Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full NHS terms and conditions

Relocation assistance

Discounts for local retailers

Well-being services

Flexible working

Job summary

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the Neurodevelopmental Team. You will be involved in assessment, therapy, and multidisciplinary working across city locations including education settings and family homes.

You will have HCPC registration, RCST membership, and experience with ASD, dysphagia or SLI, with opportunities for CPD and supervision.

Qualifications

• HCPC licence to practise and RCST membership.
• Evidence of CPD activities in ASD, dysphagia, fluency, SLI.
• Training in ADOS, NAS EarlyBird and PECS.

Responsibilities

• Identify and plan SLT interventions, including assessment and delivering therapy.
• Provide treatment and evaluate outcomes for complex clients.
• Explain complex information to clients, carers and MDT members.
• Assess, diagnose and treat children with communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties.
• Record and maintain up-to-date clinical notes and input activity into the IT system.
• Share specialist knowledge and provide observation sessions for others.
• Access Highly Specialist SLTs for support as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Autism assessment

Teamwork

Clinical decision-making

Caseload management

Education

HCPC Registration

RCST Membership

ADOS training

NAS EarlyBird

PECS

Tools

Communicate in Print

IT literacy

Job description

Find out more about applying to join Team BCHC.

Join our team

Community services are a key part of the NHS of the future. Be part ofthat future now.Join us and help achieve better care andhealthier communities.

Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Band 6

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 820-8191888-CF

Site Citywide Town Birmingham Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 17/09/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you an innovative Speech and Language Therapist, excited about a new way of working within the NHS? Or interested in Neurodevelopmental Conditions and looking for a new challenge?

• Are you passionate about working with children?
• Do you enjoy the prospect of working in a specialised environment?
• Do you want the opportunity to be part of a friendly and supportive Multidisciplinary Team?
• Do you want to work in a vibrant city with a range of multicultural communities and be part of an inclusive Trust which is keen to reduce health inequalities?

If you are looking for an exciting role, we want to meet you!

Come and join us to work within a fast developing, dynamic and pioneering Neurodevelopmental (ND) Team across the city of Birmingham, working alongside a range of professionals, including children’s therapy, clinical psychology and medical colleagues, education and local authority partners.

We are looking for highly motivated and committed therapists with skills in holistic, client-centred practice, for a post at Band 6.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidates will be offering, evaluating and developing, assessment and support of children with social communication difficulties and profound and multiple difficulties in a multi-disciplinary team. You will offer support to more junior team members and students. You will be trained to use a wide range of standardised assessments as a member of the multi-disciplinary team.

You will have strong clinical and caseload management skills and a passion for working with children with SEND, with a specific interest in the assessment and diagnosis of Autism. You will have proven experience of successfully working with a range of clients, their families and others in order for the child to achieve meaningful outcomes. You will have excellent communication and team working skills. You will be willing to work in a full range of locations across the city of Birmingham, including child development centres, education settings and family homes, as well as undertaking some assessments virtually.

Working for our organisation

IMPORTANT

Be Part of Our Team...

BCHC has more than 5000 staff working across Birmingham and the West Midlands in a wide range of community nursing and specialist healthcare roles. BCHC delivers over 100 clinical services, in people's homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient facilities. We deliver a wide range of services for children, young people and families as well as adults and community services, two community hospitals, services for people with learning disabilities, the internationally recognised West Midlands Rehab Centre and one of Europe’s leading Dental Hospitals and School of Dentistry.

We deliver all of this with a commitment to integrated, personalised care that is rooted in our local communities. We have an ambition to deliver outstanding, integrated care as one of the key NHS providers in the West Midlands.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To identify and plan appropriate SLT intervention including assessment and delivering therapy in groups and one-to-one sessions, in accordance with SLT service agreed packages of care and pathways
• To provide appropriate treatment and evaluate outcomes with a full range of clients including complex clients.
• To use highly developed communication skills to explain complex information from clinical assessment and therapy outcomes to clients, carers and multidisciplinary team members.
• To assess, diagnose and treat children with a range of communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties, making appropriate clinical decisions independently with support for highly complex clients.
• To make differential diagnosis of specialist and diverse cases with access to supervision for highly complex cases.
• To record and maintain up-to-date clinical case notes in line with professional standards and Trust, professional and departmental policies.
• To complete timely, accurate written and electronic records of patient’s care, maintaining service standards and following departmental clinical record keeping guidelines. The post holder will also be required to input activity into the IT system.
• To share specialist knowledge with colleagues at a local level including offering additional specialist experience and providing observation sessions for others.
• To access Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists for support such as second opinions for highly complex cases as necessary.
• To contribute to evaluating and updating packages of care and pathways used within the SLT Service.
• To Identify and access appropriate Continuous Professional Development at least to a level to meet Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Health and Care Professions Council requirements and to practice reflective learning.
• To use keyboard skills to produce customised treatment plans and materials and effectively manage mobile device to access client records, emails and other aspects of electronic communication.
• To manage infection control risks including those from bodily fluids.
• To write reports containing highly complex, confidential and sensitive information which may be used in a legal context.
• To undertake reviews of evidence to underpin current practice.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with this grade of post in agreement with the relevant line manager.

Person specification

Qualifications

• HCPC Licence to practice
• Full Membership of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Evidence of recent relevant CPD activities in specialist area, e.g. ASD , dysphagia, fluency, SLI
• Trained in ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule)
• Trained in NAS EarlyBird
• Trained in PECS

Experience

• Significant experience as a qualified therapist of diagnostic assessment in any one of the following areas: ASD, dysphagia, fluency or SLI as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working as a qualified therapist in a range of pre-school multi-disciplinary settings
• Significant experience of delivering clinical support and supervision to less experienced Speech and Language Therapists and/or SLT assistants
• Significant experience as a qualified therapist of managing a mixed and complexcaseload across a number of settings including Early years settings and clients’ homes
• Demonstrates high awareness of safeguarding issues and processes
• Significant experience as a qualified therapist of successful multi-agency working with families and stakeholders in Local Authority and Health settings.
• Specialist management of a diverse caseload, as a qualified therapist, having provided support to other professionals.
• Significant experience of using augmentative communication e.g. Makaton signing, symbols, communication aids.
• Experience of delivering successful/effective training to other professionals.

Skills

• Able to use evidence base to inform clinical decision-making around complex presentations in specialist clinical area
• Able to work with a range of families in a culturally and socially diverse area
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Able to explain complex ideas in a simple way. Able to write clear reports and notes to a professional standard.
• Able to use signing and communication aids where appropriate.
• IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes e.g. Communicate in Print.
• Able to develop specialist programmes of care & explain them to carers and staff.

Other job requirements

• Is able to deliver a number of contacts across the working week across a range of settings
• Is able and willing to move around the city.
• Is able to carry a variety of equipment between locations safely.
• Is able to work at various heights and locations according to needs of clients

In accordance with UK Home Office requirements, Band 2 clinical and non-clinical roles and Band 3 Non-Clinical roles are not eligible for sponsorship.

Please note that the majority of non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Band 3 - 6) with the exception of those which appear on this list - link , will not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK.

All non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Bands 7 - 9) that meet the prescribed skill level (RQF 6) and salary threshold will be eligible for sponsorship.

The Trust will accept applications from candidates who can evidence their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes.

Disability Confident Employer and Guaranteed Interview Scheme

BCHC offers a guaranteed interview to any candidate who is Disabled, Neurodiverse, has a hidden or long term health condition as recognised under the Equality Act 2010, providing they meet the essential criteria of the job role, as set out in the person specification. We encourage applicants to submit their applications and to request any reasonable adjustments where required.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As part of our ongoing commitment to being a Great Place to Work, we actively foster and support a workplace culture that is inclusive and equitable for all staff, patients and service users.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with diverse abilities, experiences, and perspectives.

We are also dedicated to supporting the career progression of colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds into this role and more senior roles within the Division and the wider organisation.

Promoting Workforce Equality

In response to data held by BCHC which demonstrates that individuals from particular protected characteristics are under-represented, BCHC are striving to redress these imbalances. In order to do this, the Trust is committed to the employment and career development of individuals with these protected characteristics. As part of this commitment and given this under-representation, the Trust guarantees an interview to any applicants from under-represented groups for positions at Band 8a and above whose application meets the essential criteria for the post as detailed on the Person Specification.

The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of people who identify as Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) and welcomes applicants from these communities. Selection will be on the basis of merit. In order to ensure the diversity of our workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.

DBS Costs

Please be aware that all new employees starting work with the Trust will be charged for the cost of their DBS check if it is required for the role. The cost will be deducted from your salary in 3 payments over a 3-month period once you start employment. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to these deductions being made. The charges for the DBS include the administration fee. The total costs are £26.40 for a standard check and £54.40 for an enhanced check. The level of check will be determined by the post you are applying for. For bank Workers the full cost of the DBS check (as detailed above) will be deducted from your pay following completion of your online mandatory training. No payment will be made for your online training until it is all complete and verified by the Temporary Staffing Team. Please note: You will not be able to work any bank shifts until you have completed your mandatory training, and your DBS is in place.

Flexible Working

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) supports a variety of flexible working practices and, where possible (given our range of services and community settings) dependent upon the requirements associated with the role, will actively consider requests made and support these where practically possible. This may include hybrid patterns of working to enable colleagues to request the flexibility of a mixture of home/base working.

In accordance with the NHS People Promise, the Trust is committed to facilitating a healthy work/life balance that is essential to health and wellbeing and to making BCHC a ‘Great Place to Work’. We will be happy to discuss and consider all requests relating to working patterns and hours at your interview so please do ask!

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust acknowledges Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini etc; are powerful tools that can help you in various stages of your job application and how they can be used in certain circumstances during your application process with BCHC. You can read more about acceptable use on our internet pages here

Benefits of working for us:

• Full NHS terms and conditions including extensive holidays, Agenda for Change pay with enhancements
• Attractive relocation payment if you relocate to the local area.
• Discounts for local and national retailers
• Dedicated well-being services for all employees
• Flexible working where possible

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.