Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Clch; Watford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust in Watford is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join West Hertfordshire services on a fixed-term contract until October 2027. You will work with adults in their homes and outpatient settings, managing dysphagia and communication disorders.

Travel between patient homes is required; a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential. The role offers flexible working and a Band 6 career development path within CLCH.

Qualifications

• Registered Speech and Language Therapist with HCPC registration.
• Must be licensed and registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Advanced training in dysphagia is essential.
• Experience with adult neurology and communication disorders is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage adults with acquired communication and swallowing needs across clinics and patients' homes in West Hertfordshire.
• Book patients, plan follow-ups, and attend team meetings.
• Develop evidence-based care plans and adapt them as goals change.
• Assess need for communication equipment and support use by patients and carers.

Skills

Dysphagia management

Adult speech therapy

Team collaboration

Clinical decision making

Education

HCPC registration

RCSLT membership

Advanced dysphagia training

SLT degree (Bachelor/Master)

Job description

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Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 6

Main area Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Grade Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 10 months (End Date 17/10/27) Hours

• Full time
• Job share
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 824-HERTS-8358606

Site BRE Building 16, BRE Science Park Town Watford Salary £41,957 - £58,785 Per Annum, inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 01/11/2026 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

CLCH Hertfordshire Adult Community Services - CLCH NHS Trust provides a range of Community Services, and the Hertfordshire Division is recruiting!

We are seeking a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our dedicated and supportive team on a fixed term basis until October 2027.

You will work with adults in their own homes and outpatient clinics across West Hertfordshire, supporting people with a range of medical conditions and acquired communication and swallowing disorders, including voice difficulties. Working across a varied caseload will give you the opportunity to further develop your knowledge and expertise in acquired speech, language and swallowing disorders.

Dysphagia competencies and experience of managing dysphagia are essential to this role.

As this is a community-based role, with travel between patient homes, there is a requirement to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Main duties of the job

You will manage adults with acquired communication and swallowing needs across clinics, care homes and patients’ homes in West Hertfordshire. You will book patients from the waiting list, plan follow-up appointments and reviews, attend Speech and Language Therapy team meetings and work closely with the multidisciplinary team and other professionals, including writing clinical reports.

You will independently complete specialist assessments, use your clinical knowledge to make appropriate decisions and differential diagnoses, and develop evidence-based care plans covering treatment, advice, review, discharge and communication with patients, carers and colleagues. You will adapt care plans as patients’ needs and goals change and determine when individual or group therapy is most appropriate.

You will also assess the need for communication equipment, including high- and low-tech aids, coordinate trials or purchase where appropriate, support patients and carers to use equipment, and support Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists.

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.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• An appropriate qualification to practise as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Health and Care Professions Council licence to practise.
• Registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Dysphagia-trained to an advanced level.
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses and/or relevant experience up to Master’s degree equivalent.
• Membership/attendance at relevant Special Interest Groups

Experience

• Experience relevant to an adult caseload.
• Management of dysphagia in acute, rehabilitation, community, OP settings.
• Able to demonstrate the application of in depth, new and ongoing learning and experience to clinical practice.
• Experience in the provision of training for others.
• Well-established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to an adult client group including: Dysphagia/Dysphasia/Dysarthria/ Dyspraxia/Dysphonia/Dysfluency/Dysgraphia/ Dyslexia/Dementia.
• Well-established knowledge of a range of relevant therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group (as above).
• Well-established knowledge of the management of people with progressive neurological conditions.
• Knowledge of the range and applications of communication aids.
• Knowledge of the application and protocol for use of videofluoroscopy.
• Knowledge of professional standards including record keeping.
• A good understanding of the roles of other professionals in acute, rehabilitation and community settings.
• A well-established knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to adults.
• A good understanding of the application of research and audit systems.
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance.
• Knowledge of the application and protocol for use of videofluoroscopy.

Skills and Knowledge

• Good presentation skills in both verbal and written form.
• Good organisational skills including prioritisation.
• Ability to independently integrate complex information to manage individual clients.
• Ability to negotiate with and influence people.
• Highly developed hearing, concentration and perceptual skills.
• Ability to transcribe/analyse speech phonetically.
• Demonstrates an ability to be an effective team member.
• High level of interpersonal communication skills including observation, listening, empathy and sensitivity.
• Ability to manage the emotional consequences of working with patients with distressing conditions.
• Ability to reflect on, analyse and develop own performance.
• Ability to self-monitor and seek support/advice as appropriate. Flexible and adaptable approach to work clinically, professionally and within the organisation.

Key Attributes

• A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

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.

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.