Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Adult Community Services

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; Ivy Chimneys; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in West Essex seeks a motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join their community health service team. You will provide vital therapy for adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders across various settings. The ideal candidate has a relevant degree and is skilled in communication, with a commitment to patient care. Excellent opportunities for professional development and flexible working are offered.

Benefits

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

Flexible working options

Continuous professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Must have a recognized degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Experience with adults suffering from communication and swallowing disorders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment and therapy for adults with communication issues.
• Manage and prioritize an individual caseload of patients.
• Conduct training for patients’ families and caregivers.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Teamwork

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Tools

Assessment tools for communication disorders

Therapeutic communication aids

Job description

A Vacancy at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.


*Band 5 development post considered*

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved within a small dynamic team of community speech and language therapists caring for patients in West Essex.

Are you caring, empowering and willing to learn ?

If so this could be the job for you!

We are looking for a well-motivated, forward thinking and knowledgeable Speech and Language therapist who is looking for theopportunity to demonstrate and further their clinical skills and join our small, friendly, progressive team.

You will provide communication and dysphagia support to adults with acquired difficulties, and their carers, throughout West Essex. Our varied caseload includes neurological conditions, respiratory, mental health and end of life and we offer a variety of interventions including LSVT and carer training. There may also be opportunity to work with voice and head and neck cancer caseloads and also an opportunity to rotate with our acute SALT team in Princess Alexandra Hospital Harlow.

Patients are provided with a service in a variety of settings appropriate to their needs i.e. care homes, patients’ homes, outpatient clinics, community inpatient wards. We have strong links with acute speech and language therapy services for CPD, Videofluoroscopy and ensuring timely transfer of patients between primary and secondary care.

We can offer exceptional education, training and development opportunities.

Car driver essential



The post holder will deliver community based speech and language therapy services as a member of West Essex Community Health Service Integrated Care Teams, providing specialist speech and language therapy services to patients and carers of those with an acquired disorder of communication and/or dysphagia to support those living with long term conditions. The caseload will include community in-patient, domiciliary and clinic based activity for patients with a wide range of conditions affecting communication and swallow function such as stroke, MND, Parkinson’s Disease, and dementia. There may also be an opportunity to work with voice and head and neck patientsand specialise in this area, and an opportunity to rotate with our acute SALT team in Princess Alexandra Hospital , Harlow.

Thepost holder will initially be based at St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, but may be required to provide services across West Essex.

The post holder will assist the Lead SLTs in developing services for patients, carers and staff, including supervision, education and training programmes.

The post holder will provide clinical support to more junior colleagues working in the team.

The post holder will independently manage the caseload of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders, actively initiating and participating in the interdisciplinary decision making around patient care and developing service delivery initiatives.



EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank

1. The post holder will independently manage the caseload of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders, actively initiating and participating in the interdisciplinary decision making around patient care and developing service delivery initiatives.



2. The post holder will maintain an overview of the competing demands for speech and language therapy service, managing service delivery and keeping their line manager informed of pressures to self and service, prioritising the caseload and administrative workload to meet capacity demands.



3. The post holder will be responsible for organising the speech and language therapy service in accordance with Departmental and Trust policies and procedures



4. The post holder will apply evidence-based practice in order to manage a specific caseload of patients with complex needs under supervision.



Patient/Client Care



5. To undertake clinical work with adults with a wide range of acquired communication and swallowing difficulties to a high clinical standard.



6. The clinical work will include:

· Assessing and diagnosing a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders, including diverse and multi-faceted pathologies

· Planning appropriate therapy intervention, making fine judgements about type and timing of treatment negotiated with patients, carers and the MDT

· Recommending and introducing low and high tech communication systems and resources

· Delivering group and individual therapy as required

· Providing advice and therapy programmes to carers and other health professionals

· Managing patients’ and carers’ anxieties regarding intervention and prognosis

· Evaluating treatment outcomes

· Transferring and discharging



7. To assess, develop and implement specialist person centred programmes of intervention to meet the needs of clients on personal caseload. This requires the development of a high level of clinical competence within the field of acquired communication and swallowing disorders, reflecting on own practice and keeping abreast of significant advances in clinical care through attendance at courses, conferences, CENs and critical appraisal of journal articles.



8. To provide training and support to carers and relatives both individually and through group courses where appropriate, in order to facilitate effective communication with partners using total communication strategies



9. To maintain clinical records, and to write timely reports and correspondence for Health, Social Services and other colleagues reflecting specialist knowledge.



10. To provide specialist evidenced based advice to more junior speech and language therapists and other professionals working within the field on clinical issues in particular with regard to establishing safe practice in swallow management and developing a supportive communicative environment for those who are unable to meet their communication needs using verbal channels.



11. To identify patients requiring assessment from other MDT members and initiate referrals when appropriate.



12. To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment programmes where appropriate, participating in MD, as well as speech and language therapy goal setting and negotiate with others around case management in complex cases.



13. To work in close collaboration with the other Community Integrated Teams in order to facilitate the delivery of integrated therapy programmes including joint group therapy when appropriate.



14. To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of care plans wherever possible and to facilitate their meaningful involvement in planning their care with other team members. This will involve communicating complex information with skill and sensitivity, employing total communication strategies when required.



15. To work closely with patient’s carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient’s management.



16. To provide information on support networks, professional and voluntary, to patients and their families.



17. To identify the need for second opinions, referring patients to specialist therapists or centres after discussion with the line manager.



18. To initiate and take part in regular clinical review and supervision with other therapists both as a peer reviewer and supervisee



19. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme including identifying personal/professional development evidenced by CPD Portfolio and planning training needs with line manager


This advert closes on Tuesday 19 Aug 2025