Clinical Lead Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; Enfield; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in North London seeks a Clinical Lead for Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy. Candidates should be Band 7 or 8a qualified, with experience in managing teams and driving innovation in therapy services. This role involves overseeing community SLT services in Enfield, providing specialist advice, and leading clinical governance initiatives. The successful candidate will enjoy full support for career progression, training, and staff well-being programs.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Occupational Health support

Leadership training and career progression

Qualifications

• Experience of working with outpatients and community MDT settings.
• Experience in clinical supervision.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Oversee clinical organisation of adult community SLT services.
• Provide highly specialist advice to therapy teams.
• Lead clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Strong leadership & mentorship

Exceptional communication skills

Advanced clinical reasoning

Problem-solving in complex cases

Education

RCSLT Recognised Diploma/Degree in SLT

HCPC Registered

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Clinical Lead Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy

Take the Lead. Make a Difference. Shape the Future of Community SLT and be part of a leading NHS trust in North Central London.

Are you an experienced Band 7 or 8a Speech and Language Therapist looking for the next big step in your career? Do you want to lead a dynamic team and drive innovation in community-based therapy? If so, this Clinical Lead role could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Job Summary

Take the Lead. Make a Difference. Shape the Future of Community SLT and be part of a leading NHS trust in North Central London.

Are you an experienced Band 7 or 8a Speech and Language Therapist looking for the next big step in your career? Do you want to lead a dynamic team and drive innovation in community-based therapy? If so, this Clinical Lead role could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Why Join Us?

Lead a highly skilled team of SLTs and SLT Assistants. Work closely with SLT colleagues across North Middlesex University Hospital (NMUH) and the Royal Free London NHS Trust being part of the same organisation since we merged in Jan 2025. You will be part of the cross‑site senior SLT leads forums, have access to joint VF clinics at NMUH, have access to joint CPD and training with secondary care based SLTs and access to Band 8b clinical SLT leads. Have the autonomy to shape services and implement new ways of working. Receive full support for CPD, leadership training, and career progression. Be part of a Trust that prioritises staff well‑being with services like an Employee Assistance Programme, Occupational Health support, and a Wellbeing Forum.

Main Duties of the Job

Your Impact

As Clinical Lead, you will: Oversee the clinical organisation and development of adult community SLT services in the London Borough of Enfield; Provide highly specialist advice to the rehabilitation and therapy teams; Lead clinical governance, service audits, and quality improvement initiatives; Manage a complex caseload, using advanced clinical reasoning and problem‑solving skills. The caseload consists of adults with acquired pathologies giving the chance for a wide variation in aetiologies. Work strategically with AHP Leads and senior stakeholders to enhance service delivery.

What We’re Looking For:

• Qualified SLT with RCSLT‑recognised degree and HCPC registration.
• Strong leadership & mentorship experience, including clinical supervision.
• Exceptional communication & problem‑solving skills in complex cases.
• Passion for service development & innovation in community SLT care.

Be Part of Something Bigger

We are an integral part of the North Central London Integrated Care System, working in collaboration with NHS and Local Authority partners. We are proud of our teaching hospital status, supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Job Responsibilities

• On a daily basis to make decisions on allocation of available resources which directly affect level of SLT intervention to specific patients and be able justify those decisions to patients, carers and others.
• To deal sensitively at an advanced level with patients and carers who have high levels of anxiety as a result of their condition e.g. pain, loss of mobility, poor prognosis, cognitive impairment (e.g. dementia, learning difficulties)
• To support and educate patients and carers in managing complex SLT needs.
• To undertake a comprehensive highly specialist assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies: use highly advanced clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques to provide an accurate clinical diagnosis of their conditions
• Formulate and deliver individual SLT treatment programmes based on an extensive knowledge of evidence based practice and ability to apply a wide range of treatment options. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and modify treatment programmes as required.
• Develop comprehensive management plans in conjunction with other members of the multi‑disciplinary team. This includes recommendations based on sound clinical judgment, for referral/transfer to other in or outpatient services for specialist ongoing management. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and prognosis and involvement in ongoing management planning
• To comply with the Child Protection Policy and Enfield Protection of Vulnerable Adults policy where appropriate.
• To monitor that the service delivery is patient goal‑led and in line with best practice.

People (HR) Management

• Lead on day to day supervision of staff/local induction for the service.
• Teach, assess and contribute to the performance assessment and appraisal of less experienced SLTs, TIs and assistant staff, evaluating competence as appropriate.
• Participate in the staff appraisal scheme both as an appraisee and as an appraiser and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet individual and service objectives.
• Performance manage staff within own service and, where appropriate, dealing with competency issues as required.
• Be responsible for the SLT in‑service training programme, including tutorials, individual training sessions, delivering presentations and peer review.
• Attend external training as appropriate and identified in own PDP.
• Lead in recruitment for the service and skill mix reviews as appropriate.
• To take responsibility for operational management of the adult SLT team, allocating and organising the work of all staff both senior and less experienced staff to meet service priorities.

Person Specification

Essential Education and Qualifications

• RCSLT Recognised Diploma/Degree in SLT
• HCPC Registered.
• RCSLT Attendance at relevant Post‑Graduate Courses.
• RCSLT Recognised Postgraduate dysphagia Qualification.

Desirable Education and Qualifications

• A qualification at Master's Degree level or equivalent, in a relevant subject relating to this client group
• Member of relevant CEN.

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of working with out‑patients and community MDT setting
• Experience in clinical supervision
• Experience in working with diverse cultures and with complex clinical problems.
• Recent and extensive experience at advanced practitioner (Band 7) level in relevant area, including substantial experience of adult dysphagia management, within an NHS setting
• Extensive and diverse experience of working with patients with acquired neurological conditions.
• Experience of delivering training packages to carers regarding dysphagia & communication
• Participation in project /audit activities.
• Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC): Experience of assessment and implementation of low and high‑tech AAC.
• Experience of developing and managing a team

Desirable Experience and Knowledge

• Carrying out research projects

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Fluent in written and spoken English including the ability to generate letters and reports of a high calibre.
• Highly advanced communication skills including the ability to participate in high level meetings regarding either patient care or clinical strategy.
• Highly advanced clinical reasoning, analytical and problem‑solving skills especially in relation to patients with neurological conditions and adult acquired pathology.
• Ability to prioritise own and others workload within a busy environment.
• Ability to supervise and teach both own profession and others and to members of the MDT.
• Effective time management and ability to adapt within a busy clinical environment.
• Competent IT skills Evidence of use of basic Microsoft packages i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Able to demonstrate appropriate advanced clinical reasoning in relation to all clinical decisions.
• Experience of organising internal or external training session/course.
• Knowledge of Community Care Systems and contribution to care from other agencies, including local authority.
• Excellent understanding of any relevant NSFs, NICE guidance and national/local policy relevant to the development and delivery of this service.
• Awareness of current professional issues/developments pertinent to own field including a good understanding of legal frameworks impacting on clinical practice and service delivery.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

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

Employer Details

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

St Michael’s Hospital

Gater Drive

Enfield

EN2 0JB

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/

£61,631 to £68,623 a year Per Annum inclusive of HCAs