Specialist SLT special schools Haringey

NHS; Tottenham; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Whittington Health NHS Trust is seeking a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join our Complex Needs & Special Schools team in Tottenham. You will assess and treat children aged 11-19 with complex communication needs in specialist school settings, working within a total communication approach.

The post offers 37.5 hours per week on a fixed-term 6-month contract. HCPC registration and RCSLT membership are essential, with opportunities for supervision and professional development.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration and RCSLT membership required.
• Experience in paediatric speech and language therapy desirable.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and deliver supervision.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload in specialist schools (11–19 years) with complex communication needs.
• Assess, diagnose and deliver therapy interventions for communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Provide training and support to school staff and families.
• Contribute to service development, audits, and professional development.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and meet professional standards.

Skills

HCPC registered

RCSLT member

Speech & Language Therapy

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Main area Specialist SLT special schools Haringey Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 6 months (During school hours) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 220-WHT-8391497

Employer Whittington Health NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Riverside School Town Tottenham Salary £45,953 - £54,254 per annum inclusive HCAS pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 23/11/2026 23:59

Please note in order to progress your application, your data will be processed by our 3 rd party recruitment providers – North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of Whittington Health NHS Trust.

By applying for this role, you accept in the event you are successful that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which is aimed at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

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If incorrect or misleading information is identified, this may affect the progression of an application, any employment offer, or continued employment. As part of our due diligence, the company may verify the information provided by applicants and take appropriate act ion where necessary.

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Are you a passionate Speech & Language Therapist looking to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with complex needs?

Join our innovative Special schools team, supporting students aged 11-19 across specialist secondary schools. You'll work with young people with autism, learning disabilities, physical needs and complex communication difficulties, helping them achieve their full potential through a total communication approach.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop specialist skills in areas including AAC, dysphagia, autism, language development, speech disorders and safeguarding, with dedicated supervision from highly experienced senior clinicians.

What you'll do:

• Manage a varied and rewarding caseload in specialist school settings
• Deliver assessment, intervention and therapy programmes for communication and eating/drinking needs
• Work collaboratively with families, education professionals and multidisciplinary colleagues
• Support young people through key transition stages
• Deliver training and advice to school staff and carers
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement and clinical innovation

What we offer:

• Full-time role, 37.5 hours per week for a fixed term 6 months contract
• Opportunities to supervise students and develop specialist expertise

If you're HCPC and RCSLT registered, motivated by collaborative working and committed to improving outcomes for children with complex needs, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• Manage a caseload of children and young people (11-19 years) with complex communication, learning, physical and/or autism-related needs.
• Assess, diagnose, plan and deliver speech and language therapy interventions for communication needs and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
• Work directly with students in both individual and classroom settings using a total communication approach.
• Develop, monitor and review therapy programmes, care plans and communication targets, ensuring interventions are tailored to individual needs.
• Support safe eating and drinking practices and provide specialist advice on dysphagia where appropriate.
• Provide training, advice and support to families, carers, school staff and other professionals to promote effective communication and positive outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with education, health and social care professionals as part of a multidisciplinary team
• .Contribute to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) and support students through key transition stages.
• Maintain accurate clinical records, produce reports and meet professional and service standards.
• Participate in service development, clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives and ongoing professional development.
• Support and supervise students, assistants and less experienced colleagues where required.

Working for our organisation

Whittington Health NHS Trust is a progressive and integrated healthcare organisation providing hospital and community services across North London. We are committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care that puts patients, families and communities at the centre of everything we do. Our staff work collaboratively across health, education and social care services to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. We foster an inclusive, supportive and innovative working environment where professional development, wellbeing and continuous improvement are actively encouraged. Joining Whittington Health offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference while working within a diverse organisation that values respect, excellence, collaboration and sustainability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Title: Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist - Complex Needs & Special Schools
Department: Children and Young People’s Services
Base: Special Schools (11-19 years)
Reports to: Lead Speech and Language Therapist, Special Schools

The post holder will provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy services for children and young people aged 11-19 years with complex communication needs, including autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. Working as part of the Complex Needs Team, the therapist will assess, diagnose, plan and deliver evidence-based interventions within special school settings, supporting pupils through key transition stages.

The post holder will manage a defined caseload, develop individual therapy programmes, provide advice and training to families and education staff, and contribute to multidisciplinary care planning. They will promote effective communication and safe eating and drinking practices, maintain accurate clinical records, and work collaboratively with health, education and social care professionals.

The role requires sound clinical judgement, a commitment to professional development, participation in service improvement activities, and adherence to safeguarding, professional, and organisational standards. The post holder will receive regular clinical supervision and contribute to student placements, training, and service development initiatives.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage and prioritise a specialist caseload of children and young people with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Assess, diagnose, implement and review therapy interventions, ensuring care is evidence-based and outcomes focused.
• Support pupils with complex needs including autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and dysphagia.
• Work collaboratively with families, education staff and multidisciplinary professionals to plan and deliver coordinated care.
• Provide specialist advice, training and support to school staff, carers and other professionals to promote effective communication and safe eating and drinking practices.
• Contribute to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments and provide written reports and recommendations in a timely manner.
• Facilitate successful transition planning between educational settings and into adulthood where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate clinical records, outcome measures, activity data and reports in line with professional and organisational standards.
• Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development, peer support and reflective practice activities.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement, audit and research activities within the Special Schools and Complex Needs Service.
• Support, supervise and contribute to the learning of students, assistants and less experienced staff as required.
• Comply with safeguarding, information governance, health and safety, and professional registration requirements at all times.

Person specification

• Degree, Diploma or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy with current HCPC registration and RCSLT membership.
• Knowledge and experience of working with Students who have an SEMH background
• Knowledge and experience of working with Students who have dysphagia
• Experience of working with children and young people with complex speech, language and communication needs, including AAC, learning disabilities and/or physical difficulties.
• Ability to speak an additional language, particularly Turkish or a West African language.
• Ability to assess, diagnose and manage complex communication and dysphagia needs, working collaboratively with families, schools and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of clinical audit and an understanding of clinical governance.
• Degree, Diploma or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy with current HCPC registration and RCSLT membership.
• Experience of working with children and young people with complex speech, language and communication needs, including AAC, learning disabilities and/or physical difficulties.
• Ability to assess, diagnose and manage complex communication and dysphagia needs, working collaboratively with families, schools and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of clinical audit and an understanding of clinical governance.
• Well-established knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to children and young people with complex communication needs.
• Ability to speak an additional language, particularly Turkish or a West African language.
• Knowledge and experience of working with Students who have an SEMH background

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:

• Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with theLondon Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
• Participate in required training and supervision.
• Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Other important information –

• You must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom or fully meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship; however, we can only consider these where all UKVI requirements are met. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role satisfy the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points‑based system criteria, as applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be progressed. For more information about the criteria, please click here
• Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.
• In submitting an application form, you authorise WhittingtonHealth NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post.

If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre‑employment checks youridentity and right to work documentation will be verifiedremotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a "selfie" using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk

Please note that during the recruitment process your Identity Documentation (i.e. passport, driving licence, visa, etc.) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, Infrared and Machine Readable Zone security features…

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

We would welcome applications from individuals who are from underrepresented groups in the organisation

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.