Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist | Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Littlehampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Littlehampton is seeking a committed Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to lead the reintroduction of therapy support in a special school. This role involves managing a dedicated caseload, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, and developing innovative therapy practices. The ideal candidate will possess excellent clinical skills and experience in leadership, Autism, and SEMH environments. Opportunities for the professional development and training are provided.

Benefits

Excellent training and development opportunities

Flexible working options

Cost-effective workplace nurseries

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• A degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent is required.
• Experience in managing or supervising a small team would be an advantage.
• Ability to write complex clinical reports.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, diagnosis and management to children.
• Organise caseloads within the designated specialty.
• Lead in the development of innovative practices and projects.

Skills

Excellent clinical skills

Experience in Autism

Leadership

Supervision and management experience

Job description

Overview

Based at a Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) Special School in Littlehampton, we are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Band 7 to lead the reintroduction of speech and language therapy support into the school. The role has a high clinical component and requires excellent clinical skills, with experience in Autism, SEMH and leadership. Some previous experience of supervision and management would be an advantage. There is a strong and supportive Band 7 Speech and Language Therapy network in the locality – and across the wider Trust. The initial focus of the role is to work with the school to understand the needs of the children and adapt the communication environment to meet their needs. This will require training staff, introducing appropriate visuals and targeted intervention groups as well as individual assessments and therapy. The applicant will work in conjunction with the Clinical Leads from Worthing, wider West Sussex localities as well as neighbouring Brighton and Hove. The ideal candidate will be able to write complex clinical reports based on assessment findings, contribute to projects, data collection and strategic developments within the Special School's Pathway, and have a solid understanding of universal, targeted and specialist service offers and how this is managed within a special school environment. Some experience of managing or supervising a small team would be an advantage. The Trust supports staff training and development with opportunities for CPD, including in-house management skills and access to colleagues across West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, and an Education and Training Department for funding external courses and other opportunities for development.

The Trust is the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays. Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, with opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values

Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Responsibilities

1. To provide assessment, diagnosis and management to children within the designated caseloads, providing highly specialist care plans.
2. To provide advice to other professionals and parents in order to support the needs of children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder in specialist area.
3. To organise caseloads within the scope of the highly specialist post advising the Team Lead of shortfalls and difficulties as they arise.
4. To negotiate with parents, carers and other Multi-Disciplinary team members around individual case management, demonstrating compassion and empathy alongside well developed negotiation skills and management of conflict.
5. To be responsible for administration and record keeping conforming to Departmental and Trust regulations concerning the format and security of patient records and the Data Protection Act.
6. To be aware of, and adhere to, legal requirements relating to the provision of a Speech and Language Therapy Service and of procedures relating to Child Protection.
7. To recognise own professional boundaries and seek advice and support as appropriate.
8. To lead in the development of innovative practices, projects and therapy packages in specialist area in collaboration with SLT management team.
9. To participate in the development of Team and Service clinical policies and plans as directed by SLT management team.
10. To provide timely and accurate statistics as required by the Department.
11. To provide appropriate and timely reports and other client related correspondence, according to service standards and requirements of other agencies.

This advert closes on Sunday 14 Sep 2025