Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health trust in England is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join their dynamic team. The role involves working with children to provide high-quality therapy services. Candidates should have a degree in Speech and Language Therapy and be HCPC registered. This position offers a hybrid work pattern and is open to individuals currently employed within NHS Trusts. Competitive salary and support for candidates with disabilities are provided.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Access to training and supervision

Regular clinical governance days

Qualifications

• Qualified in Speech and Language Therapy with a relevant degree.
• Registered with HCPC and ideally pursuing or holding a Master's level qualification.
• Experience in managing children's speech and language therapy.

Responsibilities

• Deliver 'The Balanced System' for SLCN support.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care linked to prescribed packages.
• Support the supervision and development of staff.

Skills

Effective time management

Influencing skills

Communication of complex information

Education

Speech and language Degree

HCPC registered

Management or supervisory qualification

Job description

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 30 November 2025

We are seeking dynamic and enthusiastic paediatric Speech and Language Therapists to join our friendly team in North West Kent. The Children's Therapies service provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Care Coordination services to children and young people aged 0-19.

We have a number of Band 6 SLT sessions available on a permanent basis in a range of venues and across client groups, including early years and school years, mainstream schools, specialist provisions and clinics. The posts are suitable for a current Band 6 looking for a new opportunity, or for Band 5 post‑preceptor staff wishing to progress in their career and can be offered as a development post. If the post/s are offered as a development post (from Band 5 to 6), the post holder would remain on Band 5 salary for a specific time (usually 6-9 months) to meet Band 6 objectives. We currently offer a hybrid work pattern for staff with a combination of face‑to‑face and virtual working.

We pride ourselves on the support and induction offered to new staff including: regular meetings with a line manager; access to clinical supervision; in‑house and external training. We offer regular clinical governance days where the whole team comes together to share knowledge, skills and CPD experiences.

Main duties of the job

• Help us deliver 'The Balanced System', working with schools and settings to provide specialist, targeted and universal support for SLCN.
• Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of holistic care linked to packages of prescribed care or identified projects.
• Support in the supervision and development of staff.
• Actively work as a member of the Children's Therapies team to provide high quality care to service users.
• Undertake a range of competent clinical and non‑clinical interventions to support the outcomes of the service.
• Act as lead and senior practitioner to support junior staff in carrying out assessment/reassessments of service users and/or pathways with complex needs across the relevant field.

As a Band 6 you will be supported by Band 7 Clinical Leads from both within locality and across Kent. Candidates will need to be able to drive as we deliver our services in clinics, schools and settings across our locality.

About us

Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we've got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.

We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This information is not visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability.

>As a flexible working, friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that best suits you, your patients and your personal commitments. We will support you to work flexibly in a way that suits us both.

See where you can go with KCHFT career pathways.

Job responsibilities and requirements

At this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). As a community trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. You will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement. We support candidates with disabilities into employment; if you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team at [e-mail] quoting the vacancy reference number.

We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via [e-mail] quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, and their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles, so to increase your chance of being shortlisted please apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non‑clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated to ensure the safety of all staff and patients.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Speech and language Degree or post‑graduate study
• HCPC registered
• Masters level study or working towards
• Management or supervisory qualification or experience of study

Experience

• Experience in children's speech and language therapy
• Evidence of being a mentor, supervisor or educator
• Practical experience in managing complex caseloads

Knowledge and Expertise

• Knowledge of children's SLT professional issues including SLT in education
• Evidence of relevant to role CPD
• Awareness of evidence‑based practice within children's SLT

Skills & Abilities

• Evidence of effective time management, prioritisation & working under pressure
• Evidence of strong influencing & negotiating skills
• Evidence of ability to communicate complex, sensitive information to others

Personal Attributes & Ability to Manage

• Evidence of ability to motivate and organise others
• Evidence of management and leading on change
• Evidence of implementing local or national agendas on health related issues

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.

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust