Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS seeks a Speech and Language Therapist to lead and supervise a team within the Autism assessment service. The role involves providing high-quality assessments and clinical leadership, ensuring service excellence for young patients with autism and related needs. Join a dedicated team in a supportive environment focused on career development and innovation.

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge in assessing children with autism spectrum conditions.
• Experience in working with Paediatric Dysphagia.
• Supervisory experience with speech and language therapy teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead assessments for young people in autism spectrum assessment.
• Provide clinical leadership for the speech & language therapy team.
• Ensure communication with families and professionals.

Skills

Assessment skills

Clinical leadership

Communication skills

Team management

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Postgraduate training in Paediatric Dysphagia

HCPC Registered Speech and Language Therapist

Tools

CELF-5

TALC

ACE

Job description

Job summary

To lead a team of specialist speech and language therapists as part of the Autism assessment service alongside the Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Speech and Language Therapy.

The main role of this team is to provide a high-quality speech and language assessment service for children suspected of having an autism spectrum condition, both pre-school and school-age (up to 18 years of age). As well as completing assessments, this role will include supervision of a team of band 6 speech & language therapists, in close conjunction with the Advanced Clinical Practitioner and wider multi-disciplinary team.

In addition, this post holder will support the wider hospital trust by performing comprehensive therapeutic assessment and management for infants, children and young adults with Dysphagia while inpatient in the hospital.

Please note that the Children's Speech & Language Service in Plymouth is delivered by Livewell Southwest. While we maintain a close working relationship with this service, this post is within a separate service and is not part of this wider community team.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

To provide an expert speech & language opinion on young people being assessed for a possible autism spectrum condition in conjunction with the wider multi-disciplinary team.

To provide clinical leadership and supervision alongside the Advanced Clinical Practitioner for the speech & language therapy team based within the Community Paediatric service, ensuring the team maintains a highlevel of clinical excellence.

To maintain expert knowledge relating to assessment and support for young people with an autism spectrum condition, sharing this with others both within and external to the team.

To provide clinical expertise in Paediatric Dysphagia for in-patients, including some cover to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. To devise and deliver any individualised management plans and liaise with the community speech and language therapy team for follow up.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details Date posted

02 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year Per Annum, Pro Rata if Part-time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

216-EG-W7212574

Job locations

Child Development Centre, Scott Business Park

Beacon Park Road

Plymouth

PL2 2PQ

Job description Job responsibilities

1. To provide expert assessment for young people being assessed as part of an autism spectrum assessment pathway, forming an opinion on their presentation to be shared with the wider multi-disciplinary team.

2. To use and support the speech & language therapy team in using a range of appropriate assessments such as the CELF-5, CELF-5 Metalinguistics, TALC and ACE.

3. To actively contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings, offering a professional, defensible opinion whilst constructively engaging with and challenging colleagues.

4. To provide clinical leadership for the Specialist Speech & Language Therapists within the community paediatric service, promoting practice development in line with local, regional and national guidelines.

5. To communicate in an appropriate way with children and young people who have a range of special educational needs or disabilities.

6. To ensure clear communication of information, both verbally and in writing, for families and other professionals.

7. Within the speech & language team, carry out regular clinical and management supervision (including supervision around safeguarding) alongside annual appraisals.

8. In collaboration with the MDT, provide appropriate scrutiny and oversight of the autism assessment process, including coordination of aspects of the autism assessment process and chairing of meetings where required.

9. To support the development of the wider multi-disciplinary team utilising expert knowledge relating to autism spectrum conditions and speech & language development.

10. To bring innovative solutions to the team, particularly in managing pressures around waiting times and complex assessments.

Job description Job responsibilities

1. To provide expert assessment for young people being assessed as part of an autism spectrum assessment pathway, forming an opinion on their presentation to be shared with the wider multi-disciplinary team.

2. To use and support the speech & language therapy team in using a range of appropriate assessments such as the CELF-5, CELF-5 Metalinguistics, TALC and ACE.

3. To actively contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings, offering a professional, defensible opinion whilst constructively engaging with and challenging colleagues.

4. To provide clinical leadership for the Specialist Speech & Language Therapists within the community paediatric service, promoting practice development in line with local, regional and national guidelines.

5. To communicate in an appropriate way with children and young people who have a range of special educational needs or disabilities.

6. To ensure clear communication of information, both verbally and in writing, for families and other professionals.

7. Within the speech & language team, carry out regular clinical and management supervision (including supervision around safeguarding) alongside annual appraisals.

8. In collaboration with the MDT, provide appropriate scrutiny and oversight of the autism assessment process, including coordination of aspects of the autism assessment process and chairing of meetings where required.

9. To support the development of the wider multi-disciplinary team utilising expert knowledge relating to autism spectrum conditions and speech & language development.

10. To bring innovative solutions to the team, particularly in managing pressures around waiting times and complex assessments.

Person Specification KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE Essential

• Proven knowledge and demonstrable experience of completing assessment with young people who have, or may have, an autism spectrum condition
• Ability to use, and interpret the results from, a range of speech & language assessment tools or batteries
• Specialist proven knowledge and demonstrable experience working with Paediatric Dysphagia in acute and community paediatrics.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering care through a virtual format, reflecting experiences through the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Demonstrable experience in being part of a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approach to children with SEND
• Demonstrable experience of line managing and clinically supervising speech & language therapy colleagues and students
• Proven knowledge and understanding of care pathways to facilitate appropriate referrals
• Proven knowledge of clinical governance and risk
• Proven evidence of CPD in relevant areas of specialism

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of conducting audits/research
• Demonstrable experience of setting up new projects/initiatives/care pathways
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks

QUALIFICATIONS Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Proven evidence of Postgraduate/Basic training in Paediatric Dysphagia, making reference to the relevant RCSLT competency frameworks.
• HCPC Registered Speech and Language Therapist
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Supervisory/leadership skills training
• Proven knowledge of alternative communication modalities such as Makaton, PECS and Intensive Interaction

Desirable

• Masters level/equivalent qualification in Autism and/or Paediatric Dysphagia
• Videofluoroscopy training or be able to prove competency
• Competency in the management of tracheostomy patients

OTHER FACTORS Essential

• Ability to travel from place to place to deliver service needs
• Ability to lone work

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION Essential

• Ability to work well within a busy environment, accept delegated tasks from manager, work to deadlines and manage a dynamic workload
• Ability to cope with change and proactively engage with this
• Ability to problem solve and demonstrate sound clinical reasoning
• Mature and friendly personality with the ability to influence and motivate others within the team
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and committed

APTITUDE & ABILITIES Essential

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate and present information orally and in writing in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to build working relationships with peers and multi-agency professionals
• Highly developed presentation skills and ability to present to professionals at all levels
• Ability to undertake audit and to use the results to develop clinical practice
• Excellent organisational skills
• Competent IT skills
• Ability to work flexibly, prioritise and manage time effectively

Person Specification KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE Essential

• Proven knowledge and demonstrable experience of completing assessment with young people who have, or may have, an autism spectrum condition
• Ability to use, and interpret the results from, a range of speech & language assessment tools or batteries
• Specialist proven knowledge and demonstrable experience working with Paediatric Dysphagia in acute and community paediatrics.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering care through a virtual format, reflecting experiences through the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Demonstrable experience in being part of a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approach to children with SEND
• Demonstrable experience of line managing and clinically supervising speech & language therapy colleagues and students
• Proven knowledge and understanding of care pathways to facilitate appropriate referrals
• Proven knowledge of clinical governance and risk
• Proven evidence of CPD in relevant areas of specialism

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of conducting audits/research
• Demonstrable experience of setting up new projects/initiatives/care pathways
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks

QUALIFICATIONS Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Proven evidence of Postgraduate/Basic training in Paediatric Dysphagia, making reference to the relevant RCSLT competency frameworks.
• HCPC Registered Speech and Language Therapist
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• Supervisory/leadership skills training
• Proven knowledge of alternative communication modalities such as Makaton, PECS and Intensive Interaction

Desirable

• Masters level/equivalent qualification in Autism and/or Paediatric Dysphagia
• Videofluoroscopy training or be able to prove competency
• Competency in the management of tracheostomy patients

OTHER FACTORS Essential

• Ability to travel from place to place to deliver service needs
• Ability to lone work

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION Essential

• Ability to work well within a busy environment, accept delegated tasks from manager, work to deadlines and manage a dynamic workload
• Ability to cope with change and proactively engage with this
• Ability to problem solve and demonstrate sound clinical reasoning
• Mature and friendly personality with the ability to influence and motivate others within the team
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and committed

APTITUDE & ABILITIES Essential

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate and present information orally and in writing in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to build working relationships with peers and multi-agency professionals
• Highly developed presentation skills and ability to present to professionals at all levels
• Ability to undertake audit and to use the results to develop clinical practice
• Excellent organisational skills
• Competent IT skills
• Ability to work flexibly, prioritise and manage time effectively

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Child Development Centre, Scott Business Park

Beacon Park Road

Plymouth

PL2 2PQ

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Child Development Centre, Scott Business Park

Beacon Park Road

Plymouth

PL2 2PQ

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)