Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and language therapist band 5 learning disabilities Redbridge
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 395-RR067-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Redbridge learning disability health and social care service
- Town
- Essex
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 Per annum plus HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/08/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 25/08/2025
Employer heading

Speech and Language Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 5
Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
Aim of the role:
The expectation of this post holder will be to support their team, department and organisation to achieve the Trust’s Values in their day to day work. These Values are:
● We are Kind.
● We are Respectful.
● We work together with our communities.
The post holder will achieve this by:
The postholder will provide high-quality speech and language therapy services to adults with Learning Disabilities within the community. This includes conducting comprehensive assessments, formulating personalised treatment plans, and supporting individuals with complex communication and swallowing needs. The postholder will work both autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), contributing to service development and improvement.
This role also involves supporting junior staff, students, and assistants while upholding professional and ethical standards in all clinical practice.
Main duties of the job
JOB SUMMARY:
The post holder will work alongside the Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) Lead in the Redbridge Community Health & Social Care Team Fairlop with an Integrated Learning Disabilities Team. The primary role will be in the provision of Speech and Language Therapy services to service users accessing this service. You will work independently on a daily basis with regular support from the Speech and Language Therapist Clinical Lead.
This post also involves regular liaison with other members of the Community Health & Social Care Team Fairlop Learning Disabilities Team, Provider organisations and Mainstream Health Services.
Detail of the role is below:
• To provide assessment, therapy and advice to clients with a range of communication/swallowing
difficulties.
• To organise and run intensive or group treatment for relevant client groups within level of competence
(as assessed by line manager)
• To provide therapy care plans to be carried out by Support staff members, while retaining overall
responsibility for the clients
• To provide written reports and guidelines and undertake appropriate liaison with medical staff, families,
Working for our organisation
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place 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 also 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 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941) pro rata for part time staff.
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
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Leadership
• To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking
advice as appropriate
• To assist in the induction, training and supervision of SALT Support Workers
• To be responsible for Speech and Language Therapy Support Workers and volunteers involved in the
treatment of individual clients or in group therapy and ensure that the service policy for working with
these groups is adhered to
• To explain the role of the SALT to visitors/volunteers/students and assist in the development of
students from other professional groups as appropriate
• To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects
• To collect and provide research data as required
Clinical Skills
• To complete Band 5 Newly Qualified Therapist (NQT) document within acceptable time frame as
designated by supervising clinician and within RCSALT guidelines.
• To independently manage and prioritise own caseload using theoretical knowledge to inform clinical
decision-making. To identify when support / guidance from a more experienced therapist is required.
• To assess, differentially diagnose, treat and/or discharge clients with communication and/or feeding
and swallowing difficulties with appropriate supervision as required
• To ensure regular attendance at supervision meetings to enable Band 5 NQT document to be
completed in line with development of competencies as an independent practitioner.
• To ensure that clients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of care plans wherever possible
• To maintain high levels of professional competence, whilst accessing specialist therapists for second
Opinions / advice where necessary
• To manage and prioritise workload of SLT students and Support Workers working within your area of
management.
• To provide written and verbal reports on designated clients as necessary, accessing support and
guidance from supervising clinician or other therapists, as needed.
• To keep up to date case records in accordance with Professional and Service standards
• To maintain high professional standard of practice as designated by the Royal College of Speech and
Language Therapists and the Clinical Lead for Speech & Language Therapy, including maintaining
Continual professional development (CPD) and registration with the Health and Care Professions
Council (HCPC).
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice, care aims and outcome
measures
• To adapt practice to meet individual patients’ circumstances, including due regard for cultural diversity
and linguistic differences
• To be involved in clinical audit as part of the Community Health & Social Care Team in order to
evaluate service provision and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management
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.
Person specification
Based on person specification
Essential criteria
- Member of RCSLT
- HCPC registered
Desirable criteria
- Some experience working with learning disabilities
Based on person specification
Essential criteria
- Relevant training
Desirable criteria
- Attended relevant training
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
If you require any additional support during the application process please contact [email protected]. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment journey.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- jack Gaughan
- Job title
- Clinical lead speech and language therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07809 100929
- Additional information
Cecilia Matsikidze (Team manager)
Tel: 020 8708 2229Mobile: 07903950131Email: [email protected]
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