Children and Young People's Speech and Language Therapist

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK seeks a Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist to join their team. You'll manage a caseload of children with speech and language needs, ensuring they receive the appropriate care. The role offers flexible hours, mentoring, and a DBS check coverage. Ideal for newly qualified therapists or those returning to practice. Join us in making a difference in the lives of our communities.

Benefits

Mentoring and peer supervision

Access to clinical lead specialists

Formal and informal training opportunities

Qualifications

• Newly qualified or experienced SLTs welcome.
• Enhanced DBS check required; Trust covers cost.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of children and young people with communication needs.
• Conduct assessments and provide therapy interventions.
• Collaborate with families and professionals in various settings.

Skills

Communication

Assessment skills

Team collaboration

Education

Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist or equivalent

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust. Are you newly qualified or an experienced Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist, or hoping to return to practice? We are recruiting Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists to join our Children and Young People’s Speech and Language Therapy service on the South-West coast in Dorset. We are transitioning to a new speech, language and communication pathway for Dorset based on the Balanced System Framework, aiming to give all children the right input at the right time in collaboration with Education and Children's Centre Partners.

As a Speech and Language Therapist you will work with a caseload of children and young people (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs including Developmental Language Disorder, Dysfluency, Selective Mutism, Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia, Autism Spectrum Condition, Complex Needs, Speech Disorder and Speech and Language delay. You will be involved in clinical care and decision-making including assessment, diagnosis, advice and therapy interventions and will collaborate with children, their family and other professionals in settings such as schools, pre-schools, clinics, children’s centres and sometimes at home.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of children and young people (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs.
• Conduct assessments, provide diagnoses, give advice and deliver therapy interventions.
• Collaborate with children, families and other professionals in diverse settings (schools, pre-schools, clinics, children’s centres, and home visits).
• Support transition to the new Dorset pathway within the Balanced System Framework.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist or equivalent; applications from newly qualified SLTs welcome.
• Potential for return-to-practice pathways with paid opportunities and progression to Band 5 on meeting competencies.
• Enhanced DBS check required; Trust covers DBS cost. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service can present a valid certificate.
• Eligibility to work in the UK (note: applications requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are ineligible).
• Flexible working around core hours; secondment arrangements may apply for current NHS staff—please obtain release before applying.

Additional Information

We offer: mentoring and peer supervision; regular 1:1 supervision with team lead; access to clinical lead specialists; opportunities for formal and informal training; involvement in service improvement projects; bi-annual whole-service training and development days.

We welcome applications from newly qualified nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, with a comprehensive and fully supported Preceptorship Programme for newly qualified healthcare professionals. We also welcome SLTs wishing to return to practice with paid Return to Practice opportunities and progression to Band 5 on competency achievement.

Employment requires an Enhanced DBS check. The Trust will cover the DBS cost. If you subscribe to the DBS update service, you may present a valid DBS certificate instead of a new check.

This is a fixed-term role; for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.

About Dorset HealthCare

We are a dynamic, forward-looking Trust with 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for almost 800,000 people. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and aim to provide outstanding, joined-up healthcare. Our workforce of around 7,000 colleagues are encouraged to be their best and to make a difference in our communities.

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role, please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application, please reflect the criteria in these documents in your supporting statement, showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare is working with The Prince’s Trust to support people getting into work; we offer an employability service to support individuals aged 16-30 with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know someone who would value this support, please contact [e-mail].

This advert closes on Thursday 18 Sep 2025.