with OT.
• To lead on tracheostomy weaning, liaising with and referring to, ENT as appropriate.
• To provide written reports as required.

Requirements

• HCPC registration
• Experience of managing a caseload involving assessment and treatment of dysphagia
• Experience of working with families
• Evidence of continuing Professional Development

What You’ll Get

• Annual base salary of £44,340
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window.
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals
• Access to our Rewards & Benefits platform Ely-Vate; Your one-stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub!
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind
• Stream – instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save, directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support.
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future

Additional Information

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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]
Address: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], Daventry, NN11 4NH
Employer's website: https://www.elysiumhealthcare.co.uk/
Contact: Recruitment Team, [contact hidden]