Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Community and Cleft)
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 15/09/2026
- Closes
- 29/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This is a full-time, permanent Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist position within the Children's Community Speech and Language Therapy Team in South East Essex. The role involves managing two community clinic caseloads in Southend and developing specialist skills in Cleft and VPI under expert guidance. The service offers a supportive team environment, strong clinical supervision, and opportunities for career development. It suits an experienced Band 6 or an experienced Band 5 looking to advance.
Essential criteria
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent with a minimum of 3 years' experience as Speech and Language Therapist
- Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council for licence to practice
- Signed off the RCSLT NQP competencies for more than 2 years
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree or equivalent relevant to the specialism
- Interpersonal and written skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills including good written presentation skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills
- Negotiation and problem solving skills e.g. experience of dealing with people when there is a difference of opinion
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- Experience of audit and/or research projects
- Experience of delivering speech and/or language therapy activities/programmes to children
- Experience of working with children who have a cleft/VPI presentation as part of community clinic delivery
- Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
- Uses specialist knowledge to make appropriate clinical decisions for planning therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group.
- Advanced knowledge of trend/best practice within the specialism Awareness of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group)
- Qualitifcations and registration
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent with a minimum of 3 years' experience as Speech and Language Therapist
- Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council for licence to practice
- Signed off the RCSLT NQP competencies for more than 2 years
- Evidence of completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree or equivalent relevant to the specialism
- Interpersonal and written skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills including good written presentation skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills
- Negotiation and problem solving skills e.g. experience of dealing with people when there is a difference of opinion
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- Experience of audit and/or research projects
- Experience of delivering speech and/or language therapy activities/programmes to children
- Experience of working with children who have a cleft/VPI presentation as part of community clinic delivery
- Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
- Uses specialist knowledge to make appropriate clinical decisions for planning therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group.
- Advanced knowledge of trend/best practice within the specialism Awareness of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group)
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 2d ago · Closes in 13d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Community and Cleft)
The closing date is 29 September 2026
Job summary
We are delighted to offer an opportunity for the correct candidate to join our Children's Community Speech and Language Therapy Team in South East Essex. The post is for a full time, permanent, Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to manage two Southend based community clinic caseloads with a built in opportunity to develop your specialist skills in the area of Cleft and VPI under the guidance of the service's Highly Specialist SLT for cleft/VPI.
The EPUT Children's SLT service is a supportive and experienced team who work closely together to meet to the communication, eating and drinking needs of children and young people aged 0 - 19 in the local population.
We have a strong clinical supervision model and provide opportunities for career development through skill mixing and regular reviews of training needs for staff linked to the service's delivery priorities.
We have a very experienced team of SLT assistants who support qualified staff to deliver strategy demonstration sessions to families and setting staff alongside strong administrative support.
This role would suit an experienced Band 6 paediatric Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop specialist skills and experience in the areas of Cle
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