Speech and Language Therapist Specialist in Adult Community

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Hadleigh; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare organization in Hadleigh is seeking a confident and motivated Band 7 Community Adult Speech and Language Therapist. This full-time role involves assessing and treating adults with various neurogenic and non-neurogenic disorders, contributing significantly to patient care. Applicants require dysphagia training and at least 4 years of experience in speech and language therapy. The position offers opportunities for flexible working and professional development.

Benefits

Season Ticket Loans

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent Training facilities

Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work

Day One Flexible Employer

Qualifications

• Fully dysphagia trained with at least 4 years’ experience.
• Current HCPC registration and broad clinical skills.
• Access to a vehicle and valid UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Assess and treat adults with acquired and progressive neurological conditions.
• Provide differential diagnosis based on comprehensive assessments.
• Develop and deliver therapy programmes and train staff.

Skills

Dysphagia training

Communication skills

Assessment skills

Supervisory experience

Education

HCPC registration

4+ years' experience as a Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Band 7 Community Adult Speech and Language Therapist

We are a small, friendly and supportive team providing speech and language therapy to adults in the community based at Hadleigh Clinic (near Southend on Sea) in South East Essex. We are looking for a confident and motivated Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to work with us, assessing and treating people with a range of acquired and progressive neurological conditions, non-neurological conditions and voice disorders. Our work is varied and rewarding, making a real difference to our patients’ quality of life.

The post is full time (1.0 WTE, 37.5 hours a week), and service operates Monday to Friday, with no weekend working required. Having access to a vehicle is essential to this role, along with a full valid UK driving licence and existing business insurance cover.

To support the Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy Service across South East Essex, by assessing and planning management for adults with a range of acquired and progressive communication and swallowing disorders seen within the service.

To make a differential diagnosis of communication and swallowing difficulties on the basis of specialist formal and informal clinical assessments; to ensure that all interventions are based on accurate, appropriate and sufficient assessment.

Provide programmes of therapy activities and demonstrations of those activities to those concerned (family, staff, visitors), to enable carry over and generalisation of new skills into the wider communicative environment.

To support and supervise less experienced therapists and assistant practitioners treating people on these caseloads.

Responsibilities

• Assess and treat adults with a range of acquired and progressive neurological and non-neurological conditions and voice disorders in the community.
• Provide differential diagnosis and plan interventions based on comprehensive assessments.
• Develop and deliver therapy programmes; train and demonstrate activities to patients, families and staff for skill carryover.
• Supervise and support less experienced therapists and assistant practitioners.
• Manage an independent clinical caseload; maintain case notes and use SystmOne for activity data in line with guidelines.
• Communicate with Lead SLT; provide reports and make onward referrals as appropriate; ensure smooth handover of care between services.
• Maintain equipment, ensure infection control and safety; request necessary supplies and contribute to risk management and clinical governance.
• Support undergraduate placements and supervise students and assistants as appropriate.
• Adhere to professional standards (RCSLT, HPC) and local policies; engage in continuing professional development.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Fully dysphagia trained, with at least 4 years’ experience as a qualified speech and language therapist.
• Current HCPC registration; broad clinical skills including supervisory and management experience.
• Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle and business insurance cover.
• Full-time appointment (1.0 WTE, 37.5 hours/week), Monday to Friday; no weekend work.

Benefits

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• 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

Flexible Working

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. 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.

Staff Bank

Join our Staff bank. Our EPUT NHS staff bank hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. All permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank; you may opt to work additional shifts 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.

This advert closes on Tuesday 14 Oct 2025