Mainstream Schools Speech and Language Therapist
Driven by our Trust values: Honesty, Empathy, Ambition, Respect; the Trust's vision is to provide high quality care to the diverse communities we serve to make their lives better.
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Our cultural diversity, long term conditions and disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ staff networks are a key part of this commitment, creating positive change and helping build an inclusive culture across the Trust.
Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed - our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
Options for flexible working are considered for all roles within CCS, including job share opportunities, compressed hours, annualised hours, tailored working patterns and more. If you are interested in flexible working, please talk to the recruiting manager for this vacancy.
Job overview
As a result of collaborative working and investment from the Change programme, we are looking for a Speech and Language therapist to join our established community therapy team working within mainstream primary and secondary schools in Bedford Borough.
This is a fixed term post until December 2025.
We need:
Confident, motivated and enthusiastic therapists.
Experience of working in mainstream schools with a wide range of SLCN
Someone looking to develop their clinical knowledge and skills
You will:
Manage a caseload providing targeted, evidence-based assessment and therapy
Work closely with colleagues in Health and education
Participate in training to parents and other professionals around SLC needs
Support junior staff within the service
As a Service we provide:
A welcoming and supportive team
Formal and informal training, including shadowing opportunities
Regular robust clinical supervision and a mentoring system
Regular whole team in house CPD days as well as in service and external courses
Collaborative working with system partners including 0-19 team, Community Paediatrics and education settings
Reflective clinical forums and buddying systems
Regular whole service and locality meetings
Career development opportunities including clinical and professional development
Main duties of the job
The post holders will provide specialist clinical input to mainstream schools.
Working as part of the community schools’ team, you will provide speech and language therapy support to children with a wide range of SLC needs including statutory provision.
You will provide training to enable parents and other professionals to support children’s language and communication needs.
Working for our organisation
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff - who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To independently identify, assess and diagnose speech, language and communication impairments and select appropriate patients and type of therapy for effective treatment.
To make a differential diagnosis based on evidence from assessment, and design appropriate treatment based on analysis of profile of need seeking advice as appropriate.
Be responsible for delivering specialist speech and language therapy input to school age children and young people of all ages, covering a range of disorders of communication.
To provide training to enable parents and other professionals to support children’s language and communication needs.
Make independent decisions about caseload management, including discharge.
To plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical.
To use clinical skills to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues.
Gain extensive clinical experience and expertise to improve and further develop specialist skills through training, support and study.
To have appropriate knowledge or an awareness of low tech AAC, for example PECS.
To have knowledge of and contribute to the EHCP process within the given timescales, including preparing reports with outcomes and targets for the initial report and for annual reviews as required.
To provide second opinions and shadowing opportunities for less experienced colleagues.
To seek out second opinions from more experience colleagues as required.
To make referrals onto specialist services as required, including Health, Education and / or Social Services.
To participate in the development and delivery of training (formal and informal) to others with and without support and reflect on and evaluate training provided.
To contribute to the support of newly and recently graduated SLT Staff.
To support and take part in the induction and training of new staff to the service.
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria- Qualified speech and language therapist
- HCPC registered
- posMember of relevant CENt graduate qualification in relevant area
- Attendance at relevant courses, e.g. language and / or speech disorders.
Experience
Essential criteria- Demonstrates a well-established knowledge of a range of clinical disorders, assessments and appropriate therapeutic interventions in specialist field; including management of children with social communication difficulties.
- Relevant experience as qualified SLT in the specialist field.
- Evidence of high level of specialist knowledge/skills as a result of experience/CPD
- Experience of carrying out supervision and appraisals.
Skills
Essential criteria- Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically.
- Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit
- Demonstrates a positive approach to problem solving
Certificate of Sponsorship
For roles that are eligible for sponsorship, applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker Visa to work in the UK are welcome, and will be considered alongside all other applications. You are strongly advised to visit Check if you need a UK Visa website (Opens in a new tab), and familiarise yourself with what is required which should assist you in your understanding of the process
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. (Opens in a new tab)
UK Registration
For roles that require professional registration, applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new tab)
Our safe recruitment pre-employment checks are undertaken before an appointment is confirmed and may include a DBS check. Where the role requires you to drive, we'll ask you to validate your driving licence online via the DVLA.
In submitting an application, you authorise Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed.
ALL CORRESPONDENCE will be via the e-mail address on your application form. If you have not been invited to interview within 2 weeks of the closing date, you unfortunately haven’t been successful on this occasion, but keep an eye on our vacancies as a job that’s just right for you may appear!