Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Complex Neurodisability)

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; North Chailey; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK seeks a Speech and Language Therapist to support children with communication difficulties. You will manage a designated caseload, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to service development. The position offers flexible working options and opportunities for professional development and training in a compassionate environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Training and professional development

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Graduate in Speech and Language Therapy with relevant qualifications.
• Experience in working with children and young people with communication difficulties.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Manage a designated caseload of children and young people.
• Develop and update communication management programmes.
• Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to address identified needs.

Skills

Assessment and diagnosis of communication difficulties

Dysphagia management

Intervention planning and evaluation

Teaching and training others

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

A Vacancy at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.


An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly and supportive team of around ten Speech and Language Therapists and Assistants within Chailey Clinical Services.

The role is that of a band 6 and will primarily consist of managing a designated caseload of children and young people with complex neuro-disability aged 3 to 19 years, within Chailey Heritage School.

The post holder will support the communication, eating, drinking and oral sensori-motor needs of the children and young people, in conjunction with their class team, family and wider Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). The MDT based at Chailey includes occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitian, nurses, paediatricians, doctors, clinical scientists, dentists, rehabilitation engineers, school and social care staff and more.

As well as working in the school, you would also have opportunity to work within other settings on-site, including Chailey Heritage Residential facilities and clinics within Chailey Clinical Services .

We would consider this role for part time or flexible working.

Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role is unlikely to be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk websitebefore applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

The post holder will:

a) provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and management of children and young people’s communication and oral-motor difficulties for assigned caseload.

b) monitor and update children’s and young people’s dysphagia management programmes with support and supervision from more experienced colleagues.

c) plan, provide and evaluate interventions to address identified needs in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team, which includes therapy assistants.

d) participate and contribute to the Speech and Language Therapy team at Chailey Clinical Services, including service development and team projects.

e) participate in or undertake audit and research as part of multi-professional team.

f) contribute to the teaching of staff, parents, carers, teachers, assistants, students and other agencies as a member of the multi-professional team.



We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?
• Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values—Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Communication and Working Relationships

The post holder will:

a) work closely with members of the Speech and Language Therapy Team including the Team Lead, Specialist Speech and Language Therapists, and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants in order to deliver a quality service

b) form good working relationships and develop and maintain effective communication with children and young people on their caseload who all have significant limitations to communication.

c) work with the wider professional multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals and education staff from our partner organisation Chailey Heritage Foundation to provide integrated child-centred education and healthcare.

d) discuss children’s communication needs, eating and drinking difficulties and oral movement skills with the multi-disciplinary team, working with others to agree suitable targets and the means to achieve these.

e) be able to effectively share complex information about children’s healthcare and communication needs with a range of different people; the post holder will also have to understand complex information about different children’s needs.

f) provide teaching/ training for members of the multi-professional team including therapists, assistants, teachers, students, volunteers and others as required

g) manage conflict with support from senior clinicians as required.



Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this exciting opportunity or to arrange a visit.




This advert closes on Sunday 20 Jul 2025