Speech & Language Therapist Lead Band 7

NHS; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading rehabilitation provider in Leatherhead is seeking a Speech and Language Therapy Lead to manage a team and provide specialized care. You will assess and treat clients with complex speech and language needs, lead a dedicated team, and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary approach. Ideal candidates will have a degree in Speech & Language Therapy and substantial experience, particularly in dysphagia. The role offers a salary between £46,148 to £52,809 with excellent benefits.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Pension and Life Assurance

Healthcare cash back scheme

Free on-site parking

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Accredited degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Experience with neurologically impaired adults.
• Registration with HCPC and membership with RCSLT.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the SLT team in rehabilitation.
• Conduct assessments and provide interventions.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams.

Skills

Communication skills

Clinical skills

Team management

Dysphagia management

Decision making

Education

Degree in Speech & Language Therapy

Ongoing CPD record

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Speech & Language Therapist Lead Band 7

The closing date is 28 September 2025

Join Our Team as a Speech and Language Therapy Lead

At QEF, we provide specialized speech and language services for clients with complex disabilities under the care of CRC. You will be responsible for:

• Assessing and treating language, speech, swallowing, and cognitive communication disorders.
• Offering training and guidance to colleagues, families, and carers for holistic client care.
• Collaborating with CRC's specialist multi-disciplinary team to deliver effective speech and language therapy services.

We are able to offer a tier 2 visa sponsorship (for applicants that they are already in the UK)

Main duties of the job

ABOUT YOU

• You are passionate about speech and language therapy
• Our Values and Behaviours inspire you
• You hold a degree or diploma in Speech and Language Therapy with up to date HCPC registration
• You are a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy adhering to professional guidelines
• You have post-graduate experience and knowledge of therapeutic interventions for physical and neuro-rehabilitation, as well as experience in dysphagia, communication, and voice management.
• You maintain an up-to-date professional portfolio with relevant post-graduate courses and CPD.

About us

Step into a leadership role in our state-of-the-art 48-bed rehab unit! We're looking for a dynamic, motivated, and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to lead our team.

We are committed to providing top-tier, evidence-based rehabilitative care. You'll work with a diverse range of clients, many with complex neurological disabilities, as part of a large multi-disciplinary team where your role as Speech and Language Therapy Lead is pivotal. Reporting to the Head of Clinical Services, you'll be a key player in our senior leadership team, dedicated to delivering the highest standards of patient-centered care

BENEFITS

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Pension and Life Assurance (4 times basic salary)
• Westfield Healthcare Cash back scheme & shopping discounts
• Free on-site parking
• Blue Light Card
• Range of training opportunities provided to ensure career development.

BEING PART OF QEF MEANS

• Being an active team player.
• Being an ambassador of QEF's Values and Behaviours
• - Everyone Matters,
• - Everyone Works Together,
• - Everyone Makes a Difference.

DISABILITY CONFIDENT EMPLOYER

QEF is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We guarantee to interview all applicants who meet the criteria for a vacancy and to consider each applicant on their ability to do the job. Please contact HR if you require any reasonable adjustment(s) for the application process or interview stage on [e-mail] or on 01372 841 144

Job responsibilities

• Reporting to the Head of Clinical Services you will hold accountability and responsibility for the SLT provision to all clients within our rehabilitation centre.
• Leading and managing a specialist SLT team in a brand new state of the art rehabilitation centre. The team comprises band 6 and band 5 SLTs, an SLT assistant and we are proactive to have students.
• To contribute to the continued development of a high quality SLT therapeutic service
• To provide specialist dysphagia assessment and intervention to clients who require, utilising competences and experience at a senior practitioner level.
• To provide highly skilled communication assessment and intervention to all our clients with acquired brain injury, such as stroke, ABI and other neurological conditions, utilising competences and experience at a senior practitioner level.
• Delivering 1:1 and group SLT sessions to a range of clients and creating accessible communication and swallowing guidance for the wider MDT.
• Conducting skilled mental capacity assessments independently or jointly with other professionals, as appropriate.
• Having a key-worker role managing and overseeing a specific client's whole journey at QEF, liaising with families, being a single point of contact for all queries, coordinating care and discharge packages.
• Advocating on clients' behalf in a range of situations, e.g. when writing reports, CHC forms and complex DST meetings where highly skilled reporting and ability to deal with questioning is necessary.
• Closely working with the wider multi-disciplinary team PTs, OTs, Psychology team, dietitian, nursing, carers, kitchen staff, activity co-ordinators. Also working with outside agencies, such as social workers, safeguarding, expert witnesses, lawyers, neuro-navigators, DST assessors.
• Working with the Head of Clinical Services and senior management on service development, quality improvement projects and clinical audit
• Providing clinical supervision and expert advice to SLT staff as well as SLT students on placement.
• Responsible for the recruitment within the SLT department with opportunity to support in the recruitment process of the wider CRC staffing remit
• Managing the Speech and Language Therapy team to include sickness absence, performance, appraisals, probationary periods in line with QEF policy
• Supporting and leading on the emphasis on learning and reflective practice within the SLT as well as wider team, providing and participating in training and learning.
• Actively jointly working with our catering company, manager and dietitian to provide high standard of catering in line with IDDSI framework

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy.
• Additional training in Dysphagia.
• Ongoing CPD record relevant to TBI.
• Ongoing membership with the RCSLT.
• Registration with HCPC

Experience

• Experience with adult neurologically impaired adults.
• Working with carers.

Knowledge and skills

• A good standard of literacy and numeracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Competent in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Good decision making and problem solving skills.
• Excellent clinical skills
• Ability to manage a small team of Speech and Language Therapists
• Excellent knowledge of neuro speech and language therapy
• Knowledge of augmentative and alternative communication

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.

Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People

£46,148 to £52,809 a yearplus excellent benefits