Advanced Speech & Language Therapist

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Worthing; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust seeks a dynamic Clinical Lead to shape and deliver patient-centred speech and language therapy across inpatient and community settings in Worthing and surrounding areas. You will deputise for the Operational Team Lead when required, and lead the Coastal Adult SLT Team to deliver high-quality, multidisciplinary care.

The role focuses on service development, governance, workforce planning, and improving patient pathways, within a supportive, forward-thinking

Responsibilities

• Act as the Clinical Lead for the Coastal Adult SLT Team, providing specialist clinical guidance and leadership
• Deliver a highly specialist SLT service to adults with communication and swallowing disorders across acute and community settings
• Hold clinical responsibility for complex caseloads, ensuring evidence-based assessment, treatment, and outcome measurement
• Lead and support a multidisciplinary team, promoting collaborative, integrated care
• Support service development and transformation, identifying opportunities to improve patient pathways and experience
• Deputise for the Operational Team Lead in their absence, contributing to service delivery, workforce planning, and operational decision-making
• Provide clinical supervision, teaching, and mentorship to therapists, support staff, students and apprentices.
• Ensure effective governance, including audit, risk management, and quality improvement initiatives
• Monitor demand and capacity, ensuring safe, responsive, and sustainable service delivery

Job description

This is a dynamic leadership role where you will shape and deliver high-quality, patient-centred care across both inpatient and community settings, supporting patients in Worthing and surrounding areas. You will play a key role in driving service development, strengthening multidisciplinary working, and ensuring excellent clinical outcomes., As a senior clinician, you will also deputise for the Operational Team Lead when required, contributing to operational oversight, service performance, and workforce development. This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to combine strong clinical expertise with leadership and service improvement., In this role, you will:

• Act as the Clinical Lead for the Coastal Adult SLT Team, providing specialist clinical guidance and leadership
• Deliver a highly specialist SLT service to adults with communication and swallowing disorders across acute and community settings
• Hold clinical responsibility for complex caseloads, ensuring evidence-based assessment, treatment, and outcome measurement
• Lead and support a multidisciplinary team, promoting collaborative, integrated care
• Support service development and transformation, identifying opportunities to improve patient pathways and experience
• Deputise for the Operational Team Lead in their absence, contributing to service delivery, workforce planning, and operational decision-making
• Provide clinical supervision, teaching, and mentorship to therapists, support staff, students and apprentices.
• Ensure effective governance, including audit, risk management, and quality improvement initiatives
• Monitor demand and capacity, ensuring safe, responsive, and sustainable service delivery This is a full-time position, however we would be happy to consider part‑time hours. This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a visible clinical leadership role within a supportive and forward‑thinking service, where you can make a real difference to patient care and service development. We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part‑time, flexi‑time, annualised hours, and flexi‑retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
• Cost‑effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.