Clinical Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service

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Clinical Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service

Band 8a

Main area speech and language therapy Grade Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 18.75 hours per week (Monday to Friday - Flexible) Job ref 824-NORTH-8307373

Site Edgware Community Hospital Town London Salary £63,665 - £70,887 per annum inclusive of HCAS (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 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

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Band 8a Clinical Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to lead our Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service. This is a part-time position (0.5 FTE, 18.75 hours per week)

This is an excellent opportunity for an inspirational clinical leader who is passionate about delivering outstanding, person-centred care while shaping the future of adult Speech and Language Therapy services. You will combine expert clinical practice with strategic leadership, working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues and senior leaders to drive innovation, service development and continuous quality improvement.

You will lead and support a dedicated team of Speech and Language Therapists, ensuring the delivery of safe, evidence-based care for adults with complex communication and swallowing needs. As the Clinical Lead, you will play a key role in workforce development, clinical governance and service planning, helping to improve patient outcomes and ensure the service continues to meet the evolving needs of our local communities.

As this is a community-based role, with travel between patient homes, there is a requirement to hold a full UK driving licence with access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

If you are a collaborative leader with a passion for developing people, influencing change and delivering high-quality services, we would love to hear from you

Main duties of the job

• Provide clinical and operational leadership for the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care.
• Lead, manage and develop the Speech and Language Therapy team through recruitment, supervision, appraisal, performance management and workforce planning.
• Manage a specialist clinical caseload, providing expert assessment, intervention and clinical advice for adults with complex communication and swallowing needs.
• Promote person-centred care and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, partner organisations and key stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
• Lead service development, quality improvement, clinical governance, audit and evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Contribute to business planning, service transformation and the continuous development of the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service.
• Support the development of staff through mentoring, clinical supervision and ongoing professional development.
• Ensure high standards of clinical practice, governance and compliance are maintained across the service.

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

Please refer to Job description and person specification for outline of skills, knowledge and experience required.

Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate alignment with the Trust’s values - Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment, alongside fulfilling the duties detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification

Person specification

Education/Qualification

• Speech and Language Therapy professional qualification.
• Registration with Health Care Professions Council
• Registered with RCSLT
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses
• Membership of relevant Clinical Education Networks

Experience

• Able to apply a high level of knowledge & skills in clinical setting
• Experience of service delivery in acute and community settings
• Relevant highly specialist experience.
• Evidence of effective leadership
• Experience of training students and/or colleagues.
• Post registration experience in a NHS community environment

Skills and Knowledge

• In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.
• Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group guidelines including knowledge and competency in instrumental assessments
• Understanding the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stake holders.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and its implications for services, including experience of quality issues, research and audit
• The ability to maintain up to date clinical knowledge and skills.
• Ability to effectively manage staff and to undertake appraisals
• Able to make decisions involving complex facts and situations, plus manage / reconcile conflict
• Exceptional analytical skills and a high level of numeracy
• Ability to deal professionally and objectively with distressing/uncomfortable situations, e.g. terminally ill patients, child abuse, providing guidance to team members where appropriate.
• Ability to support the development of business plans and manage budgets within allocated limits.
• Knowledge of diversity issues and ability to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Knowledge of the strategic direction of the local health commissioner and providers

Other

• As this is a community-based role, with travel between patient homes, there is a requirement to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

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.

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.