Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly and supportive Early Years team in the Central Sussex locality on a full-time, fixed-term contract to provide maternity leave cover.

This is an excellent opportunity for a therapist looking to build on their Band 5 or Band 6 experience working with young children and their families within an Early Years service. You will work as part of a collaborative and supportive team, across a range of clinic bases within the Central Sussex area.

As part of our experienced team, you will receive regular clinical supervision , alongside access to well-established professional development opportunities.

Please get in contact with us if you would like to learn more about this role.

Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for managing your own caseload, providing assessment, therapy, advice and training as required. An ability to develop strong working relationships with other health and early years education staff is essential.

About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values-- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details
Date posted: 13 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Per Annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 150-SK2785-PC-A
Job locations: Horsham Hospital, Hurst Road, Horsham, RH12 2DR, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To assess and manage your own caseload of preschool children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder.
• To provide advice to other professionals and parents in order to support the needs of children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder.
• To liaise with other agencies and services e.g. preschools, social care, and voluntary agencies.
• To advise and provide clinical support to other therapists.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Qualification/MRCSL
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Membership of RCSLT

Experience
Essential

• Experience of independently managing a clinical caseload
• Working in partnership with parents, teachers and other carers/support workers
• Experience of working within a relevant specialist area and developing specialist packages of care.
• Inter-agency planning, consultation and working
• Experience of a range of caseload management and prioritisation systems

Skills and knowledge
Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills/oral & written communication
• Competent IT skills
• Well established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to client group
• Well established knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to client group.
• Good negotiation, problem-solving and organisational skills
• Excellent analytical and reflection skills

Other
Essential

• Car owner/driver or suitable alternative

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).

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.

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).

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

Employer details
Employer name: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Horsham Hospital, Hurst Road, Horsham, RH12 2DR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Operational Team Lead, Kate Saunders, sc-tr.saltcentraladmin@nhs.net, 01403620445

Support links
- Privacy policy
- Terms and conditions
- Accessibility Statement
- Cookies
- Help and guidance

© Crown copyright