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Job summary

Main area
Dementia
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
364-B-342
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Harland Centre
Town
Westcliff on sea
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/08/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 6

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our innovative Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST). 

DIST  is a multidisciplinary team supporting people living with a diagnosis of dementia in their own homes and in care homes in the South-East Essex region

The successful candidate will  provide a rapid access dysphagia service to avoid hospital admissions or deterioration of health and nutritional status due to eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.

We support families/carers with the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia, providing education of the nature of eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties due to dementia, and advice on how to enable people to eat and drink as well as they can.

The post-holder will work effectively and efficiently as an autonomous speech and language practitioner within a multi-professional team environment in community and primary care settings, ensuring safe, efficient and effective delivery of patient-focussed care in line with identified evidence-based practice, local and national standards.

We offer a friendly and supportive team, regular supervision, excellent training and development opportunities and flexible working arrangements.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be based at Harland Centre ,  Westcliff on sea but will be required to provide services across South East Essex.  

The successful candidate will deliver person centred, goals-focused assessment and intervention to an adult with dementia caseload, both within the Care Homes  and in patients' own homes.

 To independently assess, differentially diagnose, develop and implement specialist care plans for care home residents with eating, drinking and swallowing needs due to dementia and frailty, as well as at the end of life.

 To work with primary care, community health services and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure a coordinated and holistic care plan for patients with necessary support and follow up from this care plan.

To provide ad hoc training and education to care home/care agency staff, to support them in their role.

To liaise with SLT colleague(s) from the Adult Community SLT service, acute SLT services, MAS SLT service and the ALD SLT service as required.

 To be responsible and accountable for the independent prioritisation and management of own clinical caseload.

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you. 

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
  • Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

please see attached job description document for a detailed summary of the main responsibilities of the role. 

Person specification

Application form

Essential criteria
  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
  • Previous experience with adult caseload
  • Excellent interpersonal skills – including sensitivity, observation, listening and empathy skills
  • Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
Desirable criteria
  • Completion of RCSLT dysphagia competencies
  • Knowledge of national policies, procedures and current research relevant to all caseloads.
  • Knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to dementia and other acquired and progressive neurological and non-neurological swallowing disorders in adults.
  • Awareness of the principles of clinical governance /audit

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Can demonstrate excellent written and spoken English
  • At least 1 years’ experience work¬ing with an adult caseload.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills – including sensitivity, observation, listening and empathy skills
  • Ability to prioritise workload demands
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team Good team working skills
  • Ability to acknowledge need for, and seek support
  • Ability to work independently and to take initiative

Personal qualities

Essential criteria
  • Shares the Trust’s Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour
  • good verbal and communication skills
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of supporting more junior colleagues/students

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Susan Smith
Job title
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07583 136584
Additional information

Rugi Timbo 

Clinical Team Manager 

Tel: 07538 375857 

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