Job summary
To provide a clinical and advisory SLT service to pre-school children, some schoolage children and young people with diverse speech, language, and communication needs, including social communication differences/ Autism. To provide a service across community clinics, children's centres and other early years settings. To work as part of an integrated team with Speech and Language Therapy Assistants and SLT colleagues. To participate in multi-disciplinary work with colleagues in health, education, parents / carers.

Main duties of the job
To provide an assessment, diagnostic and treatment service for children referred to the community clinic/early years' service within the Borough of Bexley.

To manage a caseload independently, accessing clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis and to make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment, seeking advice when appropriate.

To deliver care in line with the RCSLT/HCPC professional guidelines and standards.

To demonstrate clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of speech sound disorders.

To demonstrate clinical skills in the assessment of language and communication and deliver individual, paired and small group interventions and parent workshops.

To be responsible for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of evidence-based therapy interventions. To monitor and review the progress of therapy programmes implemented and facilitate modifications of interventions / targets as appropriate.

About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.

We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

• We're Kind
• We're Fair
• We Listen
• We Care

Details
Date posted: 18 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £36,943 to £44,900 a year pa inc
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 277-8223099-CYP
Job locations: Acorns, Childrens Development Centre, Frognal Avenue, Sidcup, DA14 6LT, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The Bexley Childrens Speech and Language Therapy service offers a range of services with specialist teams across EYs, Autism, Deafness, Stammering, Specialist Resourced Provisions and SEMH. We work closely across teams to provide clinical support and second opinions. We also have opportunities to develop training skills to enhance skills and knowledge for staff working with children with SLCN.

There is the opportunity for professional development, and the support of a team of therapists and assistants. You will have access to administrative, managerial and clinical support. Continuing professional development is supported and the development of clinical interests is encouraged.

• To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice from supervisor where appropriate.
• To manage and prioritise a defined caseload independently accessing planned supervision to support the process.
• To manage and prioritise own workload, accessing planned supervision to support this process.
• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers/clinical supervisor.
• To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants, with the support of colleagues.
• To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
• To be aware of and adhere to service and team plans and policies.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
• To supervise the work of assistants/therapy support staff/administration and clerical staff and learning support assistants.
• To explain the role of Speech & Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
• To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate through mentoring, peer support, clinical and managerial supervision.
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
• To participate in the co-ordination, development and delivery of training programmes and information packages for colleagues in health, education, voluntary sector organisations and parents/carers.
• To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clients difficulties and implications of the same.
• To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the clients, carers and colleagues when managing distressing situations such as child protection issues and exposure to terminal illness.
• To develop the ability to manage children with challenging behaviours including the appropriate management strategies.
• To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new 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.

COMMUNICATION

• To communicate effectively and with empathy with the child, parents and carers to impart information regarding diagnosis and/or prognosis, treatment plans and predicted outcomes in an understandable format enabling children, parents and carers to be involved in the decision making process at the beginning of and throughout their care. Utilize specialised verbal and non- verbal communication skills where appropriate.
• To apply advanced interpersonal skills to enable change within complex and multifaceted social/family situations regularly involving multicultural customs and language barriers.
• To impart sensitive advice/information to health, social care and colleagues in education in the overall management of the child presenting with complex problems. This will include the preparation of reports for presentation at relevant Social Care, Educational and Medical Case Conferences including child protection issues, with guidance from senior therapists.
• To respond to the requirements of relevant Education legislation by providing advice as part of any re-assessment process and taking part in Annual and Transfer Reviews as appropriate.
• To write detailed official reports regarding the childs Speech, Language and Communication and the Speech and Language Therapy advice for Education Health Care plans with the support of an experienced therapist.
• To ensure that reports (medical, statutory and legal) adhere to standards as stated by the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and local guidelines.
• To ensure accurate, reliable and contemporaneous documentation of client electronic and manual records and that all administrative processes are maintained according to agreed policies.
• To develop skills in motivating clients and or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
• To deal with initial verbal complaints sensitively in discussion with your line manager, avoiding escalation and attempting to resolve, following the Trusts complaints process.
• To ensure the Trust policies relating to absence / leave are adhered to.

Person Specification
Registration
Essential

• HCPC Registration
• Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy Registration

Qualifications
Essential

• SLT Degree: If student, needs to be finished and working with HCPC by Sept '26.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with children in any setting

Desirable

• Relevant placement / transferrable skills from previous roles

Training
Desirable

• Evidence of short courses

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).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (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).

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.