Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

NHS; Lancing; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join NHS's Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service as a Speech and Language Therapist. This role is vital for supporting school-aged children with complex needs, emphasizing collaboration within special schools and providing outstanding diagnostic and therapeutic services. Ideal candidates will have strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to professional development within a supportive team.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Excellent training and development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Cost-effective workplace nurseries

Qualifications

• Essential qualifications include a recognized Speech and Language Therapy Qualification and HCPC registration.
• Experience managing a clinical caseload independently, especially within a relevant specialist area.
• Skills in assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to speech and language disorders.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of children with speech, language, and communication needs.
• Provide clinical support and advice to other professionals and parents.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team within special schools.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Oral & written communication

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Qualification/MRCSLT

HCPC Registration

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced speech and language therapist to join our innovative and enthusiastic Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop specialist skills and experience working with school-aged children with complex needs in Special schools.

Children within West Sussex are offered support to meet their SLCN using the 'Balanced System' model of working where there is an emphasis on joint working and a shared responsibility with colleagues in education in meeting children's SEND.

The post is based within the Worthing locality Special Schools (Palatine, Heronsdale and Oak Grove) and the locality team base is in Lancing.

What the team say about working in Worthing

"Worthing locality is a friendly, supportive team with colleagues happy to share knowledge and resources (whether this is for work or cake making...!) We have a great admin team to help with day-to-day administration, sending resources etc. I couldn't ask for a better team to work with."

Main duties of the job

Within the Special school team the successful applicant will:

• Provide input to children and young people with learning and physical disabilities.
• Work as part of a team of speech and language therapists at a special school, and work in partnership with the multidisciplinary team, parents and school staff.
• Work in class to support staff to integrate communication targets throughout the day and support the use of AAC and Total Communication approaches.
• Develop and offer training to colleagues, school staff and other professional
• Be provided with excellent support and supervision and a commitment to supporting continuing professional development.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?o Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trusto Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence --guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details Date posted

27 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year £37,338 - £44,962 Per Annum/Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

150-MM1797-PC

Job locations

Unit 5 The quadrant, Lancing

Marlborough road

Lancing

BN15 8UW

Job description Job responsibilities

To assess, and manage your own caseload of children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder in special school.

To provide advice to other professionals and parents in order to support the needs of children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder in specialist area.

To liaise with other agencies and services e.g. schools, social care, and voluntary agencies.

To advise and provide clinical support to other therapists.

Job description Job responsibilities

To assess, and manage your own caseload of children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder in special school.

To provide advice to other professionals and parents in order to support the needs of children with speech, language and communication delay and disorder in specialist area.

To liaise with other agencies and services e.g. schools, social care, and voluntary agencies.

To advise and provide clinical support to other therapists.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Qualification/MRCSL
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Membership of RCSLT

Experience Essential

• Experience of independently managing a clinical caseload
• Working in partnership with parents, teachers and other carers/support workers
• Experience of working within a relevant specialist area and developing specialist packages of care.
• Inter-agency planning, consultation and working
• Experience of a range of caseload management and prioritisation systems

Skills and knowledge Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills/oral & written communication
• Competent IT skills
• Well established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to client group
• Well established knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to client group.
• Good negotiation, problem-solving and organisational skills
• Excellent analytical and reflection skills

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Qualification/MRCSL
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Membership of RCSLT

Experience Essential

• Experience of independently managing a clinical caseload
• Working in partnership with parents, teachers and other carers/support workers
• Experience of working within a relevant specialist area and developing specialist packages of care.
• Inter-agency planning, consultation and working
• Experience of a range of caseload management and prioritisation systems

Skills and knowledge Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills/oral & written communication
• Competent IT skills
• Well established knowledge of assessment tools relevant to client group
• Well established knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to client group.
• Good negotiation, problem-solving and organisational skills
• Excellent analytical and reflection skills

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

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Unit 5 The quadrant, Lancing

Marlborough road

Lancing

BN15 8UW

Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Unit 5 The quadrant, Lancing

Marlborough road

Lancing

BN15 8UW

Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)