Paediatric Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust; Margate; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Speech and Language Therapist to join the early years team in East Kent, across Canterbury or Thanet. The 1.0 WTE Band 6 post focuses on assessment and intervention for pre-school children within a community setting.

You will collaborate with Therapy Assistants, OTs, PTs, SLTs and care co-ordinators to deliver integrated care and ensure best outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Registered Speech and Language Therapist with NHS experience preferred.
• Ability to work in an integrated children’s therapies service.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan and implement SLT interventions for children with speech, language and communication needs.
• Deliver evidence-based SLT interventions to support identified health outcomes.
• Develop integrated care plans with the child, young person and family for universal to specialist level.
• Participate in clinical supervision and work within a multi-disciplinary team to support colleagues.

Skills

SLT

Collaborative working

Child health

Communication

Job description

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare. Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapist to join our early years team working with pre-school age children in East Kent.

Our Children’s Therapies Team is an integrated therapies team providing Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Specialist Nurse Advisors and Care Co-ordinators to children 0 – 19 years within KCHFT.

The sessions will be based across our community clinics in either Canterbury or Thanet, where you will be able to work alongside some of our experienced Clinical Specialists. The sessions will also involve working in some of our local Family Hubs where we run a Talking Walk-in service.

We work closely with colleagues from other health, education and social care teams to provide an integrated team around the child approach.

We currently have 1.0 Wte Band 6 Early Years Speech and Language Therapy sessions available on a permanent basis.

To assess, plan and implement SLT interventions that support children with a range of speech language and communication needs.

To deliver evidence-based SLT interventions for children that support them achieving their identified health outcomes.

To develop integrated care plans in partnership with the child, young person and / or family recommending and supporting interventions that are appropriate at a universal, targeted and specialist level.

To participate in clinical supervision and to work as part of an integrated team with Therapy Assistants, OTs, PTs, SLTs, Care Co-ordinators and Specialist Nurse Advisors offering support to colleagues as appropriate to knowledge and skills.

To actively work as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams to provide high quality care to children and young people in line with our care pathways.

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated ‘Outstanding’ by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

Explore KCHFT career pathways

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Lindsey Tilley Job title: Locality Clinical Manager Email address: [e-mail]