Lead Speech and Language Therapist (Adult Learning Disabilities) | East London NHS Foundation Trust

Company:	East London NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£55,524 - £62,652 per annum pro rata Inc outer London HCAs
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Stratford, London, E15 4LY
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	16 Oct 2026
Closing date:	15 Nov 2026

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Summary

We are looking for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to provide12 months maternity coverhere at the Newham Health Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities. 

We are a proactive, friendly adult LD team who cover the compact borough of Newham. We work mainly with people with severe-profound LD and provide dysphagia and communication assessments and interventions. We provide training and work closely with our MDT colleagues in the community.

The position is available for 12 months from December 2026 until December 2027.

This could be an opportunity for an experienced lead SLT or a developing SLT as we have support available from the Team Deputy Manager (who is an SLT) as well as strong links with other ELFT LD teams. Dysphagia experience is required for this post. 

 

 

 

 

To provide clinical leadership, supervision and professional development support for the team's band 6 Speech and Language Therapists and band 4 Therapy assistant. 

To provide expert advice and highly specialist speech and language therapy assessment and intervention for adults with learning disabilities and their carers/families.

Highly specialist assessment and advice on feeding / dysphagia and management of complex cases.

To ensure that speech and language therapy input reflects current best practice and is evidence-based.

To collate both quantitative and qualitative information regarding speech and language therapy referrals, interventions and outcomes and use this information to inform service development.

To be actively involved in service development initiatives both within the LD team and in the wider context providing an expert speech and language therapy perspective.

To promote integrated and collaborative working both within and across LD teams, ELFT and with external providers.

To work closely with Deputy team Manager (SLT), Team Manager, other Lead Clinicians within the team; Primary and Secondary health services; social care teams, and other organisations  that support people with learning disabilities.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

JOB TITLE:

Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist (Highly Specialist)

BAND: 

7

DEPARTMENT:

Newham Health Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities (NHLD)

 

JOB SUMMARY

 

To independently manage a highly complex caseload of adults with learning disabilities in the community with dysphagia and/or communication needs, leading on training for care staff, parents, health professionals and other outside agencies in the area of dysphagia/communication.

 

To have a highly developed level of clinical expertise and specialist knowledge in working with people with learning disabilities, providing specialist input to clients with Learning Disabilities around total communication needs, and assessing, diagnosing and treating dysphagia.

 

To lead the Speech and Language team within the Newham Health Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities (NHLD), providing clinical and managerial supervision to junior staff.

 

The post is part of the Newham Health Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities. The post holder will be based within the Learning Disability Team, but will be required to consider a Newham wide approach and to work flexibly.

 

 

 

Key Responsibilities

1. Clinical: To provide highly specialist Speech and Language therapy assessment and intervention around communication and dysphagia for clients with Learning Disabilities, supporting SLT and MDT colleagues around these clinical areas

 

1. Leadership: To lead the Speech and Language Therapy team (part of the wider NHLD) and develop the team in line with best practice

 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Patient Care

·        To assess, develop and implement highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) treatment, evaluate outcomes and make highly specialist clinical decisions following assessment of complex cases and write reports reflecting specialist knowledge.

·        To provide highly specialist advice to clients, carers, team members and others regarding management and care of patients/clients with dysphagia and communication.

·        To demonstrate good negotiating skills in case management of complex cases and in the management of conflict across a range of situations

·        To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.

·        To contribute to clinical teams both multidisciplinary and uni-disciplinary by discussing own and others input around client needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan including attendance at case conferences, reviews and other meetings which are central to client care.

·        To provide a service which takes into account the needs of clients from a range of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.

 

Clinical

·      To assess, develop and implement highly specialist Speech and Language therapy intervention and evaluate outcomes for individual clients with communication needs.

·      To write reports reflecting highly specialist knowledge of communication for people with learning disabilities including those with autism and/or behaviours that challenge

·      To demonstrate advanced clinical skills in the management of an in-depth knowledge of dysphagia and communicative skills of people with learning disabilities.

·      To manage and prioritise a highly complex clinical caseload independently.

·      To contribute to multidisciplinary team assessment according to the Newham health team for Adults with learning Disabilities (NHLD) clinical pathways.

·      To develop and evaluate training for carers and team members on SLT interventions in relation to communication and dysphagia.

·      To provide advice and support to clients and carers regarding dysphagia and communication difficulties.

·      To provide second opinions when requested by other colleagues.

·      To develop links for integrated working between agencies in conjunction with the professional and service managers.

 

Administration

·        To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.

·        Share information with others, observing data protection guidelines.

·        Complete departmental statistics and quality evaluation data as required by the SLT and wider NHLD team.

 

Management

·        To lead the NHLD SLT team, providing clinical and managerial supervision to junior staff

·        To be aware of, adhere to and implement SLT and team plans and policies.

·        To contribute to development of interagency and extended multi-disciplinary team working with the professional manager as described in the SLT operational principles and policies.

·        To lead in the fields of communication and dysphagia and act as a resource other members of the SLT service.

·        To develop care protocols for specific clinical issues.

·        To advise Clinical service manager/Deputy team manager on issues of service delivery including shortfalls and service pressures by identifying, collating and providing service information reports.

·        To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate.

 

Human Resources

·        Provide full SLT student placements.

·        Assist in recruitment, induction and supervision of staff.

·        Assist in providing support for students from other professional groups.

·        Explain the role of Speech and Language Therapist to visitors, students and volunteers.

·        When appropriate work with interpreters in order to ensure access to an equitable service for non-English speakers.

 

Performance and Quality

·        To lead in Quality improvement projects relevant to Speech and language Therapy/the wider NHLD

·        To participate in developing innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.

·        To take lead role in area of communication/dysphagia in collating departmental research and providing research data as required.

·        To provide leadership within the team around Communication and Dysphagia.

·        To monitor and evaluate own specialist service delivery and that of others in the specialism and provide progress reports in conjunction with manager.

·        To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries seeking advice where appropriate.

 

Financial and Physical Resources

·        To  monitor stock levels and request equipment as appropriate.

·        To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients.

 

 

 

Job Description Agreement

This job description is intended as a guide to the main duties of the post and is not intended to be a prescriptive document.  Duties and base of work may change to meet the needs of the service or because of the introduction of new technology.  This job description may be reviewed from time to time and changed, after consultation with the postholder..

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       PERSON SPECIFICATION

 

JOB TITLE:

Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist (Highly Specialist)

BAND: 

7

DEPARTMENT:

Newham Health Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities (NHLD)

 

ATTRIBUTES

CRITERIA

ESSENTIAL/

DESIRABLE

SELECTON METHOD (S/I/T)

Education/

Qualification/

Training

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.

 

Registered SLT with Health Care Professional Council

 

Registered Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapist.

 

Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master’s degree and/or equivalent, especially Dysphagia to Intermediate level/Language and Communication difficulties in people with severe learning disabilities

 

Membership of specialist interest group and evidence of CPD to specialist level.

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

 

Desirable

 

 

Essential

 

 

 

 

 

Essential

S

 

 

S

 

 

I

 

 

S/I

 

 

 

 

 

S/I

Experience

 

Minimum 4 years relevant specialist SLT experience post registration

 

In depth experience within specialist areas

 

Experience of training carers and staff teams

 

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

Essential

 

S

 

 

S/I

 

I

Knowledge and Skills

Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills.

 

Demonstrate negotiation and problem solving skills

 

Demonstrate excellent analytical and reflection skills

 

Demonstrate excellent presentation skills both written and verbal

 

Demonstrate excellent organisational skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others

 

Demonstrate prioritisation skills      

 

Demonstrate well established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group   

 

Demonstrates well developed skills in Dysphagia      

 

Demonstrate in depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to adults with Learning Disabilities      

 

Demonstrates well established knowledge of a range appropriate current specialist therapeutic interventions for communication difficulties in adults with learning disabilities   

 

Demonstrate understanding of the principles of clinical; governance/audit

 

Demonstrates knowledge of standards of record keeping

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

Essential

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

 

 

 

Essential

 

 

Essential

 

I

 

 

I

 

I

 

S/I

 

 

S/I

 

 

I

 

S/I

 

 

S/I

 

 

S/I

 

 

I

 

 

 

 

I

 

 

I

 

Other

Demonstrates flexibility

 

Demonstrates enthusiasm/honesty

 

Demonstrates physically fit to meet the demands of the job

Essential

Essential

Essential

S/I

S/I

I

 

S: Shortlisting    I: Interview        T: Test

This advert closes on Sunday 8 Nov 2026

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