About this role
Job summary
Are you a passionate Speech & Language Therapist looking to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with complex needs?
Join our innovative Special schools team, supporting students aged 11-19 across specialist secondary schools. You'll work with young people with autism, learning disabilities, physical needs and complex communication difficulties, helping them achieve their full potential through a total communication approach.
This is a fantastic opportunity to develop specialist skills in areas including AAC, dysphagia, autism, language development, speech disorders and safeguarding, with dedicated supervision from highly experienced senior clinicians.
What you'll do
- Manage a varied and rewarding caseload in specialist school settings
- Deliver assessment, intervention and therapy programmes for communication and eating/drinking needs
- Work collaboratively with families, education professionals and multidisciplinary colleagues
- Support young people through key transition stages
- Deliver training and advice to school staff and carers
- Contribute to service development, quality improvement and clinical innovation
What we offer
- Full-time role, 37.5 hours per week for a fixed term 6 months contract
- Opportunities to supervise students and develop specialist expertise
If you're HCPC and RCSLT registered, motivated by collaborative working and committed to improving outcomes for children with complex needs, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
- Manage a caseload of children and young people (11-19 years) with complex communication, learning, physical and/or autism-related needs.
- Assess, diagnose, plan and deliver speech and language therapy interventions for communication needs and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
- Work directly with students in both individual and classroom settings using a total communication approach.
- Develop, monitor and review therapy programmes, care plans and communication targets, ensuring interventions are tailored to individual needs.
- Support safe eating and drinking practices and provide specialist advice on dysphagia where appropriate.
- Provide training, advice and support to families, carers, school staff and other professionals to promote effective communication and positive outcomes.
- Work collaboratively with education, health and social care professionals as part of a multidisciplinary team
- .Contribute to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) and support students through key transition stages.
- Maintain accurate clinical records, produce reports and meet professional and service standards.
- Participate in service development, clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives and ongoing professional development.
- Support and supervise students, assistants and less experienced colleagues where required.
About us
Whittington Health NHS Trust is a progressive and integrated healthcare organisation providing hospital and community services across North London. We are committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care that puts patients, families and communities at the centre of everything we do. Our staff work collaboratively across health, education and social care services to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities. We foster an inclusive, supportive and innovative working environment where professional development, wellbeing and continuous improvement are actively encouraged. Joining Whittington Health offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference while working within a diverse organisation that values respect, excellence, collaboration and sustainability.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title: Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist - Complex Needs & Special SchoolsDepartment: Children and Young Peoples ServicesBase: Special Schools (11-19 years)Reports to: Lead Speech and Language Therapist, Special Schools
The post holder will provide specialist Speech and Language Therapy services for children and young people aged 11-19 years with complex communication needs, including autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. Working as part of the Complex Needs Team, the therapist will assess, diagnose, plan and deliver evidence-based interventions within special school settings, supporting pupils through key transition stages.
The post holder will manage a defined caseload, develop individual therapy programmes, provide advice and training to families and education staff, and contribute to multidisciplinary care planning. They will promote effective communication and safe eating and drinking practices, maintain accurate clinical records, and work collaboratively with health, education and social care professionals.
The role requires sound clinical judgement, a commitment to professional development, participation in service improvement activities, and adherence to safeguarding, professional, and organisational standards. The post holder will receive regular clinical supervision and contribute to student placements, training, and service development initiatives.
Main Responsibilities
- Manage and prioritise a specialist caseload of children and young people with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties.
- Assess, diagnose, implement and review therapy interventions, ensuring care is evidence-based and outcomes focused.
- Support pupils with complex needs including autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and dysphagia.
- Work collaboratively with families, education staff and multidisciplinary professionals to plan and deliver coordinated care.
- Provide specialist advice, training and support to school staff, carers and other professionals to promote effective communication and safe eating and drinking practices.
- Contribute to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments and provide written reports and recommendations in a timely manner.
- Facilitate successful transition planning between educational settings and into adulthood where appropriate.
- Maintain accurate clinical records, outcome measures, activity data and reports in line with professional and organisational standards.
- Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development, peer support and reflective practice activities.
- Contribute to service development, quality improvement, audit and research activities within the Special Schools and Complex Needs Service.
- Support, supervise and contribute to the learning of students, assistants and less experienced staff as required.
- Comply with safeguarding, information governance, health and safety, and professional registration requirements at all times.
Person Specification
Essential
- Degree, Diploma or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy with current HCPC registration and RCSLT membership.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of working with Students who have an SEMH background
- Knowledge and experience of working with Students who have dysphagia
Essential
- Experience of working with children and young people with complex speech, language and communication needs, including AAC, learning disabilities and/or physical difficulties.
Desirable
- Ability to speak an additional language, particularly Turkish or a West African language.
Essential
- Ability to assess, diagnose and manage complex communication and dysphagia needs, working collaboratively with families, schools and multidisciplinary teams.
Desirable
- Experience of clinical audit and an understanding of clinical governance.
Essential
- Experience of working with children and young people with complex speech, language and communication needs, including AAC, learning disabilities and/or physical difficulties.
- Ability to assess, diagnose and manage complex communication and dysphagia needs, working collaboratively with families, schools and multidisciplinary teams.
Desirable
- Experience of clinical audit and an understanding of clinical governance.
- Well-established knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to children and young people with complex communication needs.
- Ability to speak an additional language, particularly Turkish or a West African language.
- Knowledge and experience of working with Students who have an SEMH background
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
Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
Address
Riverside School
White Hart Lane
Tottenham
N22 5QJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)