East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Clinical Lead - Speech and Language Therapy

The closing date is 29 July 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for a new post that will give you the opportunity to further develop your acute sector and team management skills?

Would you like the opportunity to be involved in service developments and planning having the time to enhance your leadership and operational skills?

Would you like to be instrumental in the development of the B5 rotation SLTs?

Would you like protected time for your CPD with monthly clinical forums, regular clinical supervision, support to attend relevant CENs and external training opportunities?

Would you like to be part of a county wide acute and community SLT service managed and professionally led by a practicing SLT?

If so, East Sussex may have the opportunity you are looking for. This post will give you the chance to develop new or existing skills in dysphagia management within the acute setting. We have an excellent relationship with our medical colleagues and SLT is highly valued throughout the trust. We are also very fortunate to have a wonderful relationship with our ENT consultants who have helped us to develop our FEES service for inpatients and outpatient clinics. We also run weekly SLT led videofluoroscopy clinics on both of our acute sites.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an enthusiastic therapist who has completed their post basic dysphagia training, has a sound level of experience at working independently in this setting and is looking to further develop these skills at an advanced level. Supporting less experienced therapists, assistants and students will be an exciting element of this role. You will have the opportunity to work alongside highly specialist clinicians in voice, head and neck cancer, stroke, rehabilitation and neurological degenerative conditions to further develop your knowledge and skills.

You will be joining a friendly and enthusiastic team of acute and community SALTs who work seamlessly to provide pathways of care to the local adult population, in line with organisational and Divisional objectives.

We are proactive in research and service development and staff are encouraged to attend postgraduate courses/ RCSLT CENs. We have close links with the local School of Healthcare Professions at the University of Brighton and other universities.

East Sussex is an exciting place to live with Brighton and London within easy reach. The Sunshine coast is beautifully tranquil and for the more adventurous the Downs offer hiking, mountain biking and paragliding

About us

We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work

We provide safe, compassionate and high quality care to half a million people living or visiting East Sussex. We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex, the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. Our extensive services are provided by 7000 + members of staff working from acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites and in people's own homes.

In 2020 the Care Quality Commission rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being caring and effective. The Conquest Hospital and our Community Services are rated 'Outstanding'. Eastbourne DGH rated 'Good'.

In 2020, the Trust launched its ambitious 'Building for our Future' programme. This once in a lifetime programme aims to repair, redevelop and expand our hospitals, transforming the environment in which we provide care for generations to come.

Details

Date posted

24 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

374-KN256

Job locations

Conquest/EDGH - cross site working

.

BN21 2UD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Person Specification

Qualification and Training

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification of equivalent
  • Health Professionals Council - Licence to Practice
  • Registered Member of Royal college of Speech and Language Therapists
  • completion of specialist short courses in communication disorders/AAC
  • Dysphagia trained, meeting the specialist RCSLT dysphagia competency framework

Desirable

  • Training in Clinical Supervision
  • FEES Training
  • Videofluoroscopy training
  • Tracheostomy training

Experience

Essential

  • Advanced experience within specialist area
  • Managing complex dysphagia at a specialist level
  • Experience of training other professionals
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision
  • Experience of developing, providing and evaluating training programmes to other professionals
  • Experience of managing complex caseload and ongoing service development work
  • Experience of supporting staff through complex, emotionally traumatic events

Desirable

  • Experience of participation in service development and clinical governance initiatives
  • Experience of leading and co-ordinating an area of SALT service
  • Experience of working in critical care with tracheostomies
  • Experience of independently running videofluroscopy clinics
  • Experience of independent assessment and analysis using FEES

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

Essential

  • Well-established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
  • Well-established knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group)
  • Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
  • Knowledge of record keeping standards
  • Awareness of the wider context of the NHS within specialist clinical field
  • In-depth knowledge of the national agenda for clinical specialty
  • Understanding of the roles of other professionals within an inter-agency context
  • Excellent interpersonal skills - including observational, listening, empathy and ability to work as part of a team
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
  • Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills
  • Keyboard Skills
  • Systmone

Desirable

  • Competencies evidenced in: Tracheostomy management, Videofluoroscopy, FEES

Other

Essential

  • Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
  • To be able to move between locations in a cost effective and timely manner
Person Specification

Qualification and Training

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification of equivalent
  • Health Professionals Council - Licence to Practice
  • Registered Member of Royal college of Speech and Language Therapists
  • completion of specialist short courses in communication disorders/AAC
  • Dysphagia trained, meeting the specialist RCSLT dysphagia competency framework

Desirable

  • Training in Clinical Supervision
  • FEES Training
  • Videofluoroscopy training
  • Tracheostomy training

Experience

Essential

  • Advanced experience within specialist area
  • Managing complex dysphagia at a specialist level
  • Experience of training other professionals
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision
  • Experience of developing, providing and evaluating training programmes to other professionals
  • Experience of managing complex caseload and ongoing service development work
  • Experience of supporting staff through complex, emotionally traumatic events

Desirable

  • Experience of participation in service development and clinical governance initiatives
  • Experience of leading and co-ordinating an area of SALT service
  • Experience of working in critical care with tracheostomies
  • Experience of independently running videofluroscopy clinics
  • Experience of independent assessment and analysis using FEES

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

Essential

  • Well-established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
  • Well-established knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group)
  • Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
  • Knowledge of record keeping standards
  • Awareness of the wider context of the NHS within specialist clinical field
  • In-depth knowledge of the national agenda for clinical specialty
  • Understanding of the roles of other professionals within an inter-agency context
  • Excellent interpersonal skills - including observational, listening, empathy and ability to work as part of a team
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
  • Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills
  • Keyboard Skills
  • Systmone

Desirable

  • Competencies evidenced in: Tracheostomy management, Videofluoroscopy, FEES

Other

Essential

  • Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
  • To be able to move between locations in a cost effective and timely manner

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Conquest/EDGH - cross site working

.

BN21 2UD


Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Conquest/EDGH - cross site working

.

BN21 2UD


Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Service

Laura Jones

laura.jones39@nhs.net

03001315318

Details

Date posted

24 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

374-KN256

Job locations

Conquest/EDGH - cross site working

.

BN21 2UD


Supporting documents

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