Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Speech & Language Therapist to join the critical care service across both Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal Hospital sites.  As part of the Trust’s Hospital Transformation Programme, the Critical Care Unit eventually will be solely situated at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in a new state of the art building, alongside all emergency and acute services.

This post will work alongside other Allied Health Professionals including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, a Dietitian, a Clinical Psychologist, assistants and a tracheostomy practitioner. The post holder/s will be expected to drive service development for Speech and Language Therapy and support more junior staff to develop their clinical expertise with Critical Care and complex respiratory patients. The post holder will have clinical experience in critical care and of successful implementation of service improvement in previous roles. We have a newly purchased FEES kit as well as access to videofluoroscopy and therefore competence in instrumental swallowing assessment as well as tracheostomy management is strongly desirable. Development of specific clinical competencies can be supported for the right candidate. This role will be supported with their clinical learning and development by our Band 8a Instrumental Assessment & Complex Dysphagia SLT.

Main duties of the job

To lead and provide expert SLT care to Critical Care, step down and complex respiratory patients
 To provide swallowing and communication assessment for all patients with a new tracheostomy, including those who are mechanically ventilated, as per GPICS standards
To provide timely assessment of all critically ill patients who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties as per GPICS standards
To provide support and education to colleagues both within and outside of the unit.
To demonstrate evidence of clinical expertise in this field and working to evidence based practice

Working for our organisation

Our Poppy’s Promise Commitment

We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team —  clinical or non-clinical — plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.

We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising  individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care.

Effective communication is central to safe and high-quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a  meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.

By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values — ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see job description and person specification for the details of main duties  pertaining  to this post.