Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Home or remote working
- Job ref
- 839-7542145-RB
- Employer
- Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St James' Clinic
- Town
- King's Lynn
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/11/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 14/11/2025
Employer heading

Clinical Lead - Speech Therapy
NHS AfC: Band 7
NCH&C is proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. Praising NCH&C’s “compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels”, the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing. The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Before applying for this vacancy, please make sure you’re familiar with ongoing GOV.uk sponsorship eligibility criteria which will impact the organisations ability to provide sponsorship, whether this is currently or in the future.
Specifically for band 3 roles within healthcare please be aware of the salary threshold required for a certificate of sponsorship to be granted, and that unfortunately overseas applicants who are new to care will not reach the minimum salary threshold to obtain a certificate of sponsorship and therefore your application will be withdrawn.
Job overview
- To provide clinical and management leadership to a small group of clinicians, in the delivery of high quality evidence based care.
- To evaluate the Speech and Language Therapy service within specialist area, making recommendations for improvements and future design of services in line with best practice and current guidelines including local and national policies
- To provide a Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service to community patients with a range of neurological conditions and non neurological conditions utilising highly developed specialist assessment and management skills of dysphagia and communication.
- To work as part of the MDT to differentially diagnose, assess, treat and manage swallowing and communication disorders within the speciality
- To provide expertise to Speech and Language Therapy and MDT colleagues, patients and carers through specialist advice and education
Please see attached job description for a more complete list of duties.
Main duties of the job
- To provide highly specialist dysphagia and communication assessments to inform accurate diagnoses for patients within specialist area
- To formulate comprehensive, patient centred and individual treatment programmes/management plans using highly specialist skills
- To independently coordinate, allocate and organise specialist caseload including those of junior and assistant staff to meet service priorities ensuring a high standard of clinical care
- To assess patient understanding of treatment plans involving individuals and significant others in decision making, working within a legal framework for patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment
- To write complex and detailed reports reflecting specialist knowledge
Please see attached job description for a more complete list of duties.
Working for our organisation
Find out more about working for our organisation here:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2565ae62eb.html
Please note, the selection processes at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To maintain accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with the Trust, departmental and professional standards
- To independently manage decision making regarding clinical risk within own patient caseload including patients with complex communication problems and complex dysphagia
- To represent SLT service at Trust policy development groups to ensure that SLT is incorporated into Trust wide developments and initiatives
- To develop and implement policy and service changes in own clinical area and ensure delivery of best practice
- To provide advice and training to a wide range of professionals and client groups regarding the management and care of patients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties
- To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues and to negotiate with others around case management in complex cases (e.g. case conferences)
Please see attached job description for a more complete list of duties.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Attainment of recognised degree in Speech and Language Therapy as recognised by RCSLT and HCPC
- RCSLT membership
- Current Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registration
- Evidence of successful completion of post graduate study in dysphagia, and relevant highly specialist short courses
- Evidence of ongoing CPD to meet regulatory body professional standards
Desirable criteria
- Membership of any relevant clinical excellence networks (CENs)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant relevant specialist clinical experience of working with patients with communication difficulties and dysphagia
- Experience in delivering education and training packages
- Experience in supervising undergraduate Speech & Language Therapists and more junior therapists
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency working
Desirable criteria
- Relevant experience working in a community setting
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Competent to a high level in the management of complex patients with communication and/or swallowing disorders within speciality
- Ability to be an excellent team member and assume leadership responsibilities when required by line manager
- Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
- Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills
- Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills
- Competent use of IT
- In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines, national policies and procedures relevant to client group
- In depth knowledge of principles of clinical governance and audit
Communication
Essential criteria
- Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English Language
- Good presentation skills, both written and verbal
- Able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Able to empathise with clients who may have life changing, progressive and/or terminal medical conditions
Personal and People Development
Essential criteria
- Able to deliver training to the team and wider professionals
Personal Attributes / Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Able to act in a manner appropriate to the standards of the Service and Profession.
- Adaptable to adjust quickly to the changing demands of the service
- Be able to demonstrate perseverance when under pressure
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
- Karen Blayney
- Job title
- Service Lead for Neuro in LTCs & Pulmonary Rehab
- Email address
- [email protected]
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