Speech and Language Therapist in Bedford

This developmental Band 5 – 6 Macmillan Speech and Language Therapist post offers an excellent opportunity to grow within a supportive Head and Neck Oncology and ENT service at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The role is primarily based at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, with outreach to Bedford Hospital and community settings.

It is well suited to an experienced Band 5 therapist with a solid grounding in adult acquired disorders who is keen to develop specialist expertise in Head and Neck cancer, voice, and complex dysphagia. You will receive comprehensive supervision, training and CPD, supported by a structured competency framework to facilitate progression to Band 6.

The post holder will manage a varied caseload across acute, outpatient and community environments, contribute to MDT clinics, and develop advanced skills in videofluoroscopy, FEES, tracheostomy management, laryngectomy and surgical voice restoration. Progression to Band 6 is competency‑based and typically achieved within 12 months.

You will be joining a friendly, well‑established team of 14 SLTs who offer strong mentorship, excellent learning opportunities and an active culture of service development, audit and research.

Main duties of the job

This is a developmental Band 5 to 6 Speech and Language Therapist post within the Head and Neck Oncology and ENT service, supporting adults with communication, voice and swallowing difficulties across acute, outpatient and community settings.

The post holder will manage a defined caseload under supervision, develop and implement evidence based therapy plans and contribute to multidisciplinary team working. They will participate in joint voice and laryngectomy clinics, MDT discussions and specialist service delivery, gradually developing independence in the management of complex cases.

Key responsibilities include maintaining accurate clinical records, delivering high quality patient centred care, using outcome measures to evaluate progress and working collaboratively with colleagues to support an effective and responsive service.

The role offers a clear progression pathway from Band 5 to Band 6 based on demonstration of required competencies and experience, with strong clinical supervision and professional support throughout.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Person specification

• Qualifications: Speech & Language Therapy degree, RCSLT member, HCPC registered (if under grad HCPC applied)
• Experience: Understanding of assessment and treatment of adult communication disorders, understanding of assessment and treatment of adult swallowing disorders, evidence of understanding need to adapt to patient/cultural/medical needs, experience working in MDT (Adult or Paed), experience delivering group therapy, experience working in NHS and acute hospital environment, experience in the NHS (voluntary, student or paid)
• Knowledge: Knowledge or the need for maintaining patient confidentiality, knowledge of clinical governance (legislation, policy, or procedure), acknowledges the legal responsibility of an SLT, experience of clinical audit, example of involvement in clinical audit, refers to local or national NHS or SLT agenda.
• Personal Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, good time management & record keeping, excellent verbal and non-verbal communication, problem solving (clinical).

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.