Band 6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Brighton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust in Brighton is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist to develop specialist adult SLT skills within a supportive team. You will work towards Band 6 competencies, handling complex cases and leading service development.

The post emphasizes autonomous clinical work, collaboration across health and social care, and contribution to education and quality improvement initiatives. A commitment to excellent patient care is essential.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration and RCSLT membership required.
• Postgraduate experience with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
• Excellent assessment, clinical reasoning and communication skills required.
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working across health and social care settings.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and high-quality patient care.

Responsibilities

• Manage an independent and varied caseload of adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders.
• Undertake specialist assessments, formulate differential diagnoses and deliver evidence-based interventions.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues across health and social care settings.
• Provide specialist advice and support to patients, families, carers and partner organisations.
• Participate in service development, audit and quality improvement activities.
• Supervise, support and mentor junior staff, assistants and students and apprentices.
• Contribute to the education and training of colleagues and wider professional groups.
• Promote safe, effective and person-centred care in line with HCPC, RCSLT and Trust standards.

Skills

HCPC registration

RCSLT membership

Dysphagia experience

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical reasoning

CPD commitment

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

We are pleased to offer a Band 5 to Band 6 Development Postwithin our Brighton & Hove locality. This provides an excellent opportunity for an ambitious therapist looking to develop specialist adult SLT skills within a supportive team. Applicants for this route should be working towards the knowledge, skills and competencies required of a Band 6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist and will be supported to achieve agreed developmental milestones. As a Band 6 Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, you will:

Responsibilities

• Manage an independent and varied caseload of adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders.
• Undertake specialist assessments, formulate differential diagnoses and deliver evidence-based interventions.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues across health and social care settings.
• Provide specialist advice and support to patients, families, carers and partner organisations.
• Participate in service development, audit and quality improvement activities.
• Supervise, support and mentor junior staff, assistants and students and apprentices.
• Contribute to the education and training of colleagues and wider professional groups.
• Promote safe, effective and person-centred care in line with HCPC, RCSLT and Trust standards., This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive Adult Speech & Language Therapy Service committed to delivering excellent care at the heart of our communities.

The successful post holder will provide a comprehensive specialist service to adults presenting with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties. Working autonomously within a supportive team structure, you will assess, diagnose and manage complex clinical presentations, ensuring interventions are evidence-based and outcome-focused. You will develop strong working relationships with patients, carers, acute and community services, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated care and seamless patient journeys. The role requires excellent clinical reasoning, communication and organisational skills, together with the ability to manage competing priorities and a complex caseload. Alongside clinical responsibilities, you will play an active role in service development through audit, quality improvement initiatives, clinical governance activities and the implementation of best practice. You will also contribute to the supervision, support and development of students, assistants and less experienced colleagues.

Are you a passionate Speech and Language Therapist looking to make a real difference to adults with communication and swallowing difficulties? ,

Requirements

• A degree (or recognised equivalent) in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Current HCPC registration and membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
• Postgraduate experience working with adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
• Demonstrable experience in the assessment and management of dysphagia, supported by completed competency-based training and the ability to work across Foundation, Proficient and Advanced levels of practice.
• Excellent assessment, clinical reasoning and communication skills.
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working across health and care settings.
• A commitment to continuous professional development and high-quality patient care.

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

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex