Apprentice Speech and Language Therapist

Apprentice Speech and Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 5

Main area . Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract 4 years (Fixed Term for up to 4 years) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 848-BHC-272-26

Site Phoenix Children's Resource Centre Town Bromley Salary Band 5 Annexe 21 apprentice salary + £4714 HCAS Closing 01/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 09/10/2026

Bromley Healthcare, a community interest company, delivers a diverse range of services encompassing community nursing (e.g., district nursing, health visiting, specialist nursing) and therapy services catering to individuals across all age groups. Stemming from the community provider unit of NHS Bromley, we boast extensive experience in serving the Bromley populace over many years.

Working at Bromley Healthcare offers a fulfilling experience. Our distinctive service delivery approach and commitment to hearing every employee's voice ensure a gratifying career journey. As a Social Enterprise, we embrace an innovative approach to healthcare delivery, combining the traditional strengths of the NHS, such as robust training and development opportunities, with the flexibility to reinvest surpluses into community initiatives.

Employees of Bromley Healthcare whose role maybe at risk will receive priority consideration.

Applicants for roles involving driving responsibilities will be required to provide proof of business insurance.

Bromley Healthcare recognises the use of AI but job applicants are advised to ensure their applications are reflective of their skills, knowledge and experience. Where AI has been used in the job application this will need to be declared by the applicant explaining the type of AI used and its purpose, please use the supporting statement section to specify your use of AI.

Job overview

Speech and Language Therapy Apprenticeship

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join Bromley Healthcare as a Speech and Language Therapy Apprentice working whilst completing the BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy degree.

This is a 4 year apprenticeship paid at Agenda for Change Band 5 Annexe 21:

Upon completion salary will be band 5 on AfC scale

This is a developmental role, requiring completion of the BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy degree depending on previous qualifications, over 4 years.

The post holder will be employed by Bromley Healthcare while undertaking an approved apprenticeship programme leading to HCPC registration as a Speech and Language Therapist on successful completion.

The role combines:

• 80% work-based learning
• 20% protected off-the-job academic learning

Clinical duties will be determined in line with the level of training, competence and supervision, and will progress throughout the apprenticeship. At all times, the apprentice will work under the supervision of a registered Speech and Language Therapist and will not practise autonomously. The apprentice will rotate across appropriate clinical services to meet learning outcomes required by the university and professional bodies.

Main duties of the job

To attend University and clinical placements as set out in the degree programme.

• To complete and pass academic modules and clinical placements to the required standard in order to progress through the programme.
• To ensure timely achievement in accordance with the academic programme requirements.
• To complete and pass the End Point Assessment.
• To organise and manage a clinical caseload, mapped against evolving capability, which will include gaining knowledge and experience of providing Speech and Language Therapy for children and adults with a variety of health conditions or developmental needs.
• To gain knowledge and skills (analytical and reasoning) to assess diagnose, develop and implement individualised treatment programmes for patients with a wide variety of clinical needs.
• To gain experience during the period of the apprenticeship in a wide range of clinical areas which may be in organisations external to Bromley Healthcare.

• To work from multiple bases across the borough of Bromley and the expectation to see patients across the borough as the service and demand requires.

Working for our organisation

Bromley Healthcare, as a community interest company, offers an extensive array of services ranging from community nursing, including district nursing and health visiting, to specialised nursing care, along with therapy services catering to individuals across various age groups.

Compensation is contingent upon NHS experience and current banding/pay point.

We provide an outstanding benefits package, which includes pension schemes, discounted gym memberships, a cycle-to-work scheme, access to home furnishings and electronics, access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP), discounts at various high street retailers, eligibility for the Blue Light Card, the opportunity to apply for low-interest personal loans, and an excellent lease car scheme. Additionally, we are continuously striving to enhance our employee benefits offerings.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

1.0 To provide a speech and language therapy service to patients with communication and/or swallowing disorders with appropriate support from a supervisor.

1.1 To work towards having skills to make a differential diagnosis based on evidence from assessment, leading to decisions about intervention/treatment, seeking advice as appropriate.

1.2 To communicate complex condition-related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other.

1.3 To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of patients/clients and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the patient/client’s difficulties and implications of the same.

1.4 Under supervision to initiate and provide a variety of treatment options according to patient’s needs, including the use of interpreters as appropriate, with support from senior therapists.

1.5 To negotiate and work closely with clients, carers, other professionals and families, agreeing decision-making and prioritisation relevant to the patient/client’s management, devising agreed care plans based on best practice, seeking advice as necessary.

1.6 To learn methods of alternative communication e.g. signing, symbols, speech synthesisers after training to maximise the client’s communication.

1.7 To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, aiming to achieve effective communication, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.

1.8 To adapt practice to meet individual patients’/clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic and gender differences.

1.9 To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have

Person specification

Qualifications

• Literate and numerate in English
• Experience working as a band 3 or 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant in the NHS
• Certificates from relevant other training in healthcare

Information

• Knowledge of EMIS or similar IT system
• Sound IT skills including word processing and data analysis such as Microsoft Word and Excel

Skills

• Ability to work on own initiative and without supervision
• Ability to work as part of a team and actively participate in team meetings
• Holds a current UK driving license and has access to a car for work purposes
• Negotiation skills, ale to overcome barriers

Experience

• Recent work in a health or social care setting as a band 4 SLT assistant
• Experience of working with people who have a physical or mental health condition
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working in the community/home working

We are dedicated to caring for our service users and their loved ones, as well as ensuring the wellbeing of our colleagues. That's why we strongly encourage all colleagues to avail themselves of the Coronavirus vaccination.

To get a sense of what it's like to work with Bromley Healthcare, you can visit our YouTube channel at the following link: YouTube Channel .

Salary is determined by NHS experience and current banding/pay point. External applicants will begin at the entry point of the salary scale in line with NHS terms and conditions.

At Bromley Healthcare, we are fully committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where all colleagues feel supported, nurtured, and celebrated. Discrimination of any protected characteristic is not tolerated. Diversity and inclusion are key components of our People Strategy, as an equal opportunities employer, we are particularly eager to enhance Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) representation across Bromley Healthcare, especially at senior levels.

We welcome applicants with a disability. We are able to support reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process, please let us know if you require any.

We understand the importance of balancing work and life, so we offer our staff a variety of flexible working options from day one. These include:

• Compressed hours
• Part-time
• Job shares

We encourage you to discuss this with your hiring manager, who will take your individual circumstances into account alongside the service needs.

We eagerly anticipate welcoming you to a rewarding career with Bromley Healthcare. Please note that all offers of new employment with Bromley Healthcare are subject to a three-month probationary period.

Bromley Healthcare recognises the use of AI but job applicants are advised to ensure their applications are reflective of their skills, knowledge and experience. Where AI has been used in the job application this will need to be declared by the applicant explaining the type of AI used and its purpose, please use the supporting statement section to specify your use of AI.

Bromley Healthcare CIC is an NHS community provider and an integral part of the NHS family. However, we pride ourselves on being different; as a co-owned social enterprise, Bromley Healthcare CIC is owned by its employees. This ensures that our staff remain under NHS Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions and are members of the NHS pension scheme (provided they are eligible). If not, we offer the Nest or Scottish Widows pension schemes.

• Please ensure you check your emails regularly, as this is our primary mode of communication throughout the recruitment process. As a general guideline, interviews typically occur within 2 weeks of the closing date.
• When providing employment reference details, please ensure you provide accurate work-related email addresses so references can be promptly sought when progressing your application. Your referees must be individuals known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.
• All staff identified as AT-RISK who meet the requirements of the post will be prioritized accordingly.
• The Trust utilizes the TRAC systems recruitment platform to administer all stages of the recruitment process, meaning that shortlisting information will not be communicated via NHS Jobs.
• Bromley Healthcare reserve the right to close adverts earlier than first published.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.