Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Erith; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to deliver specialized services to children with speech, language, and communication needs. The role involves independent management of a complex caseload, working within a multidisciplinary team, and training education staff. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to professional development, have proven skills in assessment and intervention, and engage effectively with children and their families. This position is critical in helping improve communication outcomes for young clients.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive multidisciplinary team

Contribution to improving children's healthcare

Qualifications

• Proven experience with children with speech, language, and communication needs.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of autism spectrum disorder.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex communication caseload independently.
• Deliver individual and group therapy sessions.
• Provide professional advice to education staff and families.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and documentation.

Skills

Clinical assessment skills

Intervention strategies

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Qualified Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Overview

Important Sponsorship Information for this post: We are unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post.

To provide a specialist clinical SLT service to children and young people with speech, language, and communication needs within our special school and early years settings. To work with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, Autism and learning difficulties/disabilities within special schools in Bexley. To work with children with speech, language and communication needs in the preschool years including children with social communication differences and/or Autism and associated language disorder. To be an integral member of the multidisciplinary team providing an integrated care pathway. To participate in the co-ordination, development and delivery of training programmes and information for early years/school staff, parents and carers and colleagues in health and education. To work as part of a team with early years colleagues, class-teachers, learning support assistants, head teacher, therapists, and the child’s family / carers. To provide an assessment and therapy service for children with speech and language needs for CYP referred to the early years team and special schools within the Borough of Bexley.

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings, with multidisciplinary teams and partnerships across NHS, local councils and voluntary sectors. Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families, guided by our values: We’re Kind, We’re Fair, We Listen, We Care.

Responsibilities

• To manage a complex communication caseload independently, accessing clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis and to make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment, seeking advice when appropriate.
• To demonstrate specialist clinical skills in the assessment and intervention of autism spectrum disorder, providing second opinions and supervision to other members of the team.
• To deliver care in line with the RCSLT/HCPC professional guidelines and standards.
• To be responsible for the planning, and evaluation of evidence-based therapy interventions. To monitor and review the progress of therapy programmes implemented and facilitate modifications of interventions / targets as appropriate.
• To maintain professional competence through personal development and training. To be responsible for maintaining own professional registration and meet HCPC Registration requirements maintaining a professional portfolio.
• To reflect on clinical practice identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical practice.
• To undertake mandatory training in line with Trust Policy and attend updates and study days as appropriate to the post.
• To undertake relevant public health skills training and updates as required.
• To provide an assessment and therapy service for children and young people with speech and language, communication needs, and children and young people with social communication differences /Autism and learning needs referred to the SLT service.
• To ensure involvement of education staff, the family / carer, other professional staff and the client in the therapy planning and programme. To provide therapy intervention if required.
• To work with the education staff/practitioners in promoting the child’s speech, language, and communication. To contribute to the setting and review of the child’s IEP, individualised work, and / or group work joint planning.
• To provide therapy planning and intervention within a multidisciplinary framework wherever possible, working alongside SLT Assistants, Educational Psychologists, BEAS and therapy colleagues, and to seek opportunities to collaborate for a seamless service.
• To support the establishment and maintenance of standard speech language and communication approaches across education settings through developing and leading on standard and bespoke training sessions and reviewing the impact of this training.
• To respond to the requirements of relevant Education legislation by providing advice as part of any re-assessment process and taking part in Annual and Transfer Reviews as appropriate. To write detailed official reports regarding the child’s Speech, Language and Communication and the SLT advice for Statutory assessment including Education, Health and Care plans.
• To maintain and develop effective and innovative partnership arrangements with other agencies to ensure care pathways for clients are integrated.
• To participate in the co-ordination, development and delivery of training programmes and information packages for colleagues in health, education voluntary sector organisations, and parents / carers.
• To maintain a clinical caseload in accordance with priorities of service.
• To refer on to other agencies as appropriate including the Autism Assessment Service (AAS), Early Years Specialist Support (EYSS), Occupational Therapy, Audiology etc. and to liaise with specialist AAC centres and engage in professional updates on alternative and augmentative means of communication including sign, symbols, electronic and digital systems.
• To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.
• To supervise the work of newly qualified therapists, assistants/therapy support staff/administration and clerical staff and learning support assistants.
• To explain the role of Speech & Language Therapists to visitors, students, and volunteers.
• To monitor and evaluate own service delivery accessing clinical supervision on a planned basis.
• To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate through mentoring, peer support, clinical and managerial supervision.
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
• To accompany the role with public health skills training and updates as required.

Additional Information

Please see Job Description for full details. This advert closes on Monday 2 Feb 2026.