Speech and Language Therapist - Chiltern Wood School

Buckinghamshire Council; High Wycombe, Greater London; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading school in High Wycombe is seeking a Speech and Language Therapist to join their supportive team. The role involves working with pupils with complex needs, integrating therapy into classroom practice, and providing training to staff. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and a passion for helping children. Opportunities for professional development are encouraged, and the role offers a competitive salary based on experience.

Benefits

Paid school holidays

Continuing Professional Development

Clinical team supervision

Qualifications

• Evidence of specialist knowledge in relevant clinical areas.
• Excellent communication and interaction skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct work with pupils to integrate therapy recommendations.
• Deliver training for staff and parents.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Education

Registered member of RCSLT

Registered member of HCPC

Job description

Speech and Language Therapist - Chiltern Wood School

Location: High Wycombe

Salary Type: Bucks pay

Salary details: NHS Band 5 – 7 DOE (equivalent to Bucks Pay FTE - £36,495 -£51,081)

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: 37

Interviews to be held: 13/06/2025

About us

Chiltern Wood school is a multi-site SEN school based over 3 locations within the High Wycombe area. We cater for a wide range of students, aged 3-19 with complex special educational needs.

As a school, Chiltern Wood use the SCERTS framework. A Total Communication Approach is incorporated into classroom practice, and a variety of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) are used extensively across the school.

We employ our own well established, friendly and supportive Speech and Language Therapy Team consisting of 3/4 therapists. Therapists enjoy parity with their teacher colleagues in working term time only with paid school holidays. We are currently seeking to fill a range of roles full or part time working term time plus Inset days. These posts will include covering communication needs within the school, and we would particularly welcome anyone with dysphagia training and experience as this is invaluable within our setting.

About you

The ideal candidate will complement our existing team skill set, and we would therefore invite applications, Band 6, or Band 7 level, or experienced Band 5 dependent on therapist knowledge, skills, and experience. We would consider part-time working for the right candidate.

The role will include significant opportunities for meaningful direct work with pupils. Within the role, there will be opportunities to work collaboratively with teaching staff in classroom settings to integrate speech and language therapy recommendations (both communications, and eating and drinking) into daily classroom practice; and opportunities to deliver training for staff and parents on a range of topics.

Continuing Professional Development is actively encouraged, and as a school we have a proactive attitude to training and development opportunities. Regular clinical team supervision is in place for the SaLT team, and there is a commitment to evidence-based practice.

The Speech and Language Therapy Department is well resourced with it's own budget for training/CPD, and for equipment and resources. The use of electronic and paper-based AAC is established within the school. Therapists are provided with their own laptops . There are many opportunities to work together with the large multi-disciplinary team, which includes Occupational Therapists, School Nurses, Music Therapy, and Physiotherapy.

Please refer to the Job Descriptions for further information relating to specifics for the role

All applicants must be registered members of both RCSLT and HCPC.
The successful candidate will be independently responsible for a caseload of pupils with complex needs.

We would welcome candidates with a particular interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC); Complex Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC); and/or Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD).

Therapists applying must have evidence of specialist knowledge, skills, and experience in relevant clinical areas.

Candidates need excellent communication and interaction skills, a high level of empathy, and a passion for providing speech and language therapy for children and young people with complex needs.

If all of the aforementioned is of interest to you, we would welcome your application.

Visits to the school are warmly welcome. To arrange a visit or to find out more about the role, please contact our school office on the number below.

Chiltern Wood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to full vetting checks, including a disclosure of criminal records at an enhanced level, online searches and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.