Specialist Speech & Language Therapist- Special Schools/Complex Needs

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust; Romford; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A local health organization is seeking a Specialist Speech & Language Therapist in Romford to join a creative and supportive team. This role involves providing therapy to children with a range of communication needs and collaborating closely with educators and families. The ideal candidate will hold a relevant degree and possess skills in clinical reasoning and interpersonal communication. The position offers a salary of £38,682 to £46,580 plus additional benefits, with flexible working options available.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Continuing professional development

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide speech and language therapy to children in diverse settings.
• Collaborate with parents, educators, and other professionals.
• Deliver training to enhance school staff skills.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Clinical reasoning

Organizational skills

Negotiation skills

Ability to manage caseload

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification

HCPC Licence to Practice

Job description

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist- Special Schools/Complex Needs

The closing date is 29 September 2025.

An exciting position has arisen for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join a well-established, innovative and supportive team in the London Borough of Havering. As part of NELFT (North East London Foundation Trust). You will join a flexible and creative service where staff wellbeing is actively promoted and encouraged.

Working as part of the team you will provide a service for children and young people aged 0-19 presenting with a range of speech, language, communication needs within our dedicated children's services clinic or within community settings and patient homes. There is also scope to support eating, drinking and swallowing.

This is a permanent position with a wide range of personal and professional opportunities. You will be well supported with 1:1 supervision, safeguarding supervision, pathway meetings and cross-border working with colleagues in neighbouring boroughs.

This role would be suitable for a current band 6 or a band 5 therapist who has completed their NQP competency goals and is ready for their next step. This is a great opportunity for you to join a team of passionate and enthusiastic professionals that support children and their families with their speech, language and communication needs.

Based in Romford with established transport links from London: We are 17 minutes by train from London Liverpool Street and 20 minutes from Stratford on the new Elizabeth Line, we also have good transport links to Essex and Kent.

Main duties of the job

Speech and Language Therapists are core to the efficient service delivery that we provide to children, young people and their families.

As a Speech and Language Therapist in our service, you will deliver care to children, young people and their families in schools and within the clinic setting.

You will be working within our well-established, supportive, friendly and forward thinking special school's team as well as in clinic settings. In your allocated schools you will provide assessments as well delivering intervention and training to upskill school staff. You will have lots of opportunities to develop and specialise in a number of areas relating to the caseload, including AAC and Autism.

See the attached job description and person specification for more details.

About us

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941).

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.

References

Please ensure that the references are from your most recent employer and one of these must be your direct Line Manager or Supervisor. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. Additionally, ensure that any gaps in your employment history are clearly indicated. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly.

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles.Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system.

If you like the sound of working with NELFT, dont waste a moment and apply now!

Person Specification

Trust Values

• We are kind, we are respectful, we work together with our communities

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• HCPC Licence to Practice
• Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
• Show active interest in CPD in line with RCSLT guidelines

Experience

• Working collaboratively with parents/carers and other professionals
• Experience of working in a multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary team
• Working with clients who have a range of speech, language and communication needs
• Planning and delivery of training to other professionals
• Working with clients who have eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties

Knowledge

• Awareness of NHS Plan, clinical governance and changing service needs
• Child development and its application to speech and language therapy
• Knowledge of assessment tools, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
• Awareness of the roles of other professionals
• Awareness of standards of record keeping
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Government policy and legislation and how this may affect service delivery
• Knowledge of acquired communication and swallowing disorders
• Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit

Skills

• Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
• Demonstrate clear clinical reasoning based on evidence-based practice
• Able to use own initiative
• Able to organise and manage own caseload
• Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• Formulate care plans and identify goals by organising and prioritising
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy
• Negotiation, problem solving concentration, analytical and reflection skills
• Present information in clear and logical manner
• Ability to be a good team member
• Allocate duties and supervise therapy assistants

Other

• Able to travel efficiently throughout the area

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.

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearplus HCAS per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Job share,Flexible working,Compressed hours