Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Wye Valley; Hereford; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

Wye Valley NHS Trust seeks a Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Band 7) for a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover. The post focuses on pre-school autism within complex needs, part-time 30 hours/week, based at the Hereford area Child Development Centre.

The role involves leading a MDT, supporting children and families, and delivering diagnostic assessments for pre-school and school-age children with autism. Close collaboration and service development are expected.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Registered with RCSLT & HCPC.
• Post graduate or equivalent specialist training in Autism.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinician and professional resource for pre-school autism diagnostic assessment.
• Support CYP needing alternative/augmentative communication using communication books and devices.
• Collaborate with parents, carers and MDT; joint appointments with nurses, physio and OT.
• Follow the 5-year Autism Strategy 2021-26 to improve post-diagnostic support access.
• Contribute to Balanced system transformation plan with universal, targeted and specialist offers including training.
• Mentor less experienced therapists and line manage/supervise SALTAs at the Child Development Centre.
• Contribute to policy development and implementation within the department.

Skills

Excellent oral and written comms

Training delivery to professionals and

Digital tools for therapy

Leadership/management experience

Managing large complex caseload

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Registration with RCSLT & HCPC

Autism postgraduate/specialist training

Job description

Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Band 7

Main area Complex needs and Pre-school Autism Grade Band 7 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity cover for at risk service) Hours Part time - 30 hours per week Job ref 229-IC-8302442

Site Child Development Centre Town Hereford Salary £49,387 - £56,515 pro rata, pa Salary period Yearly Closing 15/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) looking for your next challenge? Do you fancy working in the beautiful, rural County of Herefordshire?

An exciting opportunity has become available for a highly specialist, B7 passionate SALT to join the team in the beautiful Wye Valley. This is a 12 month, fixed term maternity leave post for up to 4 days a week.

We are looking for an individual who has experience of working within a Multi Disciplinary Team to provide assessments and support the diagnostic pathway for pre-school & school age children who may have Autism.

The post may also include working with young people with a range of complex communication needs, a large majority having a diagnosis of Autism, up to the age of 19. The WVT Speech and Language Team are striving to make innovative and sustainable solutions in supporting the children and families of Herefordshire. We are interested to hear from therapists with ideas and pro-active approaches to tackling large and complex caseloads.

Applications are welcomed from individuals with established skills in these areas and from those with transferable skills who are enthusiastic about further development.

We look forward to welcoming you to our relatively small but highly committed team.

Informal discussions prior to application are welcome- via the SaLT admin base at Belmont 01432 363975 or email:

• Act as lead clinician and professional resource in relation to pre-school autism diagnostic assessment within the department.
• Providing support for CYP who require alternative and augmentative forms of communication – communication books and devices in the specialist provision school base.
• Supporting the team around the CYP - working with parents and carers and the MDT within schools/health – joint appointments with community nurses, physio and OT
• Working in line with the 5 year Autism Strategy 2021-26 – improving access to post-diagnostic support.
• Working to Balanced system transformation plan – supporting universal, targeted and specialist offer in specialist provision base – including training offer.
• To support and mentor less experienced therapists and to line manage and supervise the work of Child Development Centre based B4 SALTAs.
• To contribute to the development and implementation of policies within the department according to best practice and own area of work which may impact on other departments.

Working for our organisation

Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire NHS FT , the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.

We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care we’d want for our family and friends.

More than 3,500 people work for the Trust – they tell us it’s a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.

We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.

Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: “The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential.”

Our values -Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time…all the time.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered with RCSLT & HCPC
• Post graduate or equivalent specialist training in Autism

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication
• Ability to develop and implement training to professionals and parents/carers
• Knowledge and understanding of use of digital tools to support therapy

Experience

• Proven leadership/management experience
• Experience of managing large and complex caseload independently

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.