Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 395-HV086-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Acorn Centre
- Town
- Romford
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/08/2025 08:00
Employer heading

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 6
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
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapists to work within a well-established, innovative and supportive team in the London Borough of Havering. This is a great position for an existing NELFT therapist looking for their next steps after completing their NQP goals, or for those who are more established and wish to broaden their clinical experience.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to be part of our team in Havering and to contribute to the future of our service. This role will provide the opportunity to work across a variety of clinical pathways including Pre-school, Mainstream Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Out of Area, Additional Resource Provisions and Deafness. While the specifics of this role will be guided by the needs of the service, there is scope to tailor the position based on clinical interest and experiences.
Based in Romford with established transport links from London: We are 17 minutes by train from London Liverpool Street and 20 minutes from Stratford on the new Elizabeth Line, we also have good transport links to Essex and Kent.
Main duties of the job
You will join a team of passionate and enthusiastic professionals that support children and their families with their speech, language and communication needs.
Key Responsibilities:
To work autonomously as a specialist SLT within the community team, providing an effective service in Havering for children.
- To carry out screening, assessments and onward referral to other specialists in integrated services as early as possible to identify those with speech, language and communication needs.
- To signpost those who have been assessed to appropriate services that offer specialist interventions as well as general advice and guidance.
- To ensure that those identified with a speech, language and communication needs receive support to understand and manage their condition where appropriate.
- Where appropriate (and required) the speech and language therapist will signpost children and young people who have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing to specialist services.
- To ensure that all children and young people who require a service receive it in accordance within the mandated timeframe appropriate to their needs.
- To be able to work with clients to identify issues with communication and give them strategies to help address this issues, which may take the form of one-to-one, group sessions or support to other key settings.
- To engage typically disengaged populations and work with them to improve their outcomes.
Working for our organisation
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).
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 focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Higher Cost area Supplement
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 per annum pro rata if part time).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Detailed Job Description and Main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at Northeast London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
References
Please ensure that the references are from your most recent employer and one of these must be your direct Line Manager or Supervisor. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. Additionally, ensure that any gaps in your employment history are clearly indicated. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Person specification
Demonstration of Trust Values
Essential criteria
- We are kind
- We are respectful
- We work together with our communities
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
- HCPC Licence to Practice
- Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
- Show active interest in CPD in line with RCSLT guidelines
- Self-motivated and remain updated with professional practice and new research
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant relevant experience at undergraduate/post graduate level
- Working collaboratively with parents/carers and other professionals
- Experience of working in a multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary team
- Working with clients who have a range of speech, language and communication needs
Desirable criteria
- Planning and delivery of training to other professionals
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Awareness of NHS Plan, clinical governance priorities and changing service needs
- Child development and its application to speech and language therapy
- Knowledge of acquired communication and swallowing disorders
- Knowledge of assessment tools, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
- Awareness of the roles of other professionals
- Awareness of standards of record keeping
- Understanding of Safeguarding
Desirable criteria
- Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit
- Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit
Skills
Essential criteria
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Demonstrate clear clinical reasoning based on evidence based practice
- Able to use own initiative
- Able to organise and manage own caseload
- Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
- Formulate care plans and identify goals by organising and prioritising
- Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy
- Negotiation, problem solving concentration, analytical and reflection skills
- Written and verbal presentation skills
- Present information in clear and logical manner
- Ability to be a good team member
Desirable criteria
- Allocate duties and supervise therapy assistants
Other
Essential criteria
- Able to travel efficiently throughout the area
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
- Kara Morrison
- Job title
- Clinical Lead; Speech and Language Therapy
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 300 1888
List jobs with NELFT NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors