Speech and Language Therapist- Children's Service

Walsall Healthcare; Walsall; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist to work with children in diverse community settings. The post involves assessing and treating a range of communication needs across nurseries, schools, clinics and home visits.

You will work within a supportive, multidisciplinary team, with supervision and opportunities for professional development. A driving licence is preferred to travel within the area.

Qualifications

• Qualified Speech and Language Therapist registered to practice in the UK.
• Experience with paediatric speech and language therapy is preferred.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Assess speech, language and communication needs of children.
• Deliver SLT services across nurseries, schools, clinics and homes.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to create care plans.
• Maintain accurate client records and participate in supervision.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Caseload management

Travel willingness

Education

Speech and Language Therapy degree

HCPC Licence to Practice

Registration with Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Job description

View or apply for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust jobvacancies.

Why not try our Jobs-by-Email service to be sent alertsabout new vacancies as they are advertised? Our recruitment system also helps you manage the progress of your application including saving your draft applications, in additionto managing your interviews, and ID/DBS check appointments.

Should you have any queries for the resourcing team, they are available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. To get in touch please call 01922 656161.

Speech and Language Therapist- Children's Service

NHS AfC: Band 5

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent: This post is funded through a vacancy Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday from 9-5 or 8.30- 4.30) Job ref 407-COMMUNITY-8272489

Site Blakenall Village Centre Town Walsall Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 12/10/2026 23:59

Walsall Manor Hospital is a busy district general hospital offering compete range of acute services. The Trust primarily serves the immediate population of Walsall with some patients requiring more specialised treatment at other, neighbouring Trusts. The Trust continues to invest in its facilities and services, supporting high-quality care for the communities it serves.

This role offers the opportunity to work within our integrated care model, contributing to high-quality services that help people remain independent in their own homes and communities.

We are committed to investing in our workforce and creating an environment where colleagues can learn, contribute and develop. Our new Urgent Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, demonstrates our ongoing investment in facilities and services.

As an employee, you’ll benefit from an attractive salary and comprehensive benefits package (detailed in Employer Description above), plus access to NHS pension arrangements and staff accommodation where available.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant, currently holding the Bronze Award, underlining our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community.

Job overview

Walsall Healthcare Speech and Language Therapy Department has a permanent post, for a full-time band 5 speech and language therapist working within the children's services. We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and creative therapist who is passionate about making a difference for children with speech, language, and communication needs. We provide regular supervision from experienced clinicians to support ongoing development. This includes preceptorship support to complete the transitional framework for newly qualified therapists.

The role is in a range of community settings including nurseries and schools, clinics and homes. The successful applicant should be keen to develop their skills working with children with a range of communication needs. You are required to travel within the area. Travel expenses are subsidised.

The successful applicant will work closely with therapists and assistant support workers. The dynamic and supportive team values working with service-users to improve outcomes for children with speech, language, and communication needs. There is a focus on multi-disciplinary team working. The team lead on new initiatives and have an excellent reputation for partnership working.

Walsall SaLT service is a district-wide, integrated service, with a professional head of service. PLEASE NOTE, WE MAY CLOSE THIS VACANCY EARLY IF WE RECEIVE HIGH NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to assess speech, language and communication needs and deliver speech and language therapy to children with a diverse range of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), including those with Special Educational Needs (SEND), across a range of settings and organisations. The role will require you to be able to communicate to a range of different people in both verbal and written forms.

Working for our organisation

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS

• Communicates complex condition specific information from assessment to clients, carers and multi-disciplinary team members.
• Contributes to clinical teams – both multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary working across organisations – through the development of appropriate care plans.
• Promotes the role and understanding of the profession within the local community.
• Provides clear and concise written reports in line with departmental standards reflecting clinical knowledge.
• Provides advice training and support to others regarding the appropriate management and care of clients.
• Responds to concerns and escalates complaints to Joint Heads of the Children’s Service

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages own time and prioritises workload.
• Manages caseload within departmental standards, seeking support from senior colleagues as appropriate.
• Makes appropriate clinical decisions regarding assessment and intervention, with access to a supervisor as required.
• Reports to line manager on issues of concern, progress, areas for own personal/professional development within the appraisal framework.
• Participates in the development and training of other professionals with support from senior colleagues.
• Provides work-based observations for work experience students and other relevant professional groups.
• Contributes to speech and language therapy student placements.
• Participates in departmental research and audit projects.
• Refers client on to other services as appropriate.
• Identifies risk and reports to Supervisor.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLIENT CARE

• Uses clinical knowledge to inform clinical judgements/decision making for caseload through assessment.
• Formulates care plans based on assessment findings and communication/dysphagia needs of the individual.
• Negotiates with carers/clients regarding individual case management, recognising breakdown/conflict when this occurs and seeks appropriate advice.
• Maintains timely and accurate client records in line with the Trust and Departmental records management policy.
• Demonstrates clinical effectiveness using evidence-based practice and Outcome Measures.

DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contributes to the development and delivery of the Service Action Plan.
• Actively participates in team meetings and within supervision sessions
• Contributes to the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence.
• Understands legislation and adheres to National and Local clinical guidelines.
• Adheres to service pathways and standard operating procedures.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESOURCES

• Maintains equipment, ensuring standards of safety are maintained.
• Uses resources efficiently.
• Reports if stock levels are low or equipment is required to deliver safe assessment

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accountable for own professional actions
• Recognises professional boundaries and seeks advice as appropriate
• Understands and adheres to Trust policies and professional standards
• Works independently accessing supervision within an appraisal framework. In the first-year post – qualification this will be part of the Newly Qualified Therapists transitional framework
• Accountable for own professional actions.
• Recognises professional boundaries and seeks advice as appropriate.

Person specification

Qualification

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Health Professions Council – Licence to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist

Flexibility

• Ability to travel

Other

• Holds a driving licence

Knowledge and experience

• Relevant experience as part of undergraduate/post graduate training.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Demonstrates good presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Demonstrates flexible and effective communication skills
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group)
• Demonstrates an ability to prioritise a caseload.
• Has an awareness of the principles of clinical governance /audit

Skills and Aptitudes

• Has a positive understanding of the roles of AHP support workers.
• Understands the importance of Health and Safety at work
• Demonstrates effective negotiation and problem-solving Skills
• Has an awareness of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group)

Please note your application will be transferred from the NHS Jobs system to the internal Walsall Healthcare Trac System. All correspondence will be sent via Trac.

Sponsorship and Visas

We welcome applications from all candidates with the right to work in the UK, including those on Health and Care Visas, Graduate Visas, or other valid permissions. All candidates will be considered on equal terms.

This Trust currently recruits successfully from the domestic labour market and has a sufficient pool of suitably qualified candidates for Band 3 roles. Visa sponsorship is therefore not available for this role currently.Candidates who already hold the right to work in the UK, including those on an existing Health and Care Visa, Graduate Visa, or any other valid permission are welcome to apply and will be considered on equal terms. This position is reviewed regularly in line with Home Office guidance. Right to work will be verified at each stage of the recruitment and monitored throughout employment. All candidates who are offered a position will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK as part of the pre-employment checks process. Where a candidates' right to work is derived from another person’s immigration permission, the Trust will discuss the implications of this with the candidate before a permanent post is confirmed, to ensure that both parties understand the terms on which employment can be sustained.

Recruitment and Selection Approach

In line with best practice and regulatory guidance, our selection process is fair, consistent and based on your ability to perform the role, contribute to the organisation and your potential for development.

What to expect:

• Application screening: Your application will be reviewed against the person specification
• Interview: Typically, a panel interview with competency-based and values-based questions
• Assessment: Role-dependent assessments may include practical tasks or presentations
• Timeline: We aim to complete the process within 47 days of the closing date. Recruitment Journey is attached to all live vacancies.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates at any stage. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

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.

Please note this vacancy may close early due to high volume of applications

Application numbers

Name Elizabeth Wassall

Job title Speech and Language Therapy Service Manager

Email address [e-mail]

Telephone number 01922 605400

Additional information Available from 9-5 Monday to Friday.