Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity cover)
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Compressed hours
- Job ref
- 395-HV153-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Acorn Specialist Children's Centre
- Town
- Romford
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 pa pro rata (plus HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Maternity cover)
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 five 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 position has arisen due to maternity leave, for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join a well-established, innovative and supportive team in the London Borough of Havering. As part of NELFT (North East London Foundation Trust). You will join a flexible and creative service where staff wellbeing is actively promoted and encouraged.
Working as part of the team, you will provide a service for children and young people aged 0-19 presenting with a range of speech, language, communication needs.
This is a fixed term position with a wide range of opportunities and clinical sessions across a range of areas such as pre-school, mainstream schools, stammering and autism. You will be well supported with 1:1 supervision, safeguarding supervision, pathway meetings and cross-border working with colleagues in neighbouring boroughs.
This role would be suitable for a current band 6 or a band 5 therapist who has completed their NQP competency goals and is ready for their next step. This is a great opportunity for you to join a team of passionate, enthusiastic and innovative professionals.
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
Speech and Language Therapists are core to the efficient service delivery that we provide to children, young people and their families.
As a Speech and Language Therapist in our service, you will deliver care to children, young people and their families in schools and within the clinic setting.
You will be working within our well-established, supportive, friendly and forward thinking special school’s team as well as in clinic settings. In your allocated schools you will provide assessments as well delivering intervention and training to upskill school staff.
See the attached job description and person specification for more details.
Working for our organisation
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.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period.
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 meet the executive team and senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
High Cost Area Supplement – London
This post also attracts payment for High-Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary. (minimum payment of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 - Per annum, pro rata for 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.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system.
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.
Person specification
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
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
- Working with clients who have eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Awareness of NHS Plan, clinical governance and changing service needs
- Child development and its application to speech and language therapy
- 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
- Government policy and legislation and how this may affect service delivery
- Knowledge of acquired communication and swallowing disorders
- 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
- 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.
Application numbers
If you require any additional support during the application process please contact [email protected]. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment journey.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Kara Morrison
- Job title
- Clinical Lead for 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







