Speech & Language Therapist | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

North East London NHS Foundation Trust; Brentwood; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in England seeks a Specialist Speech & Language Therapist for a Band 6 role focusing on early supported discharge and older adult mental health services. The successful candidate will provide specialized support for individuals with Dementia, focusing on community home visits to prevent hospital admissions. This full-time position includes comprehensive induction, clinical supervision, and opportunities for professional development. A valid driver's license is essential as the position involves traveling across various locations, including Brentwood.

Benefits

Comprehensive induction program

Clinical supervision and annual appraisals

High Cost Area Supplement

Qualifications

• You must have a valid driver's license for community-based visits.
• Experience working with adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Strong understanding of Dementia and stroke recovery.

Responsibilities

• Deliver community-based support to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
• Provide intensive rehabilitation and goal-focused therapy.
• Conduct assessments and develop comprehensive therapy programs.

Skills

Excellent organisational skills

Strong communication

Proactive team member

Assessment and therapy for communication difficulties

Dysphagia management

Education

Relevant professional qualification in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Job Overview

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Early Supported Discharge/ Older Adult Mental Health

Band 6 – 37.7 Hours

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Band 6 position working with our Early Supported Discharge for Stroke service in Essex (2.5 days) and Havering Older Adult Mental Health Team (2.5 days). This post has the benefit of working closely with our well-established and experienced Stroke Hub Team whilst sitting within our well-supported and friendly SLT team of Band 7, 6’s and SLTA’s who provide a highly specialist level of service to our Community Inpatient Wards, Early Supported Discharge (ESD) for Stroke and General Community caseloads.

You will play a key role within the Intensive Havering Older Adult Team, providing specialised speech and language therapy services to individuals with Dementia. Your primary responsibility will be to deliver community-based support, aiming to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, offer education to care homes and facilitate the individual's well-being and recovery within their familiar environment.

You will join a team of passionate and enthusiastic professionals who support adults and their families with communication and swallowing difficulties following a stroke and diagnosis of dementia.

The SLT ESD service provides rapid assessment and intensive rehabilitation with goal-focused therapy for up to 6 weeks. As such, the post holder is required to demonstrate specialist level assessment, management and therapy for both communication and dysphagia impairments. You will be expected to conduct assessment and comprehensive therapy programmes. The successful candidate will have excellent organisational skills, be a strong communicator and a proactive member of the MDT.

Benefits and Additional Information

Starting with NELFT – NELFT places a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period – This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement – Fringe – This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,303 to a maximum of £2,198 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Our team values and recognises the clinical and professional skill development and is keen to support SLTs across their career. To enable this, SLTs in our team are provided with regular clinical supervision and annual appraisals. They have opportunities for internal and external CPD, and are encouraged to participate in audit, research and quality improvement work.

The combined post is delivered in patients' homes and care homes across the patch (including Brentwood, Basildon, Thurrock and Havering). A valid driver's licence is essential.

Additional Notes

Certificates of Sponsorship – Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system.

Use of AI – Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, the application may be rejected because this document is an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications if they need it for the purposes of any declared disability.

This advert closes on Monday 22 Dec 2025.