Speech and language therapist

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join our Stroke Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing expert assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management for adults with complex communication and swallowing disorders following stroke.

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering evidence-based, patient-centred care across the stroke pathway, supporting patients with a wide range of acquired communication impairments, cognitive-communication difficulties, and dysphagia. You will work with patients presenting with highly complex needs, requiring advanced clinical reasoning and specialist intervention.

The service covers diverse communities across Medway and Swale and gives you the chance to work with your patient on their journey from hospital discharge to home. The stroke pathway consists of inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Units (SRU) at Harmony House and Sheppey Community Hospital, as well as Early Supported Discharge Team (ESD) and Stroke Community Assessment Rehabilitation Team (SCART) for longer term rehab. You will have the opportunity to support your patients to achieve their goals for as long as clinically indicated.

This role is part time (22.5 hours per week) and is predominantly based at Harmony House Stroke In Patient Unit in Rochester however there is the opportunity to work across all parts of the pathway.

Main Duties:

• Independently manage a specialist caseload of patients with complex stroke-related communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Undertake comprehensive assessment and treatment of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia of speech, cognitive-communication disorders, and dysphagia.
• Lead on complex clinical decision-making, including instrumental assessment pathways where appropriate.
• Provide specialist advice and support to patients, families, carers, and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Contribute to discharge planning and rehabilitation goals across acute and rehabilitation settings.
• Deliver education and training to healthcare professionals, students, patients, and carers.
• Participate in service development, quality improvement initiatives, audit, and research activities.
• Support clinical governance requirements and contribute to the ongoing development of stroke services.
• Provide supervision, mentorship, and leadership to junior speech and language therapy staff and students.

So what else?

• This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
• We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
• We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
• You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

• Informal visits can be arranged on request.
• We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.

MCH is considering merging with Kent Community Health Foundation Trust (KCHFT). If the merger goes ahead, the proposed transfer date is 30th September 2026 and this role will be subject to TUPE transfer to KCHFT.

To work within the integrated Stroke services as a member of the Stroke Early Supported Discharge team, and Stroke Community Assessment and Rehabilitation team (SCART) and the Stroke Rehabilitation Units providing a specialist Speech and Language therapy service for stroke patients.

• To assess, diagnose, treat and manage own highly specialist caseload of clients and maintain associated records as a highly specialist member of the Speech & Language Therapy Service.
• To assist the coordination of the Speech & Language Therapy service for stroke patients across the Medway & Swale areas to ensure continuity of care in all settings and across all teams with Speech & Language Therapy input.

To work with colleagues in an interdisciplinary way for the benefit of stroke patients and the service, towards key service and national objectives;

To lead an allocated team within the Stroke pathway.

To act as a professional, speech therapy link across the service.

To provide teaching, training and advice for carers of clients and specialist training to newly qualified Speech and Language Therapists, and other staff within Stroke services.

To teach, supervise and formally assess under-graduate Speech and Language therapy students on placement.

• Degree or post grad qualification in SLT and relevant registration with HCPC

• Experience in assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning for complex communication and swallow disorders
• Competent in FEES assessment and reporting

• Experience of supervising/managing staff and leading a team
• Experience of clinical audit and service development

• Good understanding of MCH values

• Full UK driving license
• Access to a car for work purposes

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.