Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
The closing date is 07 December 2025
Are you looking for an opportunity to develop as a lead in alternative-augmentative communication (AAC)?
We have a post available based in Eastbourne on the beautiful East Sussex coast. Flexible working, part‑time hours and job‑share applications will be considered. We're looking for someone who has a strong clinical interest in AAC and who is looking to grow their skills and ultimately provide leadership for the service in this clinical area.
You will have experience of working as part of multi‑agency teams with children with complex communication needs and we will also provide you with opportunities to extend your knowledge and skills through a co‑produced training and development plan in your first year. In choosing to work here you will become part of a highly successful integrated therapy service. Although based in East Sussex, we are employed by KCHFT which is an outstanding trust.
We believe that the best health care is delivered by multi‑disciplinary teams working together and in partnership to provide seamless care. We have a strong commitment to training and development with robust supervision and shadowing opportunities across the service. Contact Kathryn Burbidge, Operations Manager on 07766 294763 or kburbidge@nhs.net for an informal conversation to learn more about the role and what we can offer you.
Main duties of the job
* To provide leadership on alternative augmentative communication to the Integrated Care Team
* To lead service delivery for 1-2 identified special schools
* To be responsible for managing a complex and specialist clinical caseload and to act as a specialist resource to the Children's Therapies team and other professionals and agencies
* To support the work of SEND including completion of education, health and care needs assessments and occasional involvement in SENDIST appeal hearings as an expert witness
* To be responsible for the supervision of identified staff within the team in collaboration with the Head of Service, Operational Manager and Team Co‑ordinator.
* To contribute to the wider work of the team including initial assessment clinics, referral triage and Therapy One Point.
* To provide leadership to the Team in collaboration with other clinical Lead colleagues.
* To be responsible for ensuring the team provides a high quality and cost‑effective clinical service to CYP and their families in collaboration with the Head of Service, Operational Manager and Team Co‑ordinator.
* To be responsible for ensuring that all team members are working to agreed care pathways. To report to and advise the Head of Service and/or Operational Manager of the teams' development within a specialist clinical area to ensure it is in line with the organisation's business objectives.
About us
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 suit 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. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able 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.
Person Specification
Behaviours
* Consistently puts children and their families at the heart of clinical decision making.
* Values diversity and difference and operates with integrity and openness.
* Uses evidence to make improvements, seeks out innovation.
* Demonstrates commitment to partnership working with a range of external organisations.
Qualifications
* Recognised appropriate therapy degree or equivalent. Health and care professions council licence to practice.
* Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses. Dysphagia qualification.
Experience
* Experience of providing line and/or clinical supervision.
* Evidence of innovative working and supporting change.
* Experience of partnership working with internal and external stakeholders.
* Experience of implementing service re‑design within clinical area.
* Experience of giving presentations and promoting the work of the service/organisation to relevant stakeholders.
Knowledge
* Knowledge of evidence based practice and ability to implement in clinical practice.
* Knowledge of child and adult safeguarding policies and procedures.
* Knowledge and understanding of organisational governance issues and policy.
* Knowledge of current local and national policies relevant to health, social care and education.
Skills and abilities
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
* Ability to motivate and lead staff.
* Ability to negotiate and influence.
* Ability to make decisions and deal with conflict.
* Ability to provide constructive feedback to other professionals.
Personal attributes
* Innovative and willing to meet new challenges and pioneer new ways of working.
* Ability to travel across a variety of sites in East Sussex within a timely manner, full UK driver's licence is required.
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.
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
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