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Job summary

Main area
Speech & Language
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
5 months (Fixed term until 31st March 2027)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
432-HR991-26
Employer
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The Crescent
Town
Colchester
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
26/10/2026 12:00
Interview date
30/10/2026

Employer heading

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Speech & Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 5

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of  ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole.  The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

 

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Community  SALT team  to join our amazing team.

This role is suitable for both newly qualified therapists and for those who are looking to gain experience working in a community setting working with a wide variety of different clinical presentations.  

We have lots of collective experience between us and have excellent liaison with the acute SALT team and Essex university and 3rd sector organisations.

Provisional interview date - 30th October 2026

Main duties of the job

You will be working in a range of settings including patient's own homes, nursing and residential homes and with inpatients at our Community Hospitals.

You will be very well supported with regular peer and personal supervision and there will be an expectation for you to complete your dysphagia and NQP competencies if this is needed.

 

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. 

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. 

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. 

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. 

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.   

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients. 

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.   

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

 

Please do make contact if you wish to ask any questuons about the role in advance of your application.  

It is anticipated that this post will also become permanent once we have approved recurrent funding.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
  • Eligible for registered membership of RCSLT
  • Ability to travel to different places of work/driving licence.
  • HCPC membership
Desirable criteria
  • Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (R.C.S.L.T.)

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to use Word, PowerPoint, e-mail, Excel and Access (or similar spreadsheet or database packages

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in various clinical settings.
  • Portfolio of CPD evidence relevant to post.
  • Assessment of communication impairments by various means, including a range of standardised assessments
  • Differential diagnosis of patients with multiple aetiologies
  • Liaising with other agencies/other staff groups
  • Experience working as a member of a multidisciplinary team
  • Recognition of requirement for and means of accessing guidance/support
Desirable criteria
  • Bedside assessment of dysphagia
  • Involvement in audit/clinical governance within SLT

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of approaches to assessment and interventions for people with LTC and prog neuro
  • Knowledge of evidence based practice in relation to the client group.
  • Knowledge of normal and abnormal swallowing
  • Knowledge of environmental impact on communication and behaviours
  • Assessment/knowledge of alternative/ augmentative communication systems
Desirable criteria
  • Awareness of change in NHS and current legislation

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.NHS Pastoral CareDisability confident committedStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Ruth Myers
Job title
professional lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01206 742560
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