About this role
Job summary
Band 7 (15 hrs) Community Paediatric Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
We are looking for ahighly specialistspeech and language therapist to work within our preschool complex needs (PSCN) team on Thursdays & Fridays, providing assessment, differential diagnosis and intervention for children from birth to 5 years of age. This post has a communication focus, preschool dysphagia experience is useful, but not essential. Experience of the EHCNA process and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team is essential. The post will be based in Ipswich CDC and includes multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessment sessions. The post holder must be able to manage the highly specialist caseload independently, oversee the work of an assistant and be able to travel to rural locations. There will be regular supervision and support sessions. We are an inclusive service and promote neuro-affirmative practises.
Interviews scheduled: Monday 3rd August 2026
Main duties of the job
You will:
Independently manage a caseload of preschool children with a range of complex needs (PSCN). Provide assessments & deliver one to one interventions in a variety of community settings. Work closely with other MDT professionals which will include multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessment sessions. Upskill and empower therapy partners (parents, carers or educational staff) via direct and indirect work including face to face and virtual training groups (experience of Teams is desirable). Participate fully in the EHC process, which includes assessment & report writing for initial plans & reviews. Use your knowledge and skills of eating/drinking issues to make onward referrals, signpost and support as required. You will work at a highly skilled level, be able to support less experienced colleagues and lead with students. You will support innovations in the team and actively participate in whole team & pathway meetings. Familiarity with Systm One is advantageous however training is available.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the job description attached
Education and developmentTo maintain and develop clinical excellence and professional competence through continuing professional development, and to reflect on and evaluate learning undertakenTo maintain up to date working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, and other legal frameworksTo share and promote learning within SLT Team, and more widely if requiredTo provide in-service training sessions as appropriate to relevant staffTo develop, organise, plan and deliver specialist training sessions for teachers/parents/carers and other professional staffTo provide specialist clinical advice to other professionalsTo provide clinical and managerial supervision including appraisals to junior staffTo actively provide second opinions/supervision to other therapistsTo contribute to the identification of training needs within the teamTo develop workforce / staff where applicable such as managing development posts for specialist area or pathway, apprentices and supporting individual staff development needs within area of expertise by offering shadowing / on-site learning, coaching or signposting to self-directed learning.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification Essential
oRecognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification oRegistered with the Health & Care Professions Council oMember of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists oEvidence of continuing professional development via RCSLT log or portfolio oEvidence of further post graduate short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload
Desirable
Post Graduate diploma or equivalent in specialist area oCommittee role or other active role within a Clinical Excellence Network oCertified trainer for relevant specialist areas e.g. Attention Autism/Makaton/ADOS/TOMs oCoaching / leadership or mentoring courses or qualifications
Experience & Knowledge Essential
In-depth knowledge of specialist area In depth knowledge and experience of delivering a range of appropriate assessments and therapeutic interventions with children and their families Multi-agency and family centered working Statutory Processes, National Curriculum, EHCNA process and Safeguarding Use of outcome measures Delivering in-service training within a range of settings Supervising junior staff and students
Desirable
Experience of offering second opinions / supporting differential diagnosis Lead Educator for student placement Educator Training Problem solving, resolutions, managing challenging situations & differences of opinion Service improvement / project work / training offer Record keeping via SystmOne
Skills & Abilities Essential
Good organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload for self and team Good awareness of relevant policies & procedures pertaining to working in a health care environment e.g. health & safety legislation, clinical governance, equality & diversity Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating effectively Generate ideas for the improvement of the service Managing complex clinical situations Good analytical skills e.g. triaging Well-developed concentration skills
Desirable
Coaching / mentoring or team leadership skills Ability to support others to work to agreed standards e.g. supporting performance issues and concerns
Personal Qualities Essential
Excellent interpersonal skills: inc. observation, active listening, reflection and empathy skills Negotiation and problem-solving skills Be resilient and adaptable Able to travel across the Trust
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 West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address St Helens House
571 Foxhall Road
Ipswich
IP3 8LX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)