What qualifications do I need to work as an NHS speech and language therapist?

You need a degree in speech and language therapy approved by the HCPC and HCPC registration. Most NHS SLT roles start at Band 5 for newly qualified practitioners.

What areas can NHS speech and language therapists specialise in?

NHS SLTs can specialise in paediatrics, dysphagia (swallowing), voice disorders, fluency (stammering), learning disabilities, acquired neurological conditions, head and neck cancer, and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).

How much do NHS speech and language therapists earn?

Under the 2026/27 pay scale, NHS SLTs start at Band 5 (approximately £32,000-£39,000), with specialist roles at Band 6 (£40,000-£48,000), senior specialists at Band 7 (£49,000-£57,000), and consultant SLTs at Band 8 (£58,000+).

Which NHS trusts hire speech and language therapists in London?

Major NHS employers for speech and language therapists in London include Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and more.

Speech and Language Therapist Jobs in London

NHS speech and language therapy posts work with patients who have difficulties with speech, language, communication, eating, or swallowing. Caseloads vary widely by setting: paediatric SLTs may work alongside schools and early years teams, while acute hospital SLTs often focus on dysphagia assessment and stroke rehabilitation. Posts start at Band 5 and can reach consultant level.

31 live vacancies in London · 14 NHS employers · updated hourly

View all NHS jobs in London

Open Positions

£32k - £73k

Salary Range

NHS Trusts

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Working in Speech and Language Therapist roles in London

London has more NHS employers than any other UK city. Roles span major teaching hospitals, standalone specialist centres like Great Ormond Street, community trusts, and mental health providers. High-cost area supplements of up to 20% apply to most posts. For speech and language therapist candidates, this means roles can appear across acute hospitals, community services, specialist teams, mental health providers, and integrated care settings depending on the local NHS workforce mix.

Job Clerk is currently tracking 31 live speech and language therapist vacancies in London from 14 NHS employers. New posts can include permanent, fixed-term, bank, part-time, and rotational opportunities, so it is worth checking both the broad Speech and Language Therapist results and the band-specific pages below.

Recent salary data for these speech and language therapist roles ranges from about £32,073 to £73,496 per year, depending on band, specialist experience, and whether high-cost area supplements apply.

Common work areas

Dysphagia assessment and management (including videofluoroscopy and FEES)
Specialist assessment for voice, fluency, AAC, or acquired conditions
Training families, carers, and education staff in communication strategies
Managing a complex caseload across settings (ward, clinic, community, school)

Typical requirements

HCPC registration as a speech and language therapist
Dysphagia competency (essential for most acute hospital posts)
Subspecialty experience relevant to the post (paediatric, neuro, voice, AAC)
RCSLT membership (recommended but not essential)

Local employers

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Whittington Health NHS Trust
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Bands hiring in London

Current speech and language therapist pages for London include Band 6, Band 7, and Band 5. Use these band pages when you want salary expectations, seniority, and job descriptions narrowed to a specific level.

Local practical context

Most major NHS sites are reachable by Tube, Overground, or bus. Commuting from outer London or the home counties is common, and journey time should factor into shift-based role decisions.

London is the most expensive UK city for housing. Inner London posts receive a 20% HCAS (capped at roughly £5,800-£8,700 depending on band), outer London 15% (roughly £4,500-£5,800), and fringe areas 5%. The zone is determined by workplace postcode, not home address, so two hospitals a few miles apart can fall in different zones. After tax and NI, the net benefit is roughly 65-72% of the headline figure.