Job Opportunity: Join Our NHS Team in the UK with Visa Sponsorship
Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop your leadership skills while relocating to the United Kingdom? Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is excited to offer an exceptional opportunity for a Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist to lead our Community Clinics team at Erith District Hospital. This position comes with certificate of sponsorship, making it an ideal opportunity for international candidates seeking to build their career in the UK’s renowned healthcare system.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and self-motivated Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our dynamic Bexley Children’s Speech & Language Therapy service. This is a unique chance to lead our early years community clinic team while enjoying the benefits of working within the UK’s National Health Service. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in providing specialist care to children with diverse speech, language and communication needs.
Position Details
Job Title: Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, Lead Community Clinics
Employer: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Erith District Hospital, Park Crescent, Erith DA8 3EE, United Kingdom
Salary: £53,751 to £60,651 per year pro rata (Band 7)
Contract Type: Fixed term (18 months)
Working Pattern: Part-time
Reference Number: 277-7156997-CYP-E
Visa Sponsorship Available
We are pleased to confirm that Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is offering certificate of sponsorship for this position. We welcome applications from international job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK. This is an excellent opportunity for qualified Speech and Language Therapists from around the world to bring their expertise to the UK healthcare system and develop their career in a supportive, multicultural environment.
About Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care, care for people with learning disabilities, and mental health care. With over 4,300 members of staff working across 125 sites in the South of England, we are proud of the care we provide and our dedicated team of professionals.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families, guided by our core values: We’re Kind, We’re Fair, We Listen, We Care. We operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, and into Kent, managing hospital sites including Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
As the Lead Community Clinics Therapist, you will provide leadership to our early years community clinic team, ensuring continued clinical service development. You will demonstrate and provide highly specialist knowledge in clinical specialisms underpinned by current evidence-based practice and evaluate outcomes effectively.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Managing complex and highly specialist caseloads independently while planning the workload of other team members. Making highly specialist clinical decisions in the assessment of complex cases and providing expert advice to others regarding the management and care of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
You will manage, lead and provide highly specialist supervision to therapists and assistants working within the early years’ community clinic team and other parts of the service. This includes meeting with parents, children and young people, taking and responding to feedback to develop care pathways and monitor the quality of child and parent information.
Ensuring that children, young people and families are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible is a crucial aspect of this role. You will also take a clinical specialist role in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence for children and young people with SLCN.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
Essential Qualifications:
Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent. Membership of The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) is mandatory. For international candidates, we will support the process of obtaining HCPC registration, which is essential for practicing as a Speech and Language Therapist in the UK.
Essential Experience:
Clinical experience of working with children with specific speech and language difficulties in early years community clinics for at least 5 years. Experience of co-ordinating service delivery and supervising staff/conducting appraisals. Well-established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the client groups.
You must demonstrate flexibility and ability to respond to workload demands as priorities arise, along with highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations and the ability to facilitate these skills in others.
Desirable Qualifications:
Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master’s degree equivalent. Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs). Experience of writing local policies and leading clinical development would be advantageous.
Why Join Our Team?
The Bexley Children’s Speech and Language Therapy service is a dynamic and supportive team that offers many opportunities for developing clinical skills through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). We provide excellent internal supervision and support structures, creating an ideal environment to develop both clinical and management skills while contributing towards operational projects that support service development.
We offer extensive opportunities to work effectively with partners in health, social care and education, providing a holistic approach to patient care. This role offers the chance to make a significant impact on children’s lives while advancing your career in a supportive NHS environment.
Application Process
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and search for reference number 277-7156997-CYP-E. The closing date for applications is 14 October 2025. We encourage international applicants to apply early to allow sufficient time for visa processing and relocation arrangements.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, requiring a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for any previous criminal convictions. For international applicants, from 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Contact Information
For questions about this position or the relocation process, please contact:
Joanna Copp
Early Years/Community Clinic Co-ordinator
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 30040092
We understand that relocating to a new country can be challenging, and we are committed to supporting successful international candidates throughout the process. Our team can provide guidance on registration requirements, relocation assistance, and settling into life in the UK.
Life in Erith, United Kingdom
Erith is located in the London Borough of Bexley, offering excellent transport links to central London while providing a more affordable cost of living. The area boasts good schools, beautiful parks, and a diverse community. With its proximity to London, you’ll have access to world-class cultural attractions, shopping, and entertainment while enjoying the benefits of suburban living.
Professional Development Opportunities
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the professional development of all staff. We offer comprehensive induction programs, ongoing training opportunities, and support for further qualifications. As an NHS employee, you’ll have access to the NHS Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, and other benefits that make working for the NHS an attractive proposition for healthcare professionals worldwide.
Join Our Diverse Team
We value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our trust has been recognized with multiple accreditations including Age Positive, Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold, Disability Confident Employer, HSJ Top Employers, IIP Gold, IWL Practice Plus, MINDFUL employer, Smoke free, Step into Health, Stonewall, and Veteran Aware.
This is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to make a real difference in children’s lives while advancing your career in one of the world’s most respected healthcare systems. If you’re ready for a new challenge and the opportunity to live and work in the United Kingdom, we encourage you to apply today.
Don’t miss this chance to join a supportive team that values your expertise and is committed to helping you succeed both professionally and personally. We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust family.
