Speech and Language Therapist, B5 (Rotational)

Job overview

Speech and Language Therapist Band 5 (rotational post) - Princess Royal University Hospital & Orpington Hospital Sites

The post offers a fantastic opportunity to work in a supportive acute inpatient team in Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. King’s offers high quality Band 5 rotations including Acute Medicine and Stroke on the PRUH site and Neuro-rehabilitation based at Orpington Hospital.

The successful applicant will provide Speech and Language Therapy within each clinical specialty, remaining within each area for 9 months. This will allow the opportunity to develop a wide knowledge base and range of skills, alongside specified learning objectives for the rotation and ring-fenced learning time to achieve these.

The acute SLT team works closely with the wider multidisciplinary teams. The SLT service offers a comprehensive supervision and CPD structure with a range of opportunities for learning and participation in both self and service development. There is a strong emphasis on the management of both communication and swallowing difficulties and the impact of SLT within the acute setting. This post requires a flexible approach to working and will require the post holder to work as part of a rota’d seven day working pattern. We provide a weekly videofluoroscopy clinic.

Main duties of the job

The band 5 Speech and Language Therapy post involves rotation across 3 clinical areas – a) Stroke, b) Medicine, c) Neuro-rehabilitation

The post holder will provide Speech and Language Therapy services within a clinical specialty, remaining within each area for a maximum of 9 months. This will allow them the opportunity to develop a wide knowledge base and range of skills. Line management will be provided by the relevant senior therapist depending on the rotation.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are delivering high-quality patient care ; creating a great place to work ; leading pioneering research, innovation and education ; building strong and successful partnerships ; providing timely and efficient care ; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability .

We have also agreed four new organisational values – Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative – and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

1. To provide detailed assessment, treatment and management for an autonomous caseload of patients with acquired communication and swallowing disorders following King’s College Hospital Speech & Language Therapy service guidelines and standards.

2. To participate in providing cover across the other parts of the SLT service (and sites) where appropriate.

3. To provide relevant information, training and support to relatives and carers.

4. To attend and contribute to, multidisciplinary team meetings, goal setting meetings, and other ward meetings as necessary and to share in minute taking when required.

5. To liaise with community speech and language therapists and other relevant professional organisations when patients are discharged from KCH.

6. To provide timely and accurate reports, including transfer/discharge reports and including SLT information in medical notes where appropriate.

7. To undertake the key worker role if required.

8. To maintain patient confidentiality at all times and according to KCH policies.

9. To provide a 7 day, extended hours flexible service as appropriate.

Governance / Quality Control

1. To maintain and record an active programme of continuing professional development, including feeding back to colleagues on any courses or conferences attended.

2. To make recommendations on service development and governance.

3. To be an active member of relevant special interest groups.

4. To participate regularly in the evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention and models of service delivery, maintaining up to date knowledge of relevant clinical practice and research

5. To undertake specific departmental audit projects and contribute to departmental research where appropriate

Education and Training

1. To provide clinical training for speech and language therapy students as appropriate to the experience of the post holder (at least 1 year post qualification).

2 To contribute to education and training of other disciplines in both the acute and rehabilitation settings.

3. To undertake continuing professional development within the field of communication and swallowing disorders, both through in-service training and attendance on external courses, and to feed back on any relevant courses attended.

4. To be responsible, with management support, for your personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

5. To undertake mandatory King’s College Hospital training

Research and Service Development

1. To participate in relevant audit activity within King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

2. To participate in research initiatives in the relevant area

3. To publish and disseminate information which results from research and audit activity.

Administrative Responsibilities

1. To maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records within EPIC

2. To provide timely and accurate reports including transfer and discharge reports.

3. To prepare for and participate in an annual job appraisal which includes a 6 monthly review with the SLT acute clinical lead.

4. To maintain clinical equipment in good order and carry out inventory checks as requested.

5. To contribute to the infection control and cleanliness of the hospital by ensuring cleanliness of own equipment, undertaking mandatory training, abiding by the hand washing policy and other policies related to barrier nursing.

6. To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data.

7. To attend King’s College Hospital Speech and Language Therapy team meetings.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential criteria

• BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
• Registration with the HCPC

Desirable criteria

• Member of RCSLT

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working with acutely unwell patients within Speech & Language Therapy training/clinical experience including reflection on the role of a Speech & Language Therapist in this context
• Demonstrates the ability to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical patient-centred manner

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Ability to assess, diagnose and manage communication problems in the context of an acute inpatient setting
• Ability to assess, diagnose and manage swallowing problems in the context of an acute inpatient setting
• Excellent communication skills – spoken & written
• Good auditory and perceptual skills
• Willing to work in all areas on rotation
• Ability to communicate complex and emotive information
• Basic level IT skills
• Ability to work as a member of multidisciplinary team
• Appropriate professional presentation
• Able to reflect on previous clinical/ personal experiences and demonstrate learning and personal development from these
• Professional and patient focused approach, acting as a role model to colleagues or junior staff members
• Demonstrates the King’s Values
• Able to manage own caseload and work autonomously
• Ability to undertake a range of management and therapeutic decisions
• Demonstrates awareness of limitations of own knowledge and experience and when to seek help/advice
• Evidence of organisational and time management skills
• Demonstrates self-motivation and initiative
• A flexible approach to working patterns, which may include participating in providing a 7 day week service
• Demonstrates skill in preparing teaching materials and participate in designated training/courses
• Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner

Desirable criteria

• Ability to take on student/assistant supervision

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include. They shouldn’t however replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.

Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success because automatically generated answers:

• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.