Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 7) to join the Early Years team in London. The role focuses on deaf and hard of hearing children, with caseloads spanning assessment, intervention and advice for families, schools and multi‑disciplinary teams.

You will lead on deafness and hearing loss services, supervise junior staff, and contribute to SEND processes and service development.

Qualifications

• Registration with Health Professions Council as a speech and language therapist.
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
• Registered member of RCSLT.
• Evidence of specialist training and/or experience in working with deaf and hard of hearing babies, children and young people.
• Membership of relevant CEN.
• British Sign Language (BSL) qualification or experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide a highly specialist SLT service within the Early Years, including for deafness and hearing loss.
• Manage a specialist caseload of deaf and hard of hearing children and young people, including assessment and intervention.
• Support the Early Years SLT team in daily operations, triage, and referrals.
• Act as clinical lead for deafness and hearing loss within the service, offering expert consultation.
• Lead multidisciplinary meetings and contribute to service development.
• Support the Clinical Team Lead with operational leadership and pathway development.
• Supervise junior staff and students.

Skills

Deafness knowledge

Hearing loss impact

Hearing tech

Audiology partnership

Assessment & therapy

Governance/audit

Record keeping

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Education

HCPC registration

SLT degree qualification

RCSLT registration

Specialist training with deafness

CEN membership

BSL qualification/experience

Job description

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Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 7

Main area Children's Speech and Language Therapy Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 824-ONW-8178135

Site Chalkhill Primary Care Centre Town London Salary £55,524 - £62,652 per annum inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 04/10/2026 23:59

Welcome to Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH)

At CLCH, we proudly serve as a beacon of compassionate community healthcare across 14 vibrant London boroughs — Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Richmond, Wandsworth, Westminster, Hillingdon, Sutton, and Kingston — as well as Hertfordshire. We bring care closer to home, embracing the rich diversity of these communities with dedication and heart.

Recognised as a Good provider by the Care Quality Commission and celebrated among the top NHS employers, we are united by a shared passion: empowering our community health professionals to deliver care that truly makes a difference.

We are deeply committed to fostering an environment where every member of our team feels respected, valued, and inspired—a place where fairness, kindness, and inclusion blossom. Our culture is rooted in the principles of the NHS People Plan, Our NHS People Promise, and our own strategic Equality values and objectives, guiding us to create a truly supportive and inclusive workplace.

Together, we build a caring community where the warmth we show one another shines through in every life we touch.

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced, innovative and collaborative Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Band 7) to join our Early Years team. This is an exciting opportunity for a clinician with experience of working in Early years services and with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The role is ideally suited to someone with a particular interest and expertise in working with deaf and hard of hearing babies, children and young people with a range of speech, language and communication needs.

The post holder will manage a highly specialist Early Years caseload alongside a specialist deafness and hearing loss caseload, including providing input to a Deaf Resource Base. You will work closely with families, educational settings, Audiology Services, Teachers of the Deaf and other multidisciplinary colleagues to deliver evidence-based, child-centred interventions and support positive outcomes for children and young people.

You will provide specialist advice and training, contributing to SEND processes, supervising junior staff and students, and lead service development within the area of deafness and hearing loss. We are looking for someone who is committed to partnership working, values inclusion and equity, and is motivated to help shape and develop high-quality services for children, families and schools across Brent.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service within the Early Years Service, including for children with speech, language and communication needs associated with deafness and hearing loss.
• To manage a specialist caseload of deaf and hard of hearing children and young people, providing specialist assessment, intervention, consultation and advice relating to hearing loss and its impact on communication, language development, learning and social participation.
• Support members of the Early Years Speech and Language Therapy team in the day-to-day operation of the service, including responding to queries, supporting triage and referral management, contributing to team discussions and facilitating effective service delivery.
• Act as the clinical lead for deafness and hearing loss within Children’s Speech and Language Therapy, providing specialist consultation, advice and support to colleagues across the service.
• Participate in multidisciplinary and multi-agency meetings, contributing specialist knowledge and chairing meetings where appropriate.
• Support the Clinical Team Lead with operational leadership and service development activities across the Early Years pathway.
• Manage competing demands and priorities effectively, maintaining a flexible approach to workload management and service delivery.
• To provide supervision, mentorship and support to junior staff and students.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be one of the largest community healthcare providers in the country, with more than 4,500 colleagues caring for over four million people across London and Hertfordshire. Every day, our teams bring their skill, compassion, and determination to the people who depend on us.

What inspires us is at the heart of who we are: when we work together, we can help people move forward in ways that truly matter. Our teams support children as they take their first steps in life, and they stand beside adults as they rebuild strength, confidence, and independence. From newborn health visiting to community nursing, stroke rehabilitation, and palliative care, we are there for people through some of life’s most important moments.

Joining Central London Community Healthcare means becoming part of a community that lifts each other up. It means working in an organisation that values compassion, welcomes new ideas, and believes in the potential of every colleague. Your development matters here. Your wellbeing matters. Your voice helps shape the future of the care we provide.

We offer a competitive employment package because the work you do matters. At Central London Community Healthcare, you will join an inclusive organisation that invests in its people, supports development, and helps you thrive while delivering high-quality care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Applicants are expected to present clear and relevant evidence of the competencies and responsibilities detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification, together with a demonstrated commitment to the Trust’s values of Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment.

**Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full roles and responsibilities.**

Person specification

Education/Qualification

• Registration with Health Professions Council as a speech and language therapist
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
• Registered member of RCSLT.
• Evidence of specialist training and/or experience in working with deaf and hard of hearing babies, children and young people.
• Membership of relevant CEN
• British Sign Language (BSL) qualification or experience

Experience

• Significant experience working with children with speech, language and communication needs.
• Experience working with Early Years children presenting with a range of developmental speech, language and communication needs.
• Experience working with deaf and hard of hearing children and young people.
• Experience working collaboratively with families, educational settings and multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge and experience of assessment (including standardised assessments) and intervention approaches used in paediatric speech and language therapy.
• Experience contributing to SEND processes, including EHCP assessments and Annual Reviews.
• Experience of service development and quality improvement.
• Experience of providing supervision, mentoring or support to colleagues and students.
• Experience working alongside Teachers of the Deaf
• Experience of leading clinical projects or service developments.
• Experience of undertaking appraisals and supporting the development of less experienced staff.

Skills & Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge of speech, language and communication development in deaf and hard of hearing children and young people.
• Knowledge of the impact of hearing loss on language development, learning, literacy, social communication and participation.
• Knowledge of hearing technology including hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices.
• Understanding of the role of Audiology Services and Teachers of the Deaf.
• Knowledge of communication approaches used with deaf and hard of hearing children and young people.
• Knowledge of assessment tools, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
• Demonstrate clear clinical reasoning based on evidence-based practice
• Child development and its application to speech and language therapy
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit
• Understanding and application of standards of record keeping and reporting.
• Working knowledge of the roles of other professionals in Health, Education and Social Care involved with CYP.
• Demonstrates well developed ability to analyse and reflect upon complex information.
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Evidence of excellent organisational skills
• Able to work independently as an autonomous practitioner.
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities.
• Negotiation, problem solving concentration, analytical and reflection skills.
• Good Written presentation skills information in clear and logical manner
• Present information in clear and logical manner
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy.
• Good awareness of IT and IT skills

We review all applications carefully to ensure fairness and verify references. At interview, you will be asked about your experience, so be honest and ensure all information is accurate. The use of AI during interviews is not permitted.

If you use AI or other tools to support your application, it must reflect your own skills, knowledge, and experience. Supporting information should be in your own words and include your personal insights. AI can assist with drafting but may produce generic or inaccurate content. Applications that rely heavily on AI may lack authenticity and reduce your chances of success.

Due to high application volumes, this vacancy may close early. Please apply promptly if you meet the Person Specification. Only candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the criteria will be shortlisted. Interview details will be emailed after the closing date - please check your inbox regularly.

CLCH Trust does not recommend relying solely on AI when completing your application.

CLCH Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

CLCH is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for providing exceptional patient care. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining talent from all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident employer, we pledge to:

• Guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role.
• Provide reasonable adjustments to support diverse needs throughout the recruitment and employment process.
• Challenge misconceptions about disability and foster an inclusive culture for everyone.

We are committed to building a workplace where all staff feel valued and have the opportunity to thrive. Simply let us know how we can support you.

Learn more about our equal opportunities policy on our website: Equal opportunities: Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust clch.nhs.uk

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.