We are inviting expressions of interestfor a 12-month secondment cover as an Advanced Speech & Language Therapist within the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service (High Weald, Lewes and Havens Locality).
The post holder will work at the very forefront ofcommunity healthcare and will work alongside multi-disciplinary leads to deliver services that support skill sharing across professions and reduce avoidable harm because of dysphagia-related ill health.
The position will be based primarily at Uckfield Community Hospital. However, the post holder will be required to travel across East Sussex, surrounding areas and to other Trust sites, therefore the post holder will need a full driving license and access to a vehicle.
The post holder will provide a triage, assessment and treatment service for patients living with dysphagia and/or communication difficulties.
The post holder will also deputise for the Team Lead to support a team comprising of: Speech & Language Therapists; Clinical Support Worker and Team Administrator.
The successful candidate will have a proven track record and experience in:
• Leading clinical and non-clinical teams
• Service and pathway development
• Implementing new virtual models of service delivery
• Autonomously managing high-levels of demand and clinical risk in a community-setting
• Reporting, investigating and managing adverse incidents.
If you are a highly experienced Band 6 Speech & Language Therapist looking to broaden your experience and support the leadership of a team ofpassionate clinical and non-clinical staff, then we would welcome a discussion with you.
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 2023 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.
a) To independently prioritise, organise and manage a caseload, including complex cases
b) To provide highly specialist evidence based intervention and evaluate clinical outcomes to ensure clinical effectiveness
c) To use highly specialist knowledge and be an expert resource for the team and wider SLT service
d) To manage service delivery for daily operations, seeking support and guidance from the Deputy Operational Head of Service as required.
e) To monitor demand and capacity within designated area, to ensure sufficient resources are available to maintain service delivery.
f) To have direct contact with patients through assessment or treatment as required to support the service.
g) To work with clinical leads to monitor performance, collect and analyse data, develop practice and standards of care.
h) To manage personal and budgetary processes (including; recruitment, EPRF, expenses approval, absence management, process orders).
i) To be responsible for ensuring effective induction for all staff within the area of responsibility and relevant students.
j) To maintain own professional competence to practice.
k) To ensure that all activity is person centred and MDT focussed.
l) To use advanced skills and expert knowledge to ensure that care is based on best available evidence to improve health outcomes and promote health and wellbeing of patients.
m) To act as professional role model for designated service area and uphold the Trust Values at all times.
n) To ensure all staff work to appropriate competency frameworks and manage performance of individuals through the appraisal and supervision process.
See job description for further details on the role.
This advert closes on Thursday 27 Mar 2025