Lead Speech and Language Therapist

Recruit by Nature; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Term-time working

One-class caseload

Clinical leadership development

Supportive team environment

Training and shared learning

Job summary

Recruit by Nature in Aylesbury is seeking a Lead Speech and Language Therapist to drive specialist school SLT provision and lead a small team within a term-time service. You will work with children with complex neurodevelopmental needs, shape service planning, supervise staff, and embed therapy into education in collaboration with education and care colleagues.

The role offers term-time working, professional development opportunities, and a supportive environment with potential for leadership

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree and HCPC registration.
• Significant experience with children with complex neurodevelopmental needs.
• Strong AAC and complex communication experience in paediatric practice.
• Strong clinical leadership, supervision and service-development skills.
• Ability to manage a specialist caseload and support EHCP processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead highly specialist SLT provision within the school setting.
• Oversee assessment and intervention for complex communication needs.
• Provide professional oversight and direction for SLT colleagues.
• Develop supervision and workforce learning.
• Manage a one-class caseload and guide AAC assessment and implementation.
• Plan and develop services in line with school priorities.
• Strengthen quality improvement and clinical governance.
• Collaborate across education, therapy and care disciplines.
• Support inclusive, child-centred practice and safeguarding.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Supervision

AAC expertise

Pediatric practice

Education

Speech and Language Therapy degree

HCPC registration

Job description

Lead Speech and Language Therapist - Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22
Shape specialist communication provision as a Lead Speech and Language Therapist in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22. This term-time school appointment combines advanced clinical practice with clinical leadership, reporting to the Head of School Therapy. Working with children and young people with complex neurodevelopmental needs, you will guide SLT delivery, strengthen supervision and help integrate therapy into education within a collaborative transdisciplinary setting.

Employment Type
Permanent, term-time position. Full-time is preferred; part-time may be considered where it fits service needs.

Salary
£47,810-£54,710 per annum full-time equivalent (FTE).
Actual annual term-time salary: £41,925-£47,976. The FTE range is a full-time, full-year comparison, not the amount paid for the term-time contract. Part-time pay is adjusted to the agreed hours. + benefits.

Benefits

• Term-time working
• One-class caseload, protecting time for supervision and clinical leadership
• Scope to shape SLT service planning and clinical governance
• Professional growth and leadership development
• Collaborative education, therapy and care colleagues
• Staff wellbeing support, counselling and online resources
• Training, shared learning and a values-led development framework

Working Hours & Shift Pattern
Permanent, full-time term-time.
Specialist school in Aylesbury, HP22.

• 37.5 hours per week, based at the Aylesbury school
• Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm; Wednesday 8:30am-5pm; Friday 8am-4pm
• Combine clinical service oversight with school leadership contribution
• Work closely with education, therapy and care teams

Job Description
As a Lead Speech and Language Therapist, you will deliver senior clinical leadership and oversight of a specialist school SLT service in Aylesbury. You will support pupils with complex communication and neurodevelopmental needs while helping shape workforce development, quality improvement and clinical standards. This role brings allied health expertise into private education within a charitable specialist school, alongside wider private healthcare and independent therapy services. The emphasis is on communication, inclusion and embedding meaningful therapy outcomes into the school day.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead highly specialist speech and language therapy provision
• Oversee evidence-based assessment and intervention for complex communication needs
• Provide professional oversight and clinical direction for SLT colleagues
• Develop supervision and workforce learning
• Manage a one-class caseload and guide AAC assessment, selection and implementation
• Plan and develop services in line with school priorities
• Strengthen quality improvement and clinical governance
• Collaborate across education, therapy and care disciplines
• Support inclusive, strengths-based practice and neurodiversity
• Maintain safeguarding and professional standards

Essential Requirements

• Visa sponsorship can be considered for the right candidate. Therapists already working in the UK who need a change of sponsor are preferred. Candidates currently overseas are considered only in exceptional cases.
• A recognised speech and language therapy degree and current HCPC registration; appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check
• Significant experience supporting children with complex neurodevelopmental needs
• Strong AAC and complex communication experience in paediatric practice; dysphagia experience is desirable, not essential
• Strong clinical leadership, supervision and service-development skills
• Collaborative communication and commitment to inclusive, child-centred practice
• Ability to manage a specialist caseload, support EHCP processes and attend the Aylesbury school
• Also suitable for: Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist, Lead Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist, Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Company Culture
As a Lead Speech and Language Therapist, you will be joining a school where education and therapy colleagues plan together around children’s participation and independence. The team values inclusive practice, neurodiversity and shared professional learning. Your contribution will extend beyond individual interventions to the systems, supervision and clinical direction that help the wider school deliver consistent support.