BANK Speech and Language Therapist Bristol

Job summary

As a Band 6 Bank Speech and Language Therapist, you will provide specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for adults with communication and swallowing disorders arising from stroke, neurological conditions, neurosurgery, complex medical conditions and long-term health needs. Shifts may be in inpatient or outpatient settings where you will independently manage a specialist caseload while collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, person-centred care. Support and supervision is available from senior staff in all clinical pathways.

You will use advanced clinical reasoning skills to assess and manage complex communication and dysphagia presentations. You may be involved in supporting videofluoroscopy and FEES assessments, and work with patients with tracheostomies and ventilator dependence depending on your experience and competency development but this is not essential to the role.

Main duties of the job

• Demonstrate specialist knowledge in stroke, neurology, neurosurgery, elderly care and dysphagia management.
• Work autonomously within professional scope of practice
• Assess, diagnose and manage complex communication and swallowing disorders.
• Analyse assessment findings and determine appropriate therapeutic interventions.
• Use clinical reasoning to provide differential diagnoses.
• Make decisions regarding referral, discharge and onward specialist investigations
• Manage complex clinical situations with support from senior colleagues where appropriate
• Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Negotiate care plans and therapy goals with patients, carers and members of the MDT
• Communicate complex, sensitive and potentially distressing information to patients, carers and professionals.
• Adapt communication methods to overcome barriers associated with aphasia, dysarthria, cognitive impairment, hearing impairment and altered consciousness
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic and paper clinical records.
• Collect and record activity and outcome data.

About us

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Details

Date posted: 10 September 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £22.58 to £36.13 an hour

Contract: Bank

Working pattern: Flexible working

Reference number: 339-BANK0213-KHA

Job locations: Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For full details of the job description, responsibilities and person specification please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Degree qualification recognised by RCSLT in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC Registration / Licence to Practise
• Post-basic dysphagia training or equivalent specialist training

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Specialist knowledge of adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders
• Ability to undertake independent caseload management
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice and outcome measurement

Experience

Essential

• Postgraduate experience managing adults with communication and swallowing disorders
• Experience working within MDT settings
• Experience of dysphagia assessment and management

Desirable

• Experience working in acute inpatient settings

Personal qualities

Essential

• Ability to work independently and use initiative appropriately
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively
• Reflective practitioner who seeks feedback and learning opportunities

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.

UK Registration

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

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce.