Date posted: 10 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year, per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 846-8117373-UJ
Job locations: The Beacon, Folkestone, CT195DN, United Kingdom

Job summary
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare. Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.

We are seeking dynamic and enthusiastic Children's Speech and Language Therapists to join our friendly and dynamic team in South East Kent (Folkestone and Dover teams). The Children's Therapies service provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy to Children and Young People aged 0-19.

We have a Band 6 SLT job available on a permanent basis within our school years team in mainstream schools, specialist provisions and clinics. This post is suitable for a current Band 6 looking for a new opportunity.

We currently offer a hybrid work pattern for staff with a combination of face to face and virtual working.

Main duties of the job

• Help us deliver 'The Balanced System', working with schools and settings to provide Specialist, Targeted and Universal support for SLCN.
• Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of holistic care linked to packages of prescribed care or identified projects.
• Support in the supervision and development of staff.
• Actively work as a member of the Children's Therapies team to provide high quality care to service users.
• Undertake a range of competent clinical and non-clinical interventions to support the outcomes of the service.
• Act as lead and senior practitioner to support junior staff carry out assessment/reassessments of service users and/or pathways with complex needs across the relevant field.

The successful applicants will join our large Children's Therapies team. We pride ourselves on the support and induction offered to new staff including: regular meetings with a line manager; access to supervision; in-house and external training. We offer regular clinical governance days where all localities come together to share knowledge, skills and CPD experiences. As a Band 6 you will be supported by Band 7 Clinical Leads from both within locality and across Kent.

Candidates will need to be able to drive as we deliver our services in clinics, schools and settings across our locality.

About us
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we've got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent

We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences

We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn't visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission

The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won't involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We'll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both

See where you can go with KCHFT career pathways

Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net, quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Health related degree (SLT) and evidence of relevant post graduate development at Level 6
• Registered health care professional (HCPC registration)

Experience
Essential

• Significant clinical experience in area of practice
• Practical experience in managing health related projects/complex caseloads
• Supporting others (mentor / educator / supervisor ) experience

Desirable

• Experience of leading and managing teams

Knowledge
Essential

• Evidence of continued relevant professional development and implementation in practice within the last 12 months
• Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance to relevant to care setting and its application across health care services

Skills
Essential

• Ability to work effectively with a variety of people at all organisational levels across different sectors including areas of social deprivation
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information to individuals and groups

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address: The Beacon, Folkestone, CT195DN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact: Joint Head of Children's Therapies, Bethan Rivett, bethan.rivett@nhs.net