Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) is seeking a Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist to join the Early Years Service in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. You will work with preschool children, delivering assessment, diagnosis, intervention and discharge within a supportive, multidisciplinary team.

The post offers supervision and training opportunities, a varied caseload, and collaboration with schools and families to promote SLCN best practice.

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent.
• Health Care Professionals Council Licence to Practise.
• Current registered membership of HCPC and RCSLT with the right to work in the UK.
• Able to meet the physical demands of community-based clinical practice, including carrying and transporting clinical equipment, prolonged standing, bending, kneeling and working in varied home environments, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Develop clinical skills with a varied preschool caseload, carrying out assessments, identifying needs, developing, implementing and evaluating specialist programmes of care.
• Work with early years staff and families to embed communication supportive environments and run evidence based targeted interventions.
• Support the development of the universal and targeted service to children and families with a range of SLC needs.
• Be part of a service which has an active diversity and inclusion ethos where EDI is established as part of our Business as Usual.
• Contribute to the quality improvement work of the wider CLCH SLT early years service.
• Provide an accessible, person centred, needs led SLT service to the 0-5 age population and their families.

Skills

Child development

SLT assessments

Clinical reasoning

Safeguarding

Care plans

Record keeping

Team collaboration

Clinical governance

Education

SLT degree

HCPC licence

HCPC & RCSLT

UK work eligibility

Job description

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Site Medical Centre, Woodfield Road and schools in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea Town London Salary £38,488 - £46,852 per annum, inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 22/11/2026 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

Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist
Early Years Service, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea

Are you looking to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people? Come and join the CLCH SLT Early Years team!

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an NQP or experienced Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist to join our innovative and supportive Speech and Language Therapy Early Years Service at Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) NHS Trust.

We are looking for a speech and language therapist with enthusiasm, excellent interpersonal and team-working skills who are seeking to develop and broaden their clinical experience of working with preschool children in a highly skilled, dynamic and supportive team.

Our Early Years team works in close partnership with local stakeholders to deliver SLCN support across the Boroughs of Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea. Our Speech and Language Therapy Service supports prevention and early intervention targeted support in addition to comprehensive assessment and evidence-based therapy packages for pre-school children with a range of SLCN. We are using local population health data to tailor our support offers and work closely with our partners within the boroughs.

You will have access to excellent supervision and support with a range of training and shadowing opportunities, to ensure strong clinical performance and development opportunities.

Main duties of the job

Join us if you want to:

• Continue to develop your clinical skills working with a varied preschool caseload, carrying out assessments, identifying needs, developing, implementing and evaluating specialist programmes of care
• Work with early years staff and families to embed communication supportive environments and run evidence based targeted interventions.
• Support the development of the universal and targeted service to children and families with a range of SLC needs.
• Be part of a service which has an active diversity and inclusion ethos where EDI is established as part of our Business as Usual when thinking about our service users and our staff.
• Contribute to the quality improvement work of the wider CLCH SLT early years service.
• Provide an accessible, person centred, needs led SLT service to the 0-5 age population and their families.
• Work with increasing independence to provide assessment, diagnosis, intervention and discharge for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.
• Work closely with children, parents, carers and multi‑disciplinary team members across Health, Social Services, Education and Children’s Services to identify and support children’s Speech, Language and Communication Needs.
• To understand and meet professional and legal SEND responsibilities including contributing to statutory assessments of special educational needs and delivery of SLT provision as specified in Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

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.

**Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full roles and responsibilities**

Person specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health Care Professionals Council Licence to Practise
• Current registered membership of HCPC and RCSLT with the right to work in the UK
• Able to meet the physical demands of community‑based clinical practice, including carrying and transporting clinical equipment, prolonged standing, bending, kneeling and working in varied home environments, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

Experience

• Relevant experience at undergraduate/postgraduate level working with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.
• Experience working collaboratively with parents/carers and other health/education professionals.
• Training others
• Working with multi‑cultural client groups
• Experience of supporting children, families and schools in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 including contribution to statutory assessments (Education Health and Care Plan Needs Assessments), contribution to the annual review process and delivery of SALT provision as specified in Education health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Skills

• Knowledge of child development and its application to speech and language therapy
• Knowledge of appropriate range of assessments and interventions for children with Speech, Language and Communication needs and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits to individual children
• Able to demonstrate clear clinical reasoning based on evidence‑based practice
• Religious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management
• Able to identify appropriate goals and formulate care plans
• Awareness of standards of record keeping
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Able to use own initiative to organise and manage own caseload
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping
• Knowledge of Education Practice and Policy including the Children and Families Act 2014 and National Curriculum
• Awareness of national policies and procedures (relevant to preschool aged children)
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group)
• Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit

Key Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Negotiation, problem‑solving, analytical and reflection skills
• Demonstrates the ability to be a good team member
• Responsive to change and ideas and adaptive and creative within new systems
• Ability to deal with and resolve conflict
• Sensitivity to others’ differing needs
• Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Flexibility
• Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• To be occupational health cleared for the role specified.
• IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes
• Manual dexterity for signing

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.

Due to high application volumes, this vacancy may close early. Only candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the criteria will be shortlisted. Interview details will be emailed after the closing date - please check your inbox regularly.

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your applications on time to avoid disappointment.

Name Liz Lowton Job title Locality Lead Speech and Language Therapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07919305837 Additional information

Sarah Beckett [e-mail]