Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Mainstream Schools

CNWL; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous relocation package

Flexible working options

Remote working once a week

Job summary

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Speech and Language Therapist (Band 6) to join the Hillingdon mainstream schools team, delivering direct therapy to children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.

You will assess, diagnose and plan therapy packages, train school staff and parents, and support safeguarding. The role offers flexible working and opportunities to develop clinical skills within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree (2:1 or equivalent).
• HCPC registered as a practitioner.
• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
• Relevant additional training and continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide a specialist SLT service to children in mainstream schools.
• Carry out specialist assessment, diagnosis and therapy packages.
• Train and support school staff and parents in therapy delivery.
• Ensure EHCP needs are met and safeguarding is prioritised.
• Participate in audits and project work for the team.
• Be a member of clinical working groups and provide buddying/supervision.

Skills

Speech and language therapy

Children in schools

Train staff

Clinical supervision

Audits

IT skills

Education

SLT degree (2:1 or equivalent)

HCPC registered

RCST member

Extensive relevant training

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Search here to find a new job, a new career, an opportunity to up skill or to simply change your career direction. Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London’s population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

Do you want to be part of a friendly and supportive SLT team?

Do you want to be able to offer direct therapy to children in mainstream schools?

1.0 band 6 role:

We are looking for a passionate speech and language therapist to work in the Hillingdon mainstream schools team supporting children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs.

You will be able to offer direct therapy to CYP and support staff in schools to run follow up interventions.

Have a look on our Hillingdon Talks, Moves and Plays website to find out about our wider service.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to children in mainstream schools who have an identified speech, language, communication need.
• To be responsible for providing specialist assessment, diagnosis & therapy packages into schools for these identified children.
• To train and support school staff & parents, in order for them to implement therapy advice effectively.
• To ensure that the needs of the children as specified in their EHCP are delivered
• To prioritise the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Children at all times
• To take part in/lead on audits and projects for the team/service
• To be a member of clinical working groups
• To provide buddying and informal support for less experienced staff
• To provide formal supervision for less experienced staff

Working for our organisation

We can offer you:

• A buddy who will meet with you every week at first to help you settle in and who you can ask lots of questions
• A warm, welcoming and supportive team for even more informal support
• Regular supervision meetings with a senior therapist every 6 weeks - alongside an annual appraisal
• Termly peer supervision meetings where you can discuss difficult cases, read articles together and share your experiences
• A busy but manageable caseload across a range of schools - delivering direct therapy to EHCP and non-EHCP children
• Opportunities for remote working in school and at home at the end of the day once a week
• Frequent opportunities to come back to the office for informal support from the team
• Opportunities to develop your clinical skills and knowledge through: termly study afternoons, shadowing more experienced therapists, membership of a CEN, training courses
• Membership of at least one clinical working group where you can develop your clinical knowledge and help shape the service

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide a specialist speech and language therapy service to children in mainstream schools who have an identified speech, language, communication need.
• To be responsible for providing specialist assessment, diagnosis & therapy packages into allocated schools.
• To train and support school staff & parents, in order for them to implement therapy advice effectively.
• To support schools with the early identification of children with speech, language and communication needs.
• To prioritise the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Children at all times
• To support the service to achieve Key Performance Indicators and maintain Target Activity Levels
• To take part in/lead on audits and projects for the team/service
• To contribute to, and provide feedback about, possible developments in the team
• To provide buddying and informal support for less experienced staff
• To provide formal supervision for less experienced staff

Person specification

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent (minimum of 2:1 or equivalent)
• Further training courses relevant to the post
• Health and Care Professions Council registered
• Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Extensive training relevant to the post
• Member of relevant CEN

Experience

• Experience of working in a mainstream/special school as a therapist
• Experience of delivering training
• Experience of supervising a student
• Experience of providing informal support to less experienced colleagues
• Experience of setting up groups for school staff to continue to run
• Experience of leading on a project to improve/develop the service
• Experience of providing formal support to junior colleagues
• Experience of developing and delivering training

Skills & Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of assessment tools, and experience of using them relevant to school age children with SLCN.
• In-depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapy approaches, and experience in using them with school age children with SLCN particularly including: ASD, learning difficulties, language difficulties, speech difficulties, stammering, selective mutism
• Experience of contributing to an audit
• Good knowledge of the roles of other professionals relevant to school age children with SLCN.
• In-depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapy approaches, and experience in using them with school age children with SLCN particularly including: ASD, learning difficulties, language difficulties, speech difficulties, stammering, selective mutism
• Good knowledge of standards of record keeping
• Experience of leading a clinical audit

Other

• Excellent IT skills
• Car driver and owner to travel during the day
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with professionals, children and their families
• Evidence of being a pro-active and supportive team member
• Good negotiation and problem solving skills

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work.Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience.AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience.Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

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.

Name Wendy Botten Job title Paediatric SLT Team Leader - Mainstream Schools Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01895 488200