Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Band 8a Clinical Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to lead our Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service.
This is an excellent opportunity for an inspirational clinical leader who is passionate about delivering outstanding, person-centred care while shaping the future of adult Speech and Language Therapy services. You will combine expert clinical practice with strategic leadership, working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues and senior leaders to drive innovation, service development and continuous quality improvement.
You will lead and support a dedicated team of Speech and Language Therapists, ensuring the delivery of safe, evidence-based care for adults with complex communication and swallowing needs. As the Clinical Lead, you will play a key role in workforce development, clinical governance and service planning, helping to improve patient outcomes and ensure the service continues to meet the evolving needs of our local communities.
If you are a collaborative leader with a passion for developing people, influencing change and delivering high-quality services, we would love to hear from you
Main duties of the job
- Provide clinical and operational leadership for the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care.
- Lead, manage and develop the Speech and Language Therapy team through recruitment, supervision, appraisal, performance management and workforce planning.
- Manage a specialist clinical caseload, providing expert assessment, intervention and clinical advice for adults with complex communication and swallowing needs.
- Promote person-centred care and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, partner organisations and key stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
- Lead service development, quality improvement, clinical governance, audit and evidence-based practice initiatives.
- Contribute to business planning, service transformation and the continuous development of the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service.
- Support the development of staff through mentoring, clinical supervision and ongoing professional development.
- Ensure high standards of clinical practice, governance and compliance are maintained across the service.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to Job description and person specification for outline of skills, knowledge and experience required.
Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate alignment with the Trust’s values - Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment, alongside fulfilling the duties detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification
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.
Person specification
Other
Desirable
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Experience
Essential
- Able to apply a high level of knowledge & skills in clinical setting
- Experience of service delivery in acute and community settings
- Relevant highly specialist experience.
- Evidence of effective leadership
Desirable
- Experience of training students and/or colleagues.
- Participation in audit; research projects; service development
- Post registration experience in a NHS community environment
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits.
- Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group guidelines including knowledge and competency in instrumental assessments
- Understanding the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stake holders.
- Knowledge of clinical governance and its implications for services, including experience of quality issues, research and audit
- The ability to maintain up to date clinical knowledge and skills.
- Ability to effectively manage staff and to undertake appraisals
- Able to make decisions involving complex facts and situations, plus manage / reconcile conflict
- Exceptional analytical skills and a high level of numeracy
- Ability to deal professionally and objectively with distressing/uncomfortable situations, e.g. terminally ill patients, child abuse, providing guidance to team members where appropriate.
- Ability to support the development of business plans and manage budgets within allocated limits.
- Knowledge of diversity issues and ability to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the strategic direction of the local health commissioner and providers
Education/Qualification
Essential
- Speech and Language Therapy professional qualification.
- Registration with Health Care Professions Council
- Registered with RCSLT
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses
Desirable
- Post graduate qualification.
- Membership of relevant Clinical Education Networks
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service with Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust in London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum inclusive of HCAS (pro rata). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 20 Aug 2026.
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