Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Co-ordinator of Early Years Speech and Language Therapy

The closing date is 12 August 2025

Job summary

Oxleas is a great place to work. It has been recognised as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Work 2023 by the Sunday Times amongst very big employers. Our staff survey results show that we are in the Top 5 in England and the highest in London for staff experience amongst similar trusts.

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to lead an Early Years and Community clinic team? If so, come and join Bexley Children's Speech & Language Therapy service!

You will have a clinical SLT specialism within Early Years and a proven track record in planning and delivering Early Years Speech and Language services as well as contributing to service- level strategic and operational planning.

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is a vibrant and diverse organisation, with established values:We're Kind, We're Fair, We Listen, We Care. Located within reach of the Kent countryside and central London. The post attracts Outer London pay weighting.

For more information about the position, please call 020 30040092, to speak to Jo Copp Early Years & Community Clinics Co-Ordinator (current postholder) and/or Paula Johnson, Ops Manager for Bexley Therapies/Music Therapy (mob 07771 988477).

Please note that applications from overseas candidates are welcome.

Oxleas NHS Trust operates a Probationary Period, further details are available on request.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide leadership to the Early Years and Community Clinic Service in Bexley ensuring continued and co-ordinated service delivery and development of clinical provision and inter-agency, local partnership working with local partners.

The post holder will be responsible for operational, day to day management of the Early Years and Community Clinic Service and alongside Service Lead, in the strategic direction of the Early Years and Community Clinic Service.

The post holder will work closely with the Service Lead, Coordinator of the School-aged service, Coordinator of Special Schools, as well as the Head of Therapies, Bexley.

In addition, the post holder will provide highly specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention to children, supporting families and other professionals in all issues related to client management.

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

29 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,631 to £68,623 a year pro rata pa inc

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

277-7366473-CYP

Job locations

Erith Hospital

Bexley

DA8 3EE


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide leadership to the Early Years and Community Clinic Service in Bexley ensuring continued clinical service development. To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence-based practice. To contribute to the strategic Bexley Childrens Speech and Language Therapy Service plan, working with the Service Manager and coordinating with senior and team leads. To work effectively within a multidisciplinary team for assessment, care, and provision, planning and implementation. To work in partnership with parents /carers and education staff, to support them to develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence with regard to developing independence and management of the childs/young persons communication skills. To take a lead on the development of projects relating to services to EY provision ensuring that these support national policies and priorities and the priorities of the organisation. To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT professional, national and local clinical guidelines. To provide second opinions/advice to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field. To provide highly specialist advice to others regarding the management and care of children and young people with communication difficulties. To demonstrate a sound working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice. To demonstrate advanced skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload and workload management of self and others. To maintain knowledge of statutory requirements for the delivery of care, including but not restricted to Safeguarding; SEND and Education Health Care Plans; Consent and Capacity.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide leadership to the Early Years and Community Clinic Service in Bexley ensuring continued clinical service development. To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence-based practice. To contribute to the strategic Bexley Childrens Speech and Language Therapy Service plan, working with the Service Manager and coordinating with senior and team leads. To work effectively within a multidisciplinary team for assessment, care, and provision, planning and implementation. To work in partnership with parents /carers and education staff, to support them to develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence with regard to developing independence and management of the childs/young persons communication skills. To take a lead on the development of projects relating to services to EY provision ensuring that these support national policies and priorities and the priorities of the organisation. To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT professional, national and local clinical guidelines. To provide second opinions/advice to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field. To provide highly specialist advice to others regarding the management and care of children and young people with communication difficulties. To demonstrate a sound working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice. To demonstrate advanced skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload and workload management of self and others. To maintain knowledge of statutory requirements for the delivery of care, including but not restricted to Safeguarding; SEND and Education Health Care Plans; Consent and Capacity.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
  • Health Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
  • Registered member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree equivalent
  • Successful completion of management short courses

Experience

Essential

  • Relevant experience of co-ordinating service delivery and leading a team in service area
  • Relevant and in-depth highly specialist experience post qualification within specialist area/area of service delivery.
  • Evidence of management skills
  • Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
  • Able to synthesise and present complex information at a service level
  • Prioritisation skills
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Demonstrates leadership skills as well as the ability to be a good team member
  • Demonstrates resilience and ability to work in challenging conditions/ situations
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
  • Health Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
  • Registered member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapy
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree equivalent
  • Successful completion of management short courses

Experience

Essential

  • Relevant experience of co-ordinating service delivery and leading a team in service area
  • Relevant and in-depth highly specialist experience post qualification within specialist area/area of service delivery.
  • Evidence of management skills
  • Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
  • Able to synthesise and present complex information at a service level
  • Prioritisation skills
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Demonstrates leadership skills as well as the ability to be a good team member
  • Demonstrates resilience and ability to work in challenging conditions/ situations

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

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Erith Hospital

Bexley

DA8 3EE


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Erith Hospital

Bexley

DA8 3EE


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ops Manager Bexley Therapies/Music Therapy

Paula Johnson

paula.johnson4@nhs.net

07771988477

Details

Date posted

29 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,631 to £68,623 a year pro rata pa inc

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

277-7366473-CYP

Job locations

Erith Hospital

Bexley

DA8 3EE


Supporting documents

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