Highly specialist speech & language therapist - mainstream schools

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A public healthcare organization is seeking a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work with children in schools in Greater London. You will provide therapy, train staff, and support early identification of communication needs. Ideal candidates should have experience in paediatric therapy and a dedication to improving outcomes for children. The role offers flexible hours and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Continual Professional Development

Flexible working arrangements

Innovative and supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Commitment to working a minimum of 22.5 hours per week (3 days / 0.6 wte).
• Experience in a school setting with a varied caseload.
• Evidence-based practice and flexibility in role responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist speech and language therapy to children in schools.
• Train and support school staff and parents in therapy implementation.
• Collaborate with SENCOs to identify and meet children's needs.

Skills

Experience in paediatric speech and language therapy

Ability to deliver training and workshops

Collaboration with SENCOs

Safeguarding practices

Job description

Overview

You will work in close partnership with parents/carers and professionals to provide support at a universal, targeted and specialist level for children, young people and their families. This exciting post will provide a varied opportunity for assessment and intervention for children with a range of communication needs referred into the service. Opportunities to deliver training and workshops to parents and professionals will also be integral to this post. As part of Ealing Services for Children with Additional Needs (ESCAN) the post will involve regular collaborative working with other professionals.

You will be part of a forward-thinking department that provides a range of services and is always striving to be innovative and put research into practice to improve patient outcomes. Developing our team members in their career path is the cornerstone of this. This will be an ideal opportunity for a therapist looking to develop their skills in paediatric speech and language therapy who also has values that align with those of our organisation and is passionate about making a difference to children and young people.

The needs of the communities we serve can change, requiring the service to evolve and develop. The duties required in this role may also change in line with the service, therefore the successful candidate needs to be flexible to accommodate this.

About the organisation

We’re thrilled you are thinking of joining us. With the new Elizabeth line, our trust has never been so well-connected, making it easier to further your career with us. Ealing is a leafy, green and bustling borough in West London with a vibrant, multi-cultural population that shapes a flexible and personalised service. We strive to ensure our team reflects the communities we serve. We keep children and young people’s education, health and well-being at the centre of decision making to achieve the best possible outcomes. Continual Professional Development is central to the delivery of the service and the development of the staff who work within it. The department is a friendly team that embodies the Trust values of Compassion, Respect, Empowerment and Partnership, and is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

The Trust supports vaccination as part of protecting patients, staff and colleagues in healthcare settings.

Responsibilities

• To provide a highly specialist speech and language therapy service to children in mainstream schools who have identified speech, language or communication needs. This role will include primary and secondary schools.
• To provide highly specialist assessment and therapy packages into allocated schools.
• To train and support school staff and parents to implement therapy advice effectively.
• To support schools with the early identification of children with speech, language and communication needs.
• To meet regularly with the SENCO to ensure that school needs are being met.
• To prioritise the safeguarding of vulnerable children at all times.
• To support the service in achieving Key Performance Indicators and maintaining Target Activity Levels.
• To lead on identified audits and service improvement projects for the team/service.
• To lead on identified clinical working groups for the service.
• To deliver workshops for the wider speech and language therapy team.
• To deliver training workshops for parents and school staff.
• To offer joint consultations with other members of the team.
• To jointly lead on developing the quality of the service provided to schools.
• To be responsible for the performance management of identified team members.
• To formally and informally support team members and to support the team leader in leading and developing the team.
• To deputise for the team leader in the day-to-day management of the team as requested.

Requirements and expectations

• Commit to working a minimum of 22.5 hours per week (3 days / 0.6 wte) within the Ealing Speech and Language Therapy team.
• This permanent position offers potential to work with a varied caseload across primary and secondary settings.
• The successful applicant will further develop and consolidate their paediatric SLT knowledge in a supportive environment while learning and advancing skills in paediatric speech and language therapy. Flexible working arrangements and potential split posts may be available.
• Experience in paediatric speech and language therapy, ability to deliver training and workshops, and willingness to engage in service improvement and equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives are valued.
• Evidence-based practice, safeguarding, collaboration with SENCOs, parents, and school staff are essential components of the role.

Additional information

Please show how you meet each criterion of the person specification with illustrative examples in your supporting information. Personalisation is essential to convey individual skills, knowledge and experiences effectively. The organisation discourages over-reliance on AI-generated content. The successful applicant will have contact with patients or service users. We encourage vaccination as part of protecting patients, staff and colleagues in healthcare settings.