Job summary
- Main area
- Neurodevelopmental service
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- 10 months (Fixed term maternity cover)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 395-BD066-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Child and Family Centre
- Town
- Barking
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 plus HCAS per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
This is a fantastic opportunity to lead and inspire the Speech and Language Therapy team within the Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) Neurodevelopmental Service, situated in one of London’s most culturally rich and diverse areas. You will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care for children and young people with complex communication needs, including autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
You will lead the development of a specialist, child-centred service that works closely with families, schools, and wider agencies to ensure truly integrated care. Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you’ll manage a specialist caseload, delivering expert clinical opinions and contributing to diagnostic assessments, as well as supporting children with speech, language and communication needs.
A unique feature of this role is the chance to be involved in a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded research project focused on improving the preschool autism diagnostic pathway - collaborating with leading experts, including a Specialist Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician and Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge. You’ll also contribute to pioneering digital innovations aimed at enhancing assessment and reporting processes.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
- Provide clinical leadership and operational management to the Speech and Language Therapy team, supporting service delivery across both health and education settings.
- Develop and lead innovative, evidence-based therapy services that align with integrated care pathways for children and young people with complex communication needs.
- Manage staff supervision, recruitment, and professional development to build a skilled and motivated team.
- Foster strong partnerships with Local Authorities, schools, and community stakeholders.
- Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team including Paediatricians, Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists to design and deliver coordinated neurodevelopmental care.
- Engage actively with families and community networks to ensure services are responsive, inclusive, and outcome-focused.
- Maintain a specialist clinical caseload, providing expert assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
- Promote ongoing service evaluation, quality improvement, and compliance with Trust policies.
- Drive forward innovation in service delivery, including digital resource development and embedding research within clinical practice.
- Champion culturally sensitive approaches and contribute to reducing health inequalities within the diverse communities we serve.
Working for our organisation
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place 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 in 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 - London
This post attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 per annum pro rata).
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
- We are kind.
- We are respectful.
- We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Our service is passionate about addressing health inequalities and delivering equitable care across a multicultural community where over 130 languages are spoken. If you’re ready to combine clinical excellence, leadership, and innovation in a supportive and dynamic environment, this role is for you.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for further details on this vacancy.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Successful completion of leadership courses or evidence of management skills.
- Show active interest in CPD – specifically in the areas of complex communication - in line with RCSLT guidelines
Desirable criteria
- Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
- MSc in Speech and Language Therapy or a relevant clinical field
Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to organise and chair meetings at a departmental and MDT level
- Ability to manage a high number of referrals and an ongoing complex caseload
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service areas
- Experience of paediatric therapy and management of communication difficulties
- Developing CPD programme for service/team with experience of offering clinical supervision
- Working with multi-agency and/or within an MDT
- Working with clients who have a range of speech, language, and communication needs
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in child development and its applications to speech and language therapy
- Advanced clinical knowledge of the impact of specific developmental disabilities on the development of the child or young person
- Knowledge of developmental and acquired communication disorders
- In depth knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions and ability to compare and contrast relative benefits and outcomes
- Knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist patient group, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
- Understanding of safeguarding
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Ashok Kakati
- Job title
- Assistant Programme Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07803203629
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