Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; West Malling; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organisation in West Malling is seeking a dynamic Speech and Language Therapist to join their community Learning Disability Team. The ideal candidate will provide therapy to adults with learning disabilities in a variety of community settings. Responsibilities include assessing and providing intervention as part of a multidisciplinary team. Competitive salary offered with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Registered health care professional in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Experience in managing health-related projects and complex caseloads.

Responsibilities

• Provide speech and language therapy assessment and intervention.
• Supervise and manage Speech and Language Therapy staff and students.
• Work with multi-disciplinary team members and client care networks.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Time management

Teamwork

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree

Health related degree

HCPC registration

Tools

Microsoft Office

E-Pay

E-roster

Job description

Overview

Go back Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 22 September 2025

Are you a dynamic, motivated and dedicated Speech and Language Therapist, ready to take your next step as a Band 6 working in our 'Outstanding'-rated NHS community foundation trust? Exciting opportunities have arisen for a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist within our Community Learning Disability Team. We would consider adapting the band 6 position to a development post for a band 5 Therapist looking to develop into a band 6 role, with support.

You will be working with a supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team of Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Vision and Hearing specialists, alongside social care staff and partner organisations.

You will be part of a team that covers Adults with a Learning Disability and complex/multi-disciplinary needs. You will be working in a variety of community settings and manage a mixed caseload supporting both communication and dysphagia needs and people who are at risk of or awaiting discharge from acute or inpatient mental health hospitals.

We invite you to take a look round our newly designed website to show you what we offer for our clients, families and carers

Main duties of the job

The post holders will provide speech and language therapy assessment and intervention to adults with a learning disability who are referred to the West Kent community LD team. They will work as members of the multi-disciplinary team and give clinical advice and support to other professionals, support workers and the clients\' care networks. To supervise and manage the work of other Speech and Language Therapy staff, support workers and Speech and Language Therapy students. Caseload allocation along with clinical roles and responsibilities will be commensurate with the post banding for successful candidates.

We\'re interested in meeting clinicians who have the right values and passion, and are also looking for candidates who are excited about the opportunity to undertake training and development in clinical areas that they may be less experienced in, including dysphagia.

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. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent

We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences

We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn\'t visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission

The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won\'t involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We\'ll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both

See where you can go with KCHFTcareer pathways

Job responsibilities

As a community Trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able to proceed with your application. 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.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

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

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you 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. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered health care professional (Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree)
• Evidence of Specialist qualifications relevant to area of practice (e.g. Completed RCSLT Dysphagia Competencies up to Foundation level)
• Health related degree and/or evidence of relevant post graduate development at Level 6
• HCPC registration
• PRINCE 2 or equiv project management training
• Working towards Master level study
• Management or supervisory qualification or experience of study
• PTLLS/DTLLS, PGCE or Certificate in Education

Experience

• Experience in area of practice
• Practical experience in managing health related projects/complex caseloads
• Supporting others (mentor / educator / supervisor ) experience
• Experience of leading and managing teams
• Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages (E-Pay / E-roster/ AT-P/ CIS)

Special Knowledge & Expertise

• Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance to relevant to care setting and its application across health care services
• Evidence of continued relevant professional development and implementation in practice within the last 12 months

Skills & Abilities

• Understanding of training needs in relation to post
• Ability to manage time effectively, priorities and work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of people at all organisational levels across different sectors including areas of social deprivation
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information to individuals and groups
• Strong influencing and negotiating skills

Personal Attributes

• Ability to motivate and organise others to ensure best practice.
• Ability to manage and lead change
• Car driver, with UK driving licence

ABILITY TO MANAGE

• Able to support the implementation of local and national agenda's for health under the guidance of the senior Practitioner
• Ability to manage own time effectively.
• Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures.

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

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pro rata per annum