Speech and Language Therapist

Courtlands Independent Special School; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Courtlands Independent Special School is seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our multidisciplinary SEND team. You will assess students’ communication needs, plan and deliver individual and small-group therapy, and collaborate with therapists, teachers and families.

You will work within term-time hours (35 weeks/year) with a salary in the £26,000–£37,000 range, depending on experience, and with professional supervision and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification and HCPC registration.
• Post-qualification experience with children and young people with SEND including autism.
• Experience at NHS Band 5/6 level or equivalent.
• Ability to exercise clinical judgement and manage a caseload.

Responsibilities

• Assess students’ speech, language and communication needs.
• Plan and deliver individual and small-group therapy.
• Develop practical communication strategies and programmes tailored to students’ needs.
• Support staff to embed communication approaches throughout lessons and everyday school life.
• Help students develop self-advocacy and confidence in expressing their needs.
• Contribute to EHCP annual reviews and meetings with families and external professionals.
• Maintain accurate clinical records, review progress and evaluate interventions.

Skills

Clinical judgement

Caseload management

Team collaboration

Autism awareness

Communication differences

Safeguarding

Empathy and warmth

Education

SLT qualification

Job description

Permanent | Full-time hours during term time | 35 working weeks per year
Actual annual salary: £26,000–£37,000, depending on experience and responsibilities, including paid holiday entitlement
Suitable for an experienced practitioner working at NHS Band 5 or Band 6 level

Courtlands is a specialist secondary school for young people with Education, Health and Care Plans, specialising in autism, high anxiety and emotionally based school avoidance.

We are seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our established multidisciplinary SEND and therapeutic team. You should have relevant post-qualification experience and be confident managing a clinical caseload, assessing communication needs and delivering effective interventions.

Our students are individual, funny and full of character. Building trusting relationships is central to our approach, helping young people feel understood, develop confidence and participate in learning and school life.

You will work alongside our existing Speech and Language Therapist, with clinical supervision and opportunities for professional development. You will also collaborate with Occupational Therapists, counsellors, ELSAs, teachers and our SEND and pastoral teams.

The role

Assess students’ speech, language and communication needs.

Plan and deliver individual and small-group therapy.

Develop practical communication strategies and programmes tailored to students’ needs.

Support staff to embed communication approaches throughout lessons and everyday school life.

Help students develop self-advocacy and confidence in expressing their needs.

Contribute to EHCP annual reviews and meetings with families and external professionals.

Maintain accurate clinical records, review progress and evaluate interventions.

About you

You will:

Hold a recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification and current HCPC registration.

Have relevant post-qualification experience working with children and young people with SEND, including autism and communication differences.

Be practising at a level comparable to an experienced NHS Band 5 or Band 6 therapist.

Be confident exercising clinical judgement and managing a caseload, recognising when to seek specialist advice.

Understand how anxiety can affect communication, participation and access to learning.

Respect different communication styles and use approaches that support neurodivergent needs.

Be warm, approachable, organised and able to work collaboratively.

Be committed to safeguarding and reflective professional practice.

What we offer

A term-time working pattern across 35 working weeks per year.

A supportive school community with small classes and a strong focus on relationships.

An established multidisciplinary team and an existing Speech and Language Therapist to work alongside.

Clinical supervision and opportunities for professional development.

The opportunity to see the difference your work makes in students’ everyday lives.

The advertised salary is the actual annual amount payable, including paid holiday entitlement. The Band 5/6 reference describes the expected level of practice; this is a Courtlands appointment on the school’s own terms and conditions.

Safeguarding

Courtlands School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information, satisfactory references, right-to-work checks and verification of qualifications and professional registration.