Job vacancy: Developing Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Dartford

Job summary

Main area: Speech & Language Therapy
Grade: Band 5
Contract: 12 months (Fixed term 12 months)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 252-7391111

Employer: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Darent Valley Hospital
Town: Dartford
Salary: £32,602 - £39,686 per annum inclusive of allowances
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 19/08/2025 23:59

Developing Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Band 5

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For newly qualified practitioners, we have a preceptorship and an in-house dysphagia programme, which enable RCSLT and dysphagia competencies to be completed. The chosen candidate will also receive excellent supervision from the well-established and well-resourced SLT team. There is access to informal and formal training and CPD opportunities, where learning and sharing is strongly encouraged. We strive for ongoing service development, and participation in projects and audits, and cross-discipline working is highly valued. We are passionate about our team and profession, and actively raise the profile of Speech and Language Therapy.

Please watch our recruitment video to hear more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ZCMlSDW0o

We would be very excited to welcome another passionate SLT into our team!

If you are interested in this post and would like any more information, please email [email protected] or telephone 01322 428593 to discuss the post further. You are also welcome to visit the Department. We would be very pleased to hear from you.

Person specification

Education and Training

Essential criteria

Recognised Speech & Language Therapist degree qualification or equivalent
Health and Care Professions Council – Licence to Practise
Registered member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Desirable criteria

Successful completion of postgraduate training in dysphagia
Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses including dysphagia

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working with adult clients with a range of communication and swallowing difficulties
Experience working in a hospital setting

Desirable criteria

Completion of Kings Dysphagia Supervision Schedule or equivalent
Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to client group
Knowledge of range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group
Awareness of standards of clinical record keeping
Working knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and audit and their application to professional practice

Desirable criteria

Publication in appropriate journals, etc
Proficient use of computer packages such as word, excel, publisher

Our staff are our most valuable asset. We are committed to making staff feel appreciated, supported and included in the Trust’s successes. Our mission is to be an outstanding place to work providing the very best care for our patients and excellent career opportunities for our staff. Everything we do is guided by our core values and behaviours, identified by our staff and embedded throughout the organisation.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement

We have the highest CQC rating of all Acute NHS Trusts in Kent and Medway (Good). The CQC highlighted that managers promoted a positive culture that supported, valued staff and created a sense of common purpose based upon shared values.

The Trust is a great place to work, stay, develop a career and enjoy a healthy work life balance. We have made and are delivering on a wide range of commitments to staff; health and wellbeing; equality; diversity and inclusion; access to education and career development. During 2020 we sett up quality councils, driven by our staff to create a culture of shared governance and quality improvement.

We have a strong focus on innovation and improvement. Part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ (GSTT) ‘Healthcare Alliance’ we are introducing new models of care to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Our association with GSTT also gives staff wishing to develop their skills excellent opportunities to work across numerous specialities.

As our local population increases, our services and skills are expanding and adapting to meet demand. We are continuously looking at best practice models to enhance and improve the services we offer.

The Trust provides services at Darent Valley Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital, for a local population of over 500,000 people.

If you would like to be part of our innovative and forward thinking team putting patients at the centre of all we do, we invite you to #joinourfamily.

The NHS are striving towards “we work flexibly” as a workforce, we want to ensure that you can work in a way that is best for us, our patients, and importantly for you. We offer many flexible working opportunities, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement for you and if it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Please note this vacancy may close earlier than stated to aid efficient processing of applications. To ensure your application will be considered please submit it at your earliest convenience. If you have not heard from us within 21 days of the closing date please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

Please note, that due to the limited number of car parking spaces, car parking permits will be allocated subject to compliance with the Trusts eligibility criteria and availability of spaces. Permit holders are not guaranteed a car parking space.

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is a smoke free organisation. To improve public health smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere on the hospital site.

Mindful employer. Being positive about mental health.

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

Please be aware the vacancy may close once we have received sufficient numbers of applications.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: George Baddeley
Job title: Stroke SLT Team Lead
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 01322 428593

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Job summary

Employer heading

Developing Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Band 5

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Education and Training

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Application numbers

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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