Overview

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Early Supported Discharge

Band 6, Part Time, 0.5 hours

Job Overview: Due to a recent skill mix review an exciting opportunity has arisen for a part time (- 0.52 WTE 19.5 hours a week) Band 6 position working with our Early Supported Discharge for Stroke service. This post has the benefit of working closely with our well-established and experienced Stroke Hub Team whilst sitting within our well supported and friendly SLT team of Band 7, 6’s and SLTA’s who provide a highly specialist level of service to our Community Inpatient Wards, Early Supported Discharge (ESD) for Stroke and General Community caseloads. You will join a team of passionate and enthusiastic professionals who support adults and their families with communication and swallowing difficulties following a stroke. The SLT ESD service provides rapid assessment and intensive rehabilitation with goal focused therapy for up to 6 weeks. As such, the post holder is required to demonstrate specialist level assessment, management and therapy for both communication and dysphagia impairments. They will need to be able to construct comprehensive therapy programmes to be completed by the therapist, SLTA or as a patient self-management programme. Working with both the ESD and SLT teams, the successful candidate will have excellent organisational skills, be a strong communicator and a proactive member of the MDT.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist level assessment, management and therapy for communication and dysphagia impairments related to stroke. • Construct comprehensive therapy programmes to be completed by the therapist, SLTA or patient self-management. • Work with the ESD and SLT teams, and maintain excellent organisational skills and proactive MDT involvement. • Contribute to rapid assessment and intensive rehabilitation within the ESD service for up to 6 weeks.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT places 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, 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.

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

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,303 to a maximum of £2,198 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Cross-team Work and Development

Although predominantly based with the ESD caseload, the post holder will also have the opportunity to work across other parts of our SLT service when needed. This provides the chance to develop clinical skills and experience with a wider variety of acquired communication and swallowing impairments such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, TBI and oncology. Senior SLT support will be provided across all caseloads. Regular clinical supervision and annual appraisals, opportunities for internal and external CPD, and involvement in audit, research and quality improvement work are provided.

Service Area

Both the ESD and SLT community services are provided in patient’s homes and care homes across the patch (including Brentwood, Basildon and Thurrock) and from our clinic base at Brentwood Community Hospital. A car driver with valid license is essential.

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

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.

This advert closes on Friday 12 Sep 2025