Speech and Language Therapist Specialist in Adult Community

Overview

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust – Speech and Language Therapist Specialist in Adult Community

The closing date is 14 October 2025

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.

Applicants will need to be fully dysphagia trained, with at least 4 years experience of working as a qualified speech and language therapist. The successful candidate will be required to hold current HCPC Registration and have a broad range of clinical skills including supervisory and management experience. 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.

Main duties of the job

• To support the Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy Service across South East Essex, by assessing of 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.

About us

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

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

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and 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

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you 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.

Job responsibilities

• To provide assessment, diagnosis and management of people with a range or communication and swallowing disorders.
• To support and supervise less experienced therapists and assistant practitioners treating people on these caseloads.
• To keep Lead Speech and Language Therapist advised of any changes or developments that may affect planning.
• To be responsible and accountable for the independent prioritisation and management of own clinical caseload.
• 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.
• To support and facilitate all patients in expressing their own views and needs, to enable them to take an active part in the planning of treatment.
• To use clinical assessment of patients communication skills to support decision making about a patients capacity to consent to interventions and make decisions affecting future management.
• To develop clear individual care plans based on clinical guidelines and established best practice.
• To use appropriate outcome measures, such as Care Aims, to evaluate personal clinical effectiveness.
• To 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 consider the need to adapt clinical practice to meet the needs of patients and carers, including issues relating to disability, culture and educational attainment e.g. the format of written advice, wheelchair access and interpreters.
• To ensure smooth and appropriate handover of care from one agency to another; to provide reports, reflecting specialist knowledge and interpretation of specialist assessments, to other health professionals, including GPs and Hospital consultants as requested; to make and/or recommend onward referrals to other professionals or agencies, as appropriate.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local guidelines and policies.
• To submit activity data using SystmOne, accurately, regularly and promptly, in accordance with agreed guidelines and policies.
• To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines.
• To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment, ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained – including equipment loaned to clients and portable I.T. equipment.
• To take responsibility for ensuring that equipment and assessment tools and other essential supplies are requested in a timely manner.
• To participate in development of SLT Service risk management, quality standards setting and Clinical Governance/audit projects, advising clinical lead of any changes or developments that may affect service planning and policy.
• To participate in undergraduate clinical and observational placements for all relevant disciplines.
• To supervise the work of less experienced SLTs, students and assistants and ensure that those to whom tasks are delegated, e.g. unqualified Speech and Language Therapy staff, have the appropriate level of competence.
• To have regard for your own personal safety and that of the people, carers and any staff or colleagues under your direction, in particular with regard to moving and handling of people or equipment in order to ensure the safe positioning of self and others.
• To maintain a high standard of professional practice as set out by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) in the professional code of conduct, the Health Professions Council (HPC) and service standards, including maintaining continuing professional development (CPD).
• To work within Speech and Language Therapy Operational Policy and Clinical Guidelines.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
• Health & Care Professions Council registration number
• Completion of RCSLT dysphagia competencies
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Successful completion of a post-basic dysphagia course recognised by the RCSLT

Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired and progressive neurological speech and language disorders in adults
• Specialist knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired and progressive neurological swallowing disorders in adults
• Knowledge of national policies, procedures and current research relevant to all caseloads.
• Awareness of the principles of clinical governance / audit
• Awareness of standards of record keeping and confidentiality
• Awareness of the roles of other professionals
• Knowledge of cultural and linguistic issues in working with a multi-cultural caseload

Skills/Experience

• At least 3 years\\\’ experience working with a specialist adult caseload, managing swallowing disorders and communication issues.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team and good team working skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills – sensitivity, observation, listening & empathy
• Negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Good analytical and reflection skills
• Good presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently and to take initiative, seeking support as required
• Ability to prioritise workload demands
• Experience of supporting and supervising less experienced therapist, students and other clinical staff
• Good time management skills & ability to support others in this
• Ability to act on own initiative when responding to an emergency

Additional Requirements

• To be able to move, sit and stand in a variety of positions to deliver treatment
• Current full UK driving licence and access to a car, with the ability to travel across Trust sites

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.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust