Advanced Speech & Language Therapist - Complex Needs

Integrated Care System; Thatcham; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a leading health service as an Advanced Speech & Language Therapist in Berkshire West. This part-time role involves supporting communication for school-age children with complex needs, providing guidance to staff, and enhancing your clinical leadership skills. Be part of a dedicated team committed to innovative and inclusive service delivery.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days' annual leave

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

'Cycle to Work' scheme

Discounts at retailers and restaurants

Supportive staff networks

Generous maternity and paternity leave

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Qualified Speech and Language Therapist, registered with HCPC.
• More than 2 years post qualification experience.
• Experience working with children with complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Planning and managing caseload and interventions.
• Delivering training to education staff and families.
• Participating in clinical supervision and decision-making.

Skills

Clinical knowledge

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Masters degree in relevant area

HCPC Registered

Job description

Advanced Speech & Language Therapist - Complex Needs

Are you a Speech & Language Therapist with experience in school age complex needs? Do you enjoy working as part of a multi-disciplinary team? Do you have experience working in special schools? Are you passionate about working with children, young people and their families? Are you keen to develop your clinical and leadership skills further?

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Special Schools and Physical Disability Resource (PDR) team in Berkshire West.

This Children's Speech and Language Advanced Therapist role is to support the communication of school age children with complex needs in the community.

You would be joining a core team of specialist and experienced speech and language therapists supported by an assistant and an administrator. Our teams are enthusiastic, flexible and forward-thinking, embracing the use of social media to engage with our service users and exploring digital solutions to make us more accessible to children and their families.

Our Children and Young People's Integrated Therapy service (CYPIT) supports children and young people from birth to 19 years of age across Berkshire. We are an integrated therapy service, offering easy access to services through a single point of access and web-based advice via an on-line resource. As a service we are committed to an impact-based model of clinical decision making and co-production of therapy plans and next steps with our families and partners.

Main duties of the job

Whilst based at the West Berkshire Community Hospital, this permanent, part-time post will involve working across a range of schools and resources to work directly with children and to provide guidance to less experienced staff.

In this role as a Children's Speech and Language Advanced Therapist, you will be responsible for the planning and management of your own caseload and interventions, working collaboratively with colleagues from other disciplines. This role will also involve the delivery of training to education staff and families.

As a band 7 therapist, you will actively participate in clinical supervision, clinical excellence and the appraisal process as well as providing support to staff, including caseload management and clinical decision-making.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

Qualified Speech and Language Therapist, registered with HCPC

More than 2 years post qualification experience

Car driver with ability and readiness to travel to multiple sites

Experience in working with children with a range of complex needs.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Caroline Pethick on 07795617511 or [e-mail] who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Interviews are due to be held on 8th August 2025

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• HCPC Registered
• Membership of a clinical excellence group

Continuous Professional Development

• Masters degree in relevant area OR evidence of relevant experience within area of specialism, together with relevant short courses and/or post graduate training within a relevant field
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent relevant post graduate courses

Previous Experience

• Evidence of experience in the field of specialism to a level of indepth knowledge and expertise
• Comprehensive range of supervisory experience
• Contribution to clinical education of less experienced staff, students or assistants
• Experience with assessment / management of complex sensory needs
• Work in special school and / or physical disability resource settings
• Experience supporting tribunals

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• High level of clinical knowledge and skill appropriate area of specialism
• Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
• Ability to provide leadership to other team members
• Efficient, effective and diplomatic communication skills both written and verbal
• Awareness of the commissioning and provider landscape within children's services
• Basic computer literacy

Additional Requirements

• Car driver with ability to travel to multiple sites

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.

£47,810 to £54,710 a yearper annum, pro rata